macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install gpgmelocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install gpgmeMacPorts ports tree · devel/gpgme/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install gpgme with Homebrew, apk, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper, apt
Library access to GnuPG. Version 2.1.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-30.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add gpgmeAlpine Linux edge package indexes · gpgme · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install gpgmeFedora Rawhide package metadata · gpgme · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#gpgmenixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/gp/gpgme/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S gpgmeArch Linux sync databases · gpgme · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install gpgmeopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · gpgme · source: download.opensuse.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install gpgme-jsonDebian stable package indexes · gpgme-json · source: deb.debian.org
overview
Package summary
Library access to GnuPG
Project links
Commands and aliases
- gnupg-key-manage
- gpgme-config
- gpgme-json
- gpgme-tool
history
Project history and usage
GPGME, short for GnuPG Made Easy, is the official C API for integrating applications with the GnuPG crypto stack. It gives programs a stable high-level interface for encryption, decryption, signing, verification, and key management instead of scripting the `gpg` command line.
Project history
GPGME was created inside the GnuPG ecosystem to make public-key crypto engines easier for applications to use. The reference manual describes it as a C library that uses GnuPG and GpgSM as backends for OpenPGP and CMS.
The NEWS file records a 1.0.0 release on 2004-09-30, described by the project as a thoroughly tested stable library branch. Shortly after that, version 1.0.2 on 2004-12-28 changed the library license to LGPL-2.1-or-later, a significant packaging and application-integration decision.
Over time GPGME grew beyond its C surface. The GnuPG wiki documents official bindings for C++, Qt, Python, and Common Lisp, and the NEWS file records later work on Python bindings, `gpgme-json`, and a 2.0.0 release in 2025 that split the C++, Qt, and Python bindings into separately released projects.
Adoption history
The GnuPG project recommends GPGME as the way applications should use the GnuPG crypto stack, because command-line options and textual output are not the same thing as an official API. That recommendation is why GPGME shows up as a dependency under mail user agents, desktop key managers, package-signing tools, and language bindings.
Distribution adoption follows from that API role. Homebrew packages the library together with command-line helper tools such as `gpgme-config`, `gpgme-json`, `gpgme-tool`, and `gnupg-key-manage`; Debian and Ubuntu expose `gpgme-json`; and other package systems carry the core `gpgme` library.
How it is used
Applications create a GPGME context and use library calls for encryption, decryption, signing, signature verification, key listing, import, export, and key management. GPGME invokes GnuPG or GpgSM behind the API, so application code does not need to parse `gpg` status output directly.
The library is especially important for mail user agents and GUI tools that need OpenPGP or S/MIME support without becoming cryptographic engines themselves.
Why package nerds care
GPGME is packaging glue with security consequences. It hides command-line churn behind ABI and API promises, which lets desktop applications, TUI tools, mail clients, and language bindings depend on GnuPG while still integrating with normal shared-library packaging.
For maintainers, GPGME also explains why many packages pull in the GnuPG stack even when they are not named `gpg`: they need the supported API, the engine binaries, libgpg-error, and sometimes Assuan or language binding packages.
Timeline
- 2004-09-30: GPGME 1.0.0 established the stable 1.x branch.
- 2004-12-28: GPGME 1.0.2 changed the library license to LGPL-2.1-or-later.
- 2005-10-01: GPGME 1.1.0 added configurable backend engine filenames and home directories.
- 2018-04-18: GPGME 1.11.0 added `gpgme-json` as a native messaging server for web browsers.
- 2024-06-17: The GnuPG wiki API page documented GPGME as the recommended API and listed official language bindings.
- 2025-06-03: GPGME 2.0.0 split C++, Qt, and Python bindings into separately released projects.
- 2026-05-18: GPGME 2.1.0 added new decrypt result fields and context flags.
Related projects
- Related GnuPG components include GnuPG, GpgSM, libgpg-error, libassuan, pinentry, GPA, Kleopatra, Gpg4win, and language binding packages built over GPGME.
Sources
security posture
No protected-tool coverage found yet
No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for gpgme. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 3 runtime 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
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
gnupg-key-manage | cli | global executable | |
gpgme-config | cli | global executable | |
gpgme-json | cli | global executable | |
gpgme-tool | cli | global 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 version2.1.2
manager updated2026-06-30
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:gpgme |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.1.2 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/gpgme |
| Homepage | https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/ |
| Repository | https://dev.gnupg.org/source/gpgme.git |
| Upstream docs | https://www.gnupg.org/documentation/manuals/gpgme |
| License | LGPL-2.1-or-later |
| Source archive | https://www.gnupg.org/ftp/gcrypt/gpgme/gpgme-2.1.2.tar.bz2 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-30T15:25:23Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | gnupg, libassuan, libgpg-error |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | gpgme |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Nix95%
gpgme
nix profile install nixpkgs#gpgme- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
apk95%
gpgme 2.0.1-r1
gnupg made easy
https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
sudo apk add gpgme- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: gpgme
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
apk95%
gpgme-dev 2.0.1-r1
gnupg made easy (development files)
https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
sudo apk add gpgme-dev- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: gpgme
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
apk95%
gpgme-doc 2.0.1-r1
gnupg made easy (documentation)
https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
sudo apk add gpgme-doc- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: gpgme
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
apk95%
gpgme-lisp 2.0.1-r1
Common Lisp bindings for GPGME
https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
sudo apk add gpgme-lisp- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: gpgme
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
dnf95%
gpgme 2.0.1-4.fc45
GnuPG Made Easy - high level crypto API
https://gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
sudo dnf install gpgme- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later AND MIT
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: gpgme
- 7 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
dnf95%
gpgme-devel 2.0.1-4.fc45
Development headers and libraries for gpgme
https://gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
sudo dnf install gpgme-devel- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later AND MIT
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: gpgme
- 10 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
pacman95%
gpgme 2.1.0-1
C wrapper library for GnuPG
https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
sudo pacman -S gpgme- License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later AND MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
zypper95%
gpgme 2.1.0-1.1
Programmatic library interface to GnuPG
https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
sudo zypper install gpgme- License: GPL-3.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Category: Productivity/Security
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: gpgme
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
zypper95%
gpgme-devel 2.1.0-1.1
Development files for GPGME, a C library for accessing GnuPG
https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
sudo zypper install gpgme-devel- License: GPL-3.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Category: Development/Libraries/C and C++
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: gpgme
- 4 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
zypper95%
libgpgme45 2.1.0-1.1
Programmatic library interface to GnuPG
https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
sudo zypper install libgpgme45- License: GPL-3.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Category: System/Libraries
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: gpgme
- 6 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
zypper95%
libgpgme45-32bit 2.1.0-1.1
Programmatic library interface to GnuPG
https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
sudo zypper install libgpgme45-32bit- License: GPL-3.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Category: System/Libraries
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: gpgme
- 5 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
MacPorts95%
gpgme
sudo port install gpgme- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gpgme
Debian apt92%
gpgme-json 1.24.2-3
Use GnuPG with web browser extensions
https://gnupg.org/software/gpgme/
sudo apt install gpgme-json- Section: utils
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: gpgme1.0
- 3 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Gpgme JSON
Ubuntu apt92%
gpgme-json 1.18.0-4.1ubuntu4
json interface to the GPGME GnuPG encryption library
https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/gpgme/
sudo apt install gpgme-json- Section: universe/web
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: gpgme1.0
- 3 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Gpgme JSON
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.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
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