# Install gerbil-scheme with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix Opinionated dialect of Scheme designed for Systems Programming. Version 0.18.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-04-12. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:gerbil-scheme ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install gerbil-scheme ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install gerbil ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: science/gerbil/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#gerbil ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: gerbil from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:gerbil-scheme - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.18.2 - **Source summary:** Opinionated dialect of Scheme designed for Systems Programming - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-2.1-or-later OR Apache-2.0 - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-04-12T10:13:01Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - gerbil (cli) - gxc (cli) - gxensemble (cli) - gxensemble-test (cli) - gxhttpd (cli) - gxhttpd-ensemble-test (cli) - gxhttpd-test (cli) - gxi (cli) - gxpkg (cli) - gxprof (cli) - gxtags (cli) - gxtest (cli) - gerbil (alias) - gxc (alias) - gxensemble (alias) - gxensemble-test (alias) - gxhttpd (alias) - gxhttpd-ensemble-test (alias) - gxhttpd-test (alias) - gxi (alias) - gxpkg (alias) - gxprof (alias) - gxtags (alias) - gxtest (alias) ## Dependencies - gcc - openssl@3 ## Build dependencies - pkgconf ## Uses from macOS - sqlite ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.18.2 - Package-manager updated: 2026-04-12 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/mighty-gerbils/gerbil - Upstream latest detected: v0.18.2 (current) ## Project history and usage Gerbil Scheme is an opinionated Scheme dialect for systems programming, built on the Gambit runtime and compiler. It combines a macro system, a module system, ahead-of-time compilation, and a broad standard library for developers who want a Scheme environment with practical systems tooling. ### Project history The Gerbil README traces the language to Dimitris Vyzovitis, also known as vyzo, who kept Gerbil as a private Scheme for many years. It evolved from shared macros across implementations into a PLT-style macro language for actor-oriented distributed programming before being released with a source-based bootstrap. The public implementation standardized on Gambit because the maintainer considered it a portable, performant, low-level Scheme kernel. The repository metadata records the public GitHub project opening in 2016, while the README copyright notice covers work from 2007 through 2023. ### Adoption history Gerbil occupies a specialized place in the Scheme ecosystem: it appeals to programmers who want Scheme syntax and macros while keeping access to native compilation, FFI-oriented systems work, packages, networking libraries, and command-line tooling. ### How it is used Users interact with Gerbil through tools such as `gxi` for the interpreter and `gxc` for compilation. Practitioners build modules, compile programs ahead of time through Gambit, use the standard library, and manage Gerbil projects through the included command-line tools. ### Why package nerds care For package-manager users, Gerbil is notable because it packages an entire language stack rather than a single executable. Installing it through Homebrew, MacPorts, or Nix gives Scheme users a repeatable way to obtain the interpreter, compiler, package tooling, and supporting runtime. ### Timeline - 2007: The README copyright range begins for Gerbil work by Dimitris Vyzovitis and contributors. - 2016: The public GitHub repository was opened. - After private development: Gerbil was released with a source-based bootstrap on Gambit. ### Related projects - Gambit Scheme, Racket, Chibi, SRFI 115, SRFI 159 ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** gerbil-scheme - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Conflicts With:** gambit-scheme, ghostscript - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - MacPorts - gerbil: installed executable or alias match | MacPorts ports tree: science/gerbil/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Nix - gerbil: installed executable or alias match | nixpkgs package indexes: gerbil from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [Language runtime packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/language-runtime-packages/) - Matched language runtime, compiler, or interpreter metadata. - [gcc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gcc/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [openssl@3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openssl-3/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [mit-scheme](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mit-scheme/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, interpreter, language-runtime, lisp. - [chicken](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chicken/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, interpreter, language-runtime, scheme. - [gambit-scheme](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gambit-scheme/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, interpreter, language-runtime, scheme. - [kawa](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/kawa/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, language-runtime, lisp, scheme. - [scheme48](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/scheme48/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, interpreter, language-runtime, lisp, scheme. - [bigloo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bigloo/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, language-runtime, scheme. - [chezscheme](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chezscheme/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, language-runtime, scheme. - [chibi-scheme](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chibi-scheme/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, interpreter, language-runtime, scheme. - [minimal-racket](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/minimal-racket/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, language, language-runtime, lisp, openssl. - [sagittarius-scheme](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/sagittarius-scheme/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, compiler, language, language-runtime, openssl. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/gerbil-scheme.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/gerbil-scheme.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph