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brew

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

JavaScript Bindings for GNOME. Version 1.88.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-29.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install gjs

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install gjs

MacPorts ports tree · gnome/gjs/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add gjs

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

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install gjs

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

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install gjs

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

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#gjs

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

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S gjs

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

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install gjs

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · gjs · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

JavaScript Bindings for GNOME

Commands and aliases

  • gjs
  • gjs-console

history

Project history and usage

GJS is GNOME's JavaScript runtime, built on Firefox's SpiderMonkey engine and GNOME platform libraries. It lets JavaScript programs use GNOME APIs through GObject Introspection and provides the runtime used by GNOME Shell, extensions, and many GNOME applications.

Project history

The GJS README gives an unusually direct origin story: the idea traces to an August 2008 blog post and experimental gscript code, while the recognizable project form was developed in October 2008 at litl for the litl webbook.

GJS was soon adopted as the basis of GNOME Shell's user-interface code and extension system, and the README says it debuted as a fundamental component of GNOME 3.0. That made it a central runtime in the GNOME desktop rather than a standalone scripting curiosity.

In 2013, during the GNOME Developer Experience Hackfest, GJS was declared the first among equals for GNOME application development. The README records that this was controversial and later abandoned, but the episode shows how seriously GNOME considered JavaScript as an application language.

Adoption history

The GJS README names GNOME Shell, Maps, Characters, Sound Recorder, and many other apps as GJS users. It also notes use in Endless OS's offline-content framework and in Cinnamon through a forked version.

Package metadata in this batch shows GJS distributed through Homebrew, Alpine, Debian, Fedora, MacPorts, Nix, Arch, Ubuntu, and openSUSE. That breadth follows from its role as a GNOME platform component and language runtime.

How it is used

Practitioners use GJS to write JavaScript programs that call GNOME platform libraries. The README documents an interactive interpreter, whole-program execution with gjs filename.js, debugger support through -d in supported versions, and coverage-report facilities.

GJS is also used by extension authors and desktop developers because GNOME Shell and related applications expose platform behavior through JavaScript. The runtime bridges familiar JavaScript syntax with GTK, GLib, and other introspected GNOME libraries.

Why package nerds care

GJS matters to package people because it is both a language runtime and a desktop-platform dependency. Packaging it means coordinating SpiderMonkey, GObject Introspection, GNOME libraries, ABI expectations, and application consumers.

It also represents a major desktop choosing an embedded JavaScript runtime for core UI behavior. That makes GJS more like a platform runtime than a conventional command-line interpreter.

Timeline

  • 2008: The GJS README traces the idea to an August blog post and experimental gscript code.
  • 2008: GJS in recognizable form is developed at litl in October.
  • 2011: GNOME 3.0 debuts with GNOME Shell, using GJS as a fundamental component.
  • 2013: GJS is named first among equals for GNOME application development at a GNOME Developer Experience Hackfest.
  • 2018: The README records GJS use in GNOME apps, Endless OS, and Cinnamon.

Related projects

  • SpiderMonkey is the JavaScript engine embedded by GJS.
  • GObject Introspection is the binding mechanism that exposes GNOME libraries to JavaScript.
  • GNOME Shell is the most prominent consumer of GJS.
  • Cinnamon and Endless OS are named by the README as related adopters or downstream users.

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

  • narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

  • metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

  • No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
  • Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
  • Installs with 6 runtime dependencies.
  • Build metadata lists 4 build 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
gjscliglobal executable
gjs-consolecliglobal 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 version1.88.1
manager updated2026-06-29
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs/wikis/Home

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:gjs
Version1.88.1
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/gjs
Homepagehttps://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs/wikis/Home
Repositoryhttps://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs
Upstream docshttps://gjs-docs.gnome.org/gjs
LicenseLGPL-2.0-or-later AND MIT
Source archivehttps://download.gnome.org/sources/gjs/1.88/gjs-1.88.1.tar.xz
Last updated2026-06-29T04:06:11Z
Pulseupdated
Dependenciescairo, gettext, glib, libx11, readline, spidermonkey
Build dependenciesgobject-introspection, meson, ninja, pkgconf
Uses from macOSlibffi
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 Namegjs
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Head VersionHEAD
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
URL Keys
  • head
  • 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%

gjs 1.82.3-1

Mozilla-based javascript bindings for the GNOME platform (cli tool)

