# Install gnu-go with Homebrew, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Plays the game of Go. Version 3.8 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:gnu-go ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install gnu-go ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install gnugo ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: games/gnugo/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install gnugo ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: gnugo from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install gnugo ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: gnugo 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#gnugo ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/gn/gnugo/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S gnugo ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: gnugo from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install gnugo ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gnugo from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:gnu-go - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 3.8 - **Source summary:** Plays the game of Go - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-3.0-or-later AND LicenseRef-Homebrew-public-domain AND LicenseRef-Homebrew-cannot-represent - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - gnugo (cli) - gnugo (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 3.8 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.gnu.org/software/gnugo/gnugo.html - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage GNU Go is the GNU Project's free software program for playing the game of Go, distributed as a command-line engine with documented algorithms, protocol support, graphical-client integration, and developer-facing internals. ### Project history GNU Go developed in the late 1990s and 2000s as a free software answer to proprietary Computer Go programs. Its manual argues that before GNU Go, Go programs were commonly distributed only as binaries with secret algorithms, while GNU Go made its source and algorithms open for inspection, criticism, and improvement. The manual names Daniel Bump, Gunnar Farneback, and Arend Bayer as maintainers for GNU Go 3.8, and lists a long chronological authorship chain beginning with Man Li and Wayne Iba. It also thanks Stuart Cracraft, Richard Stallman, and Man Lung Li for interest in making the program part of GNU. ### Adoption history The GNU Go home page states that GNU Go played thousands of games on NNGS and also appeared on LGS, WING, and KGS through volunteer clients. It describes GNU Go as a leading non-commercial Go program in tournaments it entered, reflecting its role as an accessible engine for both players and Computer Go developers. Its adoption was helped by protocol and client support. The manual documents CGoban setup, lists free graphical clients such as Quarry, qGo, ccGo, RubyGo, Jago, FreeGoban, Mac GNU Go, and Gogui, and explains that GNU Go 3.0 introduced the Go Text Protocol while GMP remained widely used in tournaments. ### How it is used Practitioners use `gnugo` directly in ASCII mode, through graphical Go clients, as a GTP engine for programs and test harnesses, or as a source base for studying Computer Go algorithms. It reads and writes SGF, can load game records, generate moves for a side to play, set board size and komi, and expose developer traces for understanding move selection. ### Why package nerds care GNU Go is package-relevant because it is a classic free software game engine with stable command-line behavior and protocol support. It gave Unix-like distributions a non-commercial Go opponent, a testable GTP engine, and a documented Computer Go codebase long before neural-network Go engines reshaped the field. ### Timeline - 1999-2008: GNU Go manual copyright span records active FSF-era development. - GNU Go 3.0: Go Text Protocol introduced. - 2009: GNU Go 3.8 released and manual generated. - 2019: GNU Go web page update record remained tied to the 3.8 documentation set. ### Related projects - CGoban and the Go Modem Protocol shaped early GUI and tournament use. - Go Text Protocol became an interprocess protocol for Go engines and clients. - SGF support connected GNU Go to the standard game-record format used by Go software. ### 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-go - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 1 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - MacPorts - gnugo: installed executable or alias match | MacPorts ports tree: games/gnugo/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Debian apt - gnugo - 3.8-13: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: gnugo from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | play the game of Go | http://www.gnu.org/software/gnugo/ - Nix - gnugo: installed executable or alias match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/gn/gnugo/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - gnugo - 3.8-11build2: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gnugo from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | play the game of Go | http://www.gnu.org/software/gnugo/ - dnf - gnugo - 3.8-38.fc44: installed executable or alias match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: gnugo from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Text based go program | http://www.gnu.org/software/gnugo/gnugo.html - pacman - gnugo - 3.8-8: installed executable or alias match | Arch Linux sync databases: gnugo from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Program that plays the game of Go | https://www.gnu.org/software/gnugo/ - zypper - gnugo - 1371149103.84a32e9c-3.8: installed executable or alias match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gnugo from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Chinese Board Game "Go" | https://savannah.gnu.org/projects/gnugo ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Language runtime packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/language-runtime-packages/) - Matched language runtime, compiler, or interpreter 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. - [cgoban](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cgoban/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: board-game, board-games, cli, games, go. - [gnu-chess](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gnu-chess/) - 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. - [fuego](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fuego/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, go, go-game. - [katago](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/katago/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game-engine, games, go. - [arx-libertatis](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/arx-libertatis/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game-engine, games. - [chocolate-doom](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chocolate-doom/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game-engine, games. - [corsixth](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/corsixth/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game-engine, games. - [xboard](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/xboard/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, engine, game, games, gnu. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/gnu-go.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/gnu-go.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