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Install gettext with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, winget, zypper

GNU internationalization (i18n) and localization (l10n) library. Version 1.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-04.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install gettext

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install gettext

MacPorts ports tree · devel/gettext/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add gettext

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · gettext · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install autopoint

Debian stable package indexes · autopoint · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install emacs-gettext

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · emacs-gettext · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#gettext

nixpkgs package indexes · gettext · source: raw.githubusercontent.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S gettext

Arch Linux sync databases · gettext · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install gettext-runtime

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · gettext-runtime · source: download.opensuse.org

Windows

Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/gettext

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/gettext.json · source: api.github.com

Windows Package Managerverified · 92%
winget install --id mlocati.GetText -e

Windows Package Manager source index · mlocati.GetText · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com

overview

Package summary

GNU internationalization (i18n) and localization (l10n) library

Commands and aliases

  • autopoint
  • envsubst
  • gettext
  • gettext.sh
  • gettextize
  • msgattrib
  • msgcat
  • msgcmp
  • msgcomm
  • msgconv
  • msgen
  • msgexec
  • msgfilter
  • msgfmt
  • msggrep
  • msginit
  • msgmerge
  • msgpre
  • msgunfmt
  • msguniq
  • ngettext
  • po-fetch
  • printf_gettext
  • printf_ngettext
  • recode-sr-latin
  • spit
  • xgettext

history

Project history and usage

GNU gettext is the GNU internationalization and localization toolkit for message catalogs. It supplies runtime APIs, command-line tools, PO and MO file workflows, and maintainer and translator conventions used by many Unix-like software projects.

Project history

GNU's own history traces the work to 1994 internationalization experiments around GNU fileutils and the `glocale` effort. Ulrich Drepper rewrote the approach in April 1995, and the package went through names such as `msgutils` and `nlsutils` before `gettext` was accepted as the GNU package name.

The first official GNU gettext release, numbered 0.7, appeared in July 1995 and included PO mode. In 1997, GNU libc 2.0 included the `gettext`, `textdomain`, and `bindtextdomain` functions; in 2000, plural-form handling via `ngettext` entered GNU libc, and Bruno Haible took over GNU gettext maintenance.

Adoption history

gettext became central to GNU and Unix-like localization because it separates programming from translation: source strings are marked in code, `xgettext` extracts templates, translators edit PO files, `msgmerge` refreshes them across source changes, and `msgfmt` compiles machine-readable catalogs. Its workflow gave maintainers, translators, distributors, and users a shared file format and toolchain.

How it is used

Practitioners use gettext by marking translatable strings in program sources, initializing a text domain, extracting POT templates, maintaining language-specific PO files, compiling MO files, and installing catalogs under locale directories. Shell users and build systems also use utilities such as `gettext`, `ngettext`, `xgettext`, `msginit`, `msgmerge`, `msgfmt`, `msgattrib`, `msgcat`, and `envsubst`.

Why package nerds care

For package ecosystems, gettext is infrastructure rather than an optional convenience. Source distributions often carry POT and PO files, binary packages install compiled catalogs, and build recipes depend on tools such as `autopoint`, `gettextize`, `msgfmt`, and `xgettext` to keep translation workflows reproducible.

Timeline

  • 1994: GNU fileutils internationalization work led to broader GNU native-language-support experiments.
  • 1995: Ulrich Drepper wrote GNU gettext and the first official release, 0.7, appeared in July.
  • 1997: GNU libc 2.0 included gettext-related functions.
  • 2000: `ngettext` plural-form handling entered GNU libc and Bruno Haible took over GNU gettext maintenance.
  • 2001: GNU libc 2.2.x was released with full internationalization support according to the GNU gettext manual.

Related projects

  • GNU gettext is tied to GNU libc, the GNU Translation Project, PO mode, Autotools workflows, and localization tools that consume or convert PO files.

