# Install gnu-chess with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Chess-playing program. Version 6.3.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:gnu-chess ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install gnu-chess ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install gnuchess ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: games/gnuchess/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add gnuchess ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gnuchess from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install gnuchess ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: gnuchess from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install gnuchess ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: gnuchess from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#gnuchess ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/gn/gnuchess/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S gnuchess ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: gnuchess from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install gnuchess ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gnuchess from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:gnu-chess - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 6.3.0 - **Source summary:** Chess-playing program - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-3.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - gnuchess (cli) - gnuchessu (cli) - gnuchessx (cli) - gnuchess (alias) - gnuchessu (alias) - gnuchessx (alias) ## Dependencies - readline ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Caveats: This formula also downloads the additional opening book. The opening book is a PGN file located in $HOMEBREW_CELLAR/gnu-chess/6.3.0/share/doc/gnu-chess that can be added using gnuchess commands. - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 6.3.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.gnu.org/software/chess/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage GNU Chess is the GNU Project chess program: a command-line chess interface and engine that became important both as a playable free software game and as a stable backend for chess front ends. ### Project history GNU Chess belongs to the early tradition of free software chess programs and retained long-term value because it shipped complete source, a command interface, and portable Unix build tooling. The GNU project later renamed its distribution file from `chess` to `gnuchess`, reflecting the conventional package and executable identity used by distributions. The version 6 line was a major architectural turn. The GNU Chess manual explains that the last 5.x release was 5.08 in 2011, after which Fruit 2.1, by Fabien Letouzey, became the base for GNU Chess v6 after copyright assignment to the Free Software Foundation. GNU Chess 6 kept backward-compatible external interfaces while adapting Fruit through a PolyGlot-based protocol adapter. The NEWS file records GNU Chess 6.0.0 as the first official v6 release in April 2011. Subsequent releases added internationalization, graphical terminal board display, UCI mode fixes, XBoard integration files, man-page generation, PGN replay, command history, configuration handling, and security fixes. ### Adoption history GNU Chess has been widely used as a packaged chess engine because it works from a terminal yet also plugs into graphical front ends. The v6 developer notes explicitly cite worldwide use as the reason for preserving old interfaces while adopting Fruit. The manual describes use as both an interactive text-console program and a backend engine for XBoard-compatible front ends, with UCI mode also available. ### How it is used Practitioners run `gnuchess` directly for terminal play, script it for engine experiments, pair it with XBoard or other chess front ends, or invoke UCI mode when a UCI-speaking interface is desired. Package users also rely on its book files, PGN loading and saving, FEN/EPD workflows, and configuration file behavior for repeatable engine sessions. ### Why package nerds care GNU Chess matters to package culture because it is both a historically recognizable GNU game and an engine compatibility artifact. It links the older XBoard/Chess Engine Communication Protocol world with the UCI engine world, making it useful for testing front ends, packaging chess engine stacks, and keeping a free command-line baseline available across Unix-like systems. ### Timeline - 2011: GNU Chess 5.08 ended the 5.x line. - 2011: GNU Chess 6.0.0 released with Fruit 2.1 and PolyGlot-derived adapter architecture. - 2013: GNU Chess 6.1.0 added gettext internationalization and terminal graphic mode. - 2015: GNU Chess 6.2.0 added tighter XBoard integration and a generated man page. - 2021: GNU Chess 6.2.9 fixed CVE-2021-30184 in PGN loading and replay. ### Related projects - Fruit 2.1 supplies the engine base for GNU Chess v6. - PolyGlot supplies the adapter model used to bridge UCI and XBoard-style communication. - XBoard and WinBoard are front ends in the chess ecosystem that shaped GNU Chess interface compatibility. ### Sources - - - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** gnu-chess - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - MacPorts - gnuchess: installed executable or alias match | MacPorts ports tree: games/gnuchess/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Debian apt - gnuchess - 6.2.9-0.1: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: gnuchess from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Plays a game of chess, either against the user or against itself | https://www.gnu.org/software/chess/ - Nix - gnuchess: installed executable or alias match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/gn/gnuchess/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - gnuchess - 6.2.7-1build1: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gnuchess from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Plays a game of chess, either against the user or against itself | https://www.gnu.org/software/chess/ - apk - gnuchess - 6.3.0-r0: installed executable or alias match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gnuchess from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | The GNU chess program | https://www.gnu.org/software/chess/ - apk - gnuchess-doc - 6.3.0-r0: installed executable or alias match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gnuchess-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | The GNU chess program (documentation) | https://www.gnu.org/software/chess/ - dnf - gnuchess - 6.3.0-2.fc44: installed executable or alias match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: gnuchess from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | The GNU chess program | https://www.gnu.org/software/chess/ - pacman - gnuchess - 6.3.0-1: installed executable or alias match | Arch Linux sync databases: gnuchess from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Play chess against the computer on a terminal and an engine for graphical chess frontends | https://www.gnu.org/software/chess/chess.html - zypper - gnuchess - 6.3.0-1.3: installed executable or alias match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gnuchess from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | GNU Chess Program | https://www.gnu.org/software/chess/ ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Game and emulation packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/game-emulation-tools/) - Matched game or emulation metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [fairy-stockfish](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fairy-stockfish/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chess, cli, games, uci, xboard. - [polyglot](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/polyglot/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chess, cli, games, uci, xboard. - [fairymax](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fairymax/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chess, cli, games, xboard. - [gnu-go](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gnu-go/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: board-game, board-games, cli, game-engine, games. - [gnu-shogi](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gnu-shogi/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: board-game, board-games, cli, game-engine, games. - [lc0](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lc0/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chess, cli, games, uci. - [stockfish](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/stockfish/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chess, cli, games, uci. - [cgoban](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cgoban/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: board-game, board-games, cli, games. - [xboard](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/xboard/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: chess, cli, engine, game, games. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/gnu-chess.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/gnu-chess.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