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs/-/blob/master/doc/README.md

sudo apt install gjs
  • Section: interpreters
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 4 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: gjs from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

gjs-tests 1.82.3-1

Mozilla-based javascript bindings for the GNOME platform (tests)

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs/-/blob/master/doc/README.md

sudo apt install gjs-tests
  • Section: interpreters
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: gjs
  • 11 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: gjs-tests from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libgjs-dev 1.82.3-1

Mozilla-based javascript bindings for GNOME - development files

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs/-/blob/master/doc/README.md

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

libgjs0g 1.82.3-1

Mozilla-based javascript bindings for the GNOME platform

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs/-/blob/master/doc/README.md

sudo apt install libgjs0g
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: gjs
  • 15 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libgjs0g from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

gjs

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

gjs 1.80.2-1build2

Mozilla-based javascript bindings for the GNOME platform (cli tool)

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs/-/blob/master/doc/README.md

sudo apt install gjs
  • Section: interpreters
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 4 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gjs from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

gjs-tests 1.80.2-1build2

Mozilla-based javascript bindings for the GNOME platform (tests)

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs/-/blob/master/doc/README.md

sudo apt install gjs-tests
  • Section: universe/interpreters
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: gjs
  • 11 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gjs-tests from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libgjs-dev 1.80.2-1build2

Mozilla-based javascript bindings for the GNOME platform

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs/-/blob/master/doc/README.md

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

libgjs0g 1.80.2-1build2

Mozilla-based javascript bindings for the GNOME platform

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs/-/blob/master/doc/README.md

sudo apt install libgjs0g
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: gjs
  • 15 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgjs0g from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

gjs 1.88.0-r1

GNOME javascript library

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs

sudo apk add gjs
  • License: MIT AND LGPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: gjs
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gjs from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

gjs-dbg 1.88.0-r1

GNOME javascript library (debug symbols)

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs

sudo apk add gjs-dbg
  • License: MIT AND LGPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: gjs
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gjs-dbg from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

gjs-dev 1.88.0-r1

GNOME javascript library (development files)

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gjs

sudo apk add gjs-dev
  • License: MIT AND LGPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: gjs
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gjs-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

gjs 1.88.0-1.fc45

Javascript Bindings for GNOME

https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Gjs

sudo dnf install gjs
  • License: MIT AND BSD-3-Clause AND (MIT OR LGPL-2.0-or-later) AND (MPL-1.1 OR GPL-2.0-or-later OR LGPL-2.1-or-later)
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: gjs
  • 17 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: gjs from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

gjs-devel 1.88.0-1.fc45

Development package for gjs

https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Gjs

sudo dnf install gjs-devel
  • License: MIT AND BSD-3-Clause AND (MIT OR LGPL-2.0-or-later) AND (MPL-1.1 OR GPL-2.0-or-later OR LGPL-2.1-or-later)
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: gjs
  • 4 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: gjs-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

gjs-tests 1.88.0-1.fc45

Tests for the gjs package

https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Gjs

sudo dnf install gjs-tests
  • License: MIT AND (MIT OR LGPL-2.0-or-later) AND BSD-3-Clause
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: gjs
  • 13 dependencies
  • 6 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: gjs-tests from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
pacman95%

gjs 2:1.88.0-1

Javascript Bindings for GNOME

https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Gjs

sudo pacman -S gjs
  • License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • 13 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Gjs
Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: gjs from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

package graph

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

Related tools

  • cairoRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • gettextRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • glibRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • spidermonkeyRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • gobject-introspectionBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • mesonBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • ninjaBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • pkgconfBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • boaShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, javascript, language-runtime.
  • denoShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, javascript, language-runtime.
  • duktapeShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, javascript, language-runtime.
  • fibjsShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, javascript, language-runtime.
  • jerryscriptShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, javascript, language-runtime.
  • mujsShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, javascript, language-runtime.

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