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brew

Install giflib with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper

Library and utilities for processing GIFs. Version 6.1.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-04-13.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install giflib

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install giflib

MacPorts ports tree · graphics/giflib/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add giflib

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

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install giflib-tools

Debian stable package indexes · giflib-tools · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install giflib

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · giflib · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#giflib

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/gi/giflib/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S giflib

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

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install giflib-devel

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · giflib-devel · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Library and utilities for processing GIFs

Commands and aliases

  • gifbuild
  • gifclrmp
  • giffix
  • giftext
  • giftool

history

Project history and usage

GIFLIB is the long-lived C library and utility collection for reading, writing, inspecting, and transforming GIF images.

Project history

GIFLIB traces its code lineage to a DOS library and command-line tool set written by Gershon Elber between the GIF87 and GIF89 specifications, with version 1.0 dated June 1989. Eric S. Raymond ported the code to System V Unix by the end of 1989 and reworked parts of the API between 1989 and 1992.

During the LZW patent era, part of the code base traveled as libungif with compression removed. Compression support was merged back after the blocking patent expired, and the project resumed the giflib name. In 2012, Raymond returned to project leadership, released 4.2, and followed with 5.0, a release that addressed old backlog items, thread-safety, GIF89 control blocks, and obsolete utility cleanup.

Adoption history

GIFLIB's own history records that the Unix port was incorporated into NCSA Mosaic in 1994, making it part of the early web's image stack. The project describes the library as deployed across browsers, graphics applications, operating systems, smartphones, game consoles, and embedded devices.

How it is used

Practitioners use GIFLIB either through the C API or through utilities such as giftext, giffix, gifbuild, giftool, and gifclrmp. The library supports sequential GIF I/O and whole-image in-memory workflows, while the utility set helps inspect, repair, compose, and transform GIF files.

Why package nerds care

GIFLIB matters to package maintainers because it is small, mature infrastructure with a very large reverse-dependency surface. Its ABI changes, security hardening, and fuzzing fixes carry ecosystem weight out of proportion to the package's size.

Timeline

  • 1989: GIFLIB 1.0 dated in the original DOS lineage.
  • 1994: GIFLIB-derived code used in NCSA Mosaic.
  • 1998: Toshio Kuratomi shipped 4.0.
  • 2004: Compression support merged back after patent expiry.
  • 2012: Version 5.0 released with thread-safety and GIF89 API work.

Related projects

  • libungif is part of GIFLIB's patent-era history. Gifsicle, ImageMagick, browser engines, and many image-processing stacks occupy adjacent or dependent parts of the GIF ecosystem.

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.

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
gifbuildcliglobal executable
gifclrmpcliglobal executable
giffixcliglobal executable
giftextcliglobal executable
giftoolcliglobal 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 version6.1.3
manager updated2026-04-13
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://giflib.sourceforge.net/

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:giflib
Version6.1.3
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/giflib
Homepagehttps://giflib.sourceforge.net/
Repositoryhttps://sourceforge.net/p/giflib/code
Upstream docshttps://github.com/simonwhitaker/gibo#readme
LicenseMIT
Source archivehttps://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/giflib/giflib-6.x/giflib-6.1.3.tar.gz
Last updated2026-04-13T13:38:27Z
Pulseupdated
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 Namegiflib
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%

giflib-tools 5.2.2-1+b1

library for GIF images (utilities)

https://giflib.sourceforge.net/

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

libgif-dev 5.2.2-1+b1

library for GIF images (development)

https://giflib.sourceforge.net/

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

libgif7 5.2.2-1+b1

library for GIF images (library)

https://giflib.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libgif7
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: giflib
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libgif7 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

giflib

nix profile install nixpkgs#giflib
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/gi/giflib/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Ubuntu apt95%

giflib-tools 5.2.2-1ubuntu1

library for GIF images (utilities)

https://giflib.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install giflib-tools
  • Section: universe/utils
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: giflib
  • 4 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: giflib-tools from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libgif-dev 5.2.2-1ubuntu1

library for GIF images (development)

https://giflib.sourceforge.net/

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

libgif7 5.2.2-1ubuntu1

library for GIF images (library)

https://giflib.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libgif7
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: giflib
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgif7 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

giflib 5.2.2-r1

A library for reading and writing GIF images

https://sourceforge.net/projects/giflib/

sudo apk add giflib
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: giflib
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: giflib from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

giflib-dev 5.2.2-r1

A library for reading and writing GIF images (development files)

https://sourceforge.net/projects/giflib/

sudo apk add giflib-dev
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: giflib
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: giflib-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

giflib-doc 5.2.2-r1

A library for reading and writing GIF images (documentation)

https://sourceforge.net/projects/giflib/

sudo apk add giflib-doc
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: giflib
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: giflib-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

giflib-static 5.2.2-r1

A library for reading and writing GIF images (static library)

https://sourceforge.net/projects/giflib/

sudo apk add giflib-static
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: giflib
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: giflib-static from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

giflib-utils 5.2.2-r1

Programs for manipulating GIF format image files

https://sourceforge.net/projects/giflib/

sudo apk add giflib-utils
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: giflib
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: giflib-utils from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

giflib 6.1.3-2.fc45

A library and utilities for processing GIFs

http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/giflib/

sudo dnf install giflib
  • License: MIT
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: giflib
  • 2 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: giflib from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

giflib-devel 6.1.3-2.fc45

Development files for programs using the giflib library

http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/giflib/

sudo dnf install giflib-devel
  • License: MIT
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: giflib
  • 2 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: giflib-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

giflib-utils 6.1.3-2.fc45

Programs for manipulating GIF format image files

http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/giflib/

sudo dnf install giflib-utils
  • License: MIT
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: giflib
  • 5 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: giflib-utils from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

mingw32-giflib 6.1.3-2.fc45

MinGW Windows giflib library

http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/giflib/

sudo dnf install mingw32-giflib
  • License: MIT
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: noarch
  • Source Package: giflib
  • 3 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Giflib
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: mingw32-giflib from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

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

  • giboShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, github, gitignore, source-control.
  • fetchShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, github, source-control.
  • ghorgShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, github, source-control.
  • ghqShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, source-control.
  • gickupShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, source-control.
  • gitnrShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, gitignore, templates.

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