macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install genderslocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install gendersMacPorts ports tree · net/genders/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install genders with Homebrew, apt, dnf, MacPorts, zypper
Static cluster configuration database for cluster management. Version 1.32.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-19.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install gendersDebian stable package indexes · genders · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install gendersFedora Rawhide package metadata · genders · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install gendersopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · genders · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Static cluster configuration database for cluster management
Project links
Commands and aliases
- nodeattr
history
Project history and usage
Genders is a static cluster configuration database for high-performance computing and cluster administration. It stores node names and attributes in a replicated plain-text file, then lets tools such as `nodeattr` and libraries such as libgenders query those attributes locally.
Project history
Genders originated at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Livermore Computing environment, with tutorial material dated June 19, 2000 and public repository history imported in 2001. The package was written around the needs of massively parallel processing clusters, where scripts needed to adapt to node roles without embedding hard-coded host lists.
The software grew from a plain cluster attribute file into a small ecosystem: libgenders in C, Perl APIs, `nodeattr`, compatibility scripts, and later C++, Java, Python, and other extension work. Its NEWS file records years of practical cluster-admin improvements, including hostrange support, query parsing, performance work for large clusters, and database compression or expansion commands.
Adoption history
The upstream tutorial says the framework has been useful on clusters ranging from two or three workstations to the 11,136 nodes in El Capitan. That statement captures its niche: Genders is not a general desktop utility, but it matters in HPC shops where a single node-attribute database can drive boot scripts, batch queue generation, parallel command targeting, and role-specific service startup.
Package-manager adoption across Homebrew, Debian, Fedora/DNF, Ubuntu, MacPorts, and SUSE-family systems reflects its long-lived role as a small Unix administration primitive rather than a fast-moving end-user application.
How it is used
Practitioners edit `/etc/genders` or another genders file to assign attributes such as compute, login, management, queue membership, network role, or route data to node names and host ranges. They then run `nodeattr` to list matching nodes, check whether the local node has an attribute, retrieve values, validate the database, or expand and compress host ranges.
The classic workflow is to replace brittle script logic with attribute queries: a common rc script can ask whether the node has the `login` or `raid` attribute, while batch configuration scripts can generate host lists from queue attributes.
Why package nerds care
Genders is package-nerd significant because it preserves an older but durable Unix cluster-management pattern: a replicated text database plus fast local query tools. Its value is not novelty; it is that administrators can carry the same simple file format and `nodeattr` command across clusters and distributions.
Timeline
- 2000-06-19: Original tutorial material documents the concept for LLNL cluster configuration management.
- 2001: Public repository history is imported and early 0.x tags appear.
- 2003-2004: Tutorial revisions and 1.x package history document broader nodeattr and libgenders usage.
- 2010s-2020s: NEWS and tutorial updates document performance work, hostrange features, extension cleanup, and large-cluster usage.
Related projects
- Genders is related to LLNL Livermore Computing tools, hostlist/hostrange utilities, HPC batch systems, cluster boot scripts, and configuration-management systems that consume node role information.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: orange
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. infrastructure mutation or orchestration signal.
Risk classifier
orange risk · medium confidence · infrastructure
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
- infrastructure mutation or orchestration signal
Signals
- text:cluster
- text:database
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 8 platform targets.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
/etc/genders
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
nodeattr | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version1.32.1
manager updated2026-06-19
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://github.com/chaos/genders
- infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/chaos/gendersnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:genders |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.32.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/genders |
| Homepage | https://github.com/chaos/genders |
| Repository | https://github.com/chaos/genders |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/chaos/genders#readme |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://github.com/chaos/genders/archive/refs/tags/genders-1-32-1.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-19T12:31:19-07:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | genders |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
genders 1.27-3-3.1
cluster configuration management database tools
https://computing.llnl.gov/linux/genders.html
sudo apt install genders- Section: admin
- Architecture: amd64
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
Debian apt95%
libgenders-perl 1.27-3-3.1
perl interface to the LLNL genders cluster management utilities
https://computing.llnl.gov/linux/genders.html
sudo apt install libgenders-perl- Section: perl
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: genders
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
Debian apt95%
libgenders0 1.27-3-3.1
C library for parsing and querying a genders database
https://computing.llnl.gov/linux/genders.html
sudo apt install libgenders0- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: genders
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
Debian apt95%
libgenders0-dev 1.27-3-3.1
development files for parsing and querying a genders database
https://computing.llnl.gov/linux/genders.html
sudo apt install libgenders0-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: genders
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
Ubuntu apt95%
genders 1.22-1build8
cluster configuration management database tools
https://computing.llnl.gov/linux/genders.html
sudo apt install genders- Section: universe/admin
- Architecture: amd64
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
Ubuntu apt95%
libgenders-perl 1.22-1build8
perl interface to the LLNL genders cluster management utilities
https://computing.llnl.gov/linux/genders.html
sudo apt install libgenders-perl- Section: universe/perl
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: genders
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
Ubuntu apt95%
libgenders0 1.22-1build8
C library for parsing and querying a genders database
https://computing.llnl.gov/linux/genders.html
sudo apt install libgenders0- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: genders
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
Ubuntu apt95%
libgenders0-dev 1.22-1build8
development files for parsing and querying a genders database
https://computing.llnl.gov/linux/genders.html
sudo apt install libgenders0-dev- Section: universe/devel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: genders
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
dnf95%
genders 1.28.1~^20231119git27b915d-6.fc44
Static cluster configuration database
https://github.com/chaos/genders
sudo dnf install genders- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: genders
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
dnf95%
genders-compat 1.28.1~^20231119git27b915d-6.fc44
Compatibility library
https://github.com/chaos/genders
sudo dnf install genders-compat- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: genders
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
dnf95%
genders-java 1.28.1~^20231119git27b915d-6.fc44
Java libraries
https://github.com/chaos/genders
sudo dnf install genders-java- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: genders
- 3 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
dnf95%
genders-java-devel 1.28.1~^20231119git27b915d-6.fc44
Java Development libraries
https://github.com/chaos/genders
sudo dnf install genders-java-devel- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: genders
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
dnf95%
genders-javadoc 1.28.1~^20231119git27b915d-6.fc44
Java Documentation
https://github.com/chaos/genders
sudo dnf install genders-javadoc- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: genders
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
dnf95%
genders-perl 1.28.1~^20231119git27b915d-6.fc44
Perl libraries
https://github.com/chaos/genders
sudo dnf install genders-perl- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: genders
- 6 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
dnf95%
libgenders 1.28.1~^20231119git27b915d-6.fc44
Genders libraries
https://github.com/chaos/genders
sudo dnf install libgenders- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: genders
- 2 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
dnf95%
libgenders-devel 1.28.1~^20231119git27b915d-6.fc44
Genders development libraries
https://github.com/chaos/genders
sudo dnf install libgenders-devel- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: genders
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Genders
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment