# Install git-if with Homebrew Glulx interpreter that is optimized for speed. Version 1.3.8 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:git-if ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install git-if ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:git-if - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.3.8 - **Source summary:** Glulx interpreter that is optimized for speed - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - git-if (cli) - git-if (alias) ## Build dependencies - glktermw ## Uses from macOS - ncurses ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.3.8 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://ifarchive.org/indexes/if-archive/programming/glulx/interpreters/git/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage Git, packaged by Homebrew as `git-if`, is an interpreter for the Glulx virtual machine used by interactive-fiction games. The package name avoids confusion with the Git version-control system. ### Project history IF Archive identifies the interpreter as Iain Merrick's Git and describes it as optimized for speed. Archived binaries show releases for PocketPC, MS-DOS, Windows console mode, and source distributions, while the maintained GitHub repository describes the code as originally written by Merrick and later maintained by David Kinder. ### Adoption history Git's adoption is tied to the Glulx ecosystem rather than general-purpose developer tooling. IFWiki lists it as a Glulx interpreter used by projects such as Gargoyle, Windows Git, and other interactive-fiction front ends, giving it a role as a fast interpreter core for playable story files. ### How it is used Practitioners use Git by building it with a Glk library, which provides the user interface layer. The GitHub README notes that Windows Glk support is included for Windows builds, while Unix-style builds depend on an appropriate Glk implementation. ### Why package nerds care The package is a naming oddity: `git-if` installs software named Git that is unrelated to source control. It is useful to package catalogs because it preserves an interactive-fiction interpreter without colliding with the ubiquitous `git` command. ### Timeline - 2004: IF Archive records PocketPC and MS-DOS builds for early 1.0.x releases. - 2010: DavidKinder/Git repository created on GitHub. - 2017: IF Archive records source and Windows console builds for Git 1.3.5. - 2023: IF Archive records source code for Git 1.3.8. - 2025: IF Archive records a Windows binary of Git 1.3.8 using Windows Glk. ### Related projects - Git belongs to the Glulx interpreter family alongside Glulxe and front ends such as Gargoyle. It also depends on the Glk interface layer, with Windows Glk serving the Windows build. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes generalized runtime or code generation signal. - **Geiger risk:** yellow / medium - generalized runtime or code generation signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** git-if - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [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. - [Archive and compression packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/archive-compression-tools/) - Matched archive or compression metadata. - [glulxe](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/glulxe/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, glulx, interactive-fiction, interpreter. - [dmagnetic](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dmagnetic/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interactive-fiction, interpreter. - [fizmo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fizmo/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interactive-fiction, interpreter. - [frotz](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/frotz/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interactive-fiction, interpreter. - [dungeon](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dungeon/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interactive-fiction. - [qtads](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/qtads/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interactive-fiction. - [zork](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/zork/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interactive-fiction. - [easyrpg-player](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/easyrpg-player/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interpreter. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/git-if.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/git-if.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 - cross-ecosystem install command graph