security posture

Risk level: green

library-like package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

  • library-like package without higher-risk signals

Signals

  • metadata:library-like

Install behavior

  • No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
  • Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
  • Installs with 2 runtime dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
autopointcliglobal executable
envsubstcliglobal executable
gettextcliglobal executable
gettext.shcliglobal executable
gettextizecliglobal executable
msgattribcliglobal executable
msgcatcliglobal executable
msgcmpcliglobal executable
msgcommcliglobal executable
msgconvcliglobal executable
msgencliglobal executable
msgexeccliglobal executable
msgfiltercliglobal executable
msgfmtcliglobal executable
msggrepcliglobal executable
msginitcliglobal executable
msgmergecliglobal executable
msgprecliglobal executable
msgunfmtcliglobal executable
msguniqcliglobal executable
ngettextcliglobal executable
po-fetchcliglobal executable
printf_gettextcliglobal executable
printf_ngettextcliglobal executable
recode-sr-latincliglobal executable
spitcliglobal executable
xgettextcliglobal 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 version1.0
manager updated2026-07-04
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:gettext
Version1.0
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/gettext
Homepagehttps://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/
Repositoryhttps://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/gettext.git
Upstream docshttps://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/FAQ.html
LicenseGPL-3.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
Source archivehttps://ftpmirror.gnu.org/gnu/gettext/gettext-1.0.tar.gz
Last updated2026-07-04T09:43:28Z
Pulseupdated
Dependenciesjson-c, libunistring
Uses from macOScurl, libxml2, ncurses
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Namegettext
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
URL Keys
  • stable

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%

autopoint 0.23.1-2

tool for setting up gettext infrastructure in a source package

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install autopoint
  • Section: devel
  • Architecture: all
  • Source Package: gettext
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: autopoint from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

gettext 0.23.1-2

GNU Internationalization utilities

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install gettext
  • Section: devel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 8 dependencies
  • 8 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: gettext from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

gettext-base 0.23.1-2

GNU Internationalization utilities for the base system

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install gettext-base
  • Section: utils
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: gettext
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: gettext-base from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

gettext-doc 0.23.1-2

Documentation for GNU gettext

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install gettext-doc
  • Section: doc
  • Architecture: all
  • Source Package: gettext
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: gettext-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

gettext-el 0.23.1-2

Emacs mode for editing gettext .po files

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install gettext-el
  • Section: lisp
  • Architecture: all
  • Source Package: gettext
  • 3 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: gettext-el from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libasprintf-dev 0.23.1-2

use fprintf and friends in C++ - static libraries and headers

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install libasprintf-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: gettext
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libasprintf-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libasprintf0v5 0.23.1-2

use fprintf and friends in C++ - shared library

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install libasprintf0v5
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: gettext
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libasprintf0v5 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libgettextpo-dev 0.23.1-2

process PO files - static libraries and headers

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install libgettextpo-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: gettext
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libgettextpo-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libgettextpo0 0.23.1-2

process PO files - shared library

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install libgettextpo0
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: gettext
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libgettextpo0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

gettext

nix profile install nixpkgs#gettext
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
nixpkgs package indexes · raw.githubusercontent.com · nixpkgs package indexes: gettext from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
Ubuntu apt95%

autopoint 0.21-14ubuntu2

tool for setting up gettext infrastructure in a source package

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install autopoint
  • Section: devel
  • Architecture: all
  • Source Package: gettext
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: autopoint from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

gettext 0.21-14ubuntu2

GNU Internationalization utilities

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install gettext
  • Section: devel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 5 dependencies
  • 7 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gettext from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

gettext-base 0.21-14ubuntu2

GNU Internationalization utilities for the base system

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install gettext-base
  • Section: utils
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: gettext
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gettext-base from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

gettext-doc 0.21-14ubuntu2

Documentation for GNU gettext

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install gettext-doc
  • Section: doc
  • Architecture: all
  • Source Package: gettext
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gettext-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

gettext-el 0.21-14ubuntu2

Emacs mode for editing gettext .po files

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install gettext-el
  • Section: universe/lisp
  • Architecture: all
  • Source Package: gettext
  • 3 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gettext-el from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libasprintf-dev 0.21-14ubuntu2

use fprintf and friends in C++ - static libraries and headers

https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/

sudo apt install libasprintf-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: gettext
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gettext
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libasprintf-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

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Same workflow

  • transifex-cliShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, i18n, localization, translation.
  • translate-toolkitShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, i18n, localization, translation.
  • wuchaleShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, i18n, internationalization, localization.
  • crowdinShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, localization, translation.
  • intltoolShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, internationalization, localization, translation.
  • itstoolShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, localization, translation.

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.

Used sources

  • Geiger risk classifier
  • Nucleus package database
  • av.db category and tag curation
  • cross-ecosystem install command graph
  • curated package history
  • external package-manager database matches
  • package relationship graph
  • package version freshness
  • package-page enrichment