# Install gspell with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Flexible API to implement spellchecking in GTK+ applications. Version 1.14.4 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-26. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:gspell ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install gspell ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install gspell ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: gnome/gspell/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add gspell ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gspell from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install gir1.2-gspell-1 ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: gir1.2-gspell-1 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install gspell ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: gspell 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#gspell ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/gs/gspell/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S gspell ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: gspell from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install gspell ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gspell from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:gspell - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.14.4 - **Source summary:** Flexible API to implement spellchecking in GTK+ applications - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-2.1-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-26T20:32:27Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - gspell-app1 (cli) - gspell-app1 (alias) ## Dependencies - at-spi2-core - cairo - enchant - gdk-pixbuf - gettext - glib - gtk+3 - harfbuzz - icu4c@78 - pango ## Build dependencies - gobject-introspection - meson - ninja - pkgconf - vala ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.14.4 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-26 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage gspell is a GNOME spell-checking library for GTK applications. It provides a GObject-based API, inline spell checking for GtkEntry and GtkTextView, a GtkTextView spell-check dialog, language choosers, and support for the no-spell-check tag used by GtkSourceView and libgedit-gtksourceview. ### Project history The first gspell release was 0.1.0 on 2015-09-30. Its NEWS file says that the code came from the gedit spell plugin rather than being written from scratch. The project quickly moved toward library polish: 0.1.2 created a GNOME Bugzilla product and online API reference naming, 0.2.2 relicensed the code from GPLv2+ to LGPLv2.1+, and 1.0.0 on 2016-03-20 declared the API stable with backward-compatible 1.x stable versions. Later releases followed GNOME's even/odd minor-version scheme. The 1.5 development cycle added gspell-app1 and documented no-spell-check tag support; 1.7 adopted Enchant 2; 1.8.1 recorded the move to GNOME GitLab; and the 1.13 development cycle removed Autotools and added Meson. ### Adoption history gspell's adoption is tied to GTK 3 application development and GNOME text editing components. The README explicitly says the 1.x versions target GTK 3, and the API is designed for applications that want spelling support without embedding a full editor. For packagers, the project's own notes recommend hunspell over aspell on GNU/Linux because Enchant prefers hunspell and aspell does not work well with gspell. That makes dictionary packaging part of the practical gspell story. ### How it is used Application developers use gspell to add spell-checking widgets and behavior to GTK interfaces. It wraps lower-level spelling services through Enchant and exposes GTK-friendly components such as checkers, language choosers, and inline checking for text widgets. The small gspell-app1 program, introduced during the 1.5 development cycle, gives packagers and developers a convenient command to exercise the library. ### Why package nerds care gspell is interesting because it extracted spell-checking behavior from an application plugin into a reusable GNOME library. That is exactly the kind of small desktop-stack component distributions package so multiple apps can share one implementation. Its dependency notes matter in packaging practice: GLib, GTK 3, Enchant, ICU, hunspell dictionaries, GIR packages, and GTK documentation all affect whether downstream applications get spell-checking that works cleanly. ### Timeline - 2015: First 0.1.0 release, based on code from the gedit spell plugin. - 2015: 0.2.2 relicensed gspell from GPLv2+ to LGPLv2.1+. - 2016: 1.0.0 declared the API stable for the 1.x line. - 2017: 1.5.2 added gspell-app, later renamed gspell-app1. - 2017: 1.7.1 switched to Enchant 2. - 2018: 1.8.1 recorded the move to GNOME GitLab. - 2024: 1.13.1 added Meson and removed Autotools. ### Related projects - gedit is the source lineage for the first gspell code. - GtkSpell is named by the README as the basis for an enhanced GtkTextView inline spell checker. - GtkSourceView and libgedit-gtksourceview are related through the no-spell-check tag support. - Enchant, hunspell, and ICU are practical spelling and language dependencies. ### 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:** gspell - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - gir1.2-gspell-1 - 1.14.0-2+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: gir1.2-gspell-1 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | spell-checking library for GTK+ applications - GObject introspection | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - Debian apt - gspell-1-tests - 1.14.0-2+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: gspell-1-tests from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | spell-checking library for GTK+ applications - installed tests | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - Debian apt - libgspell-1-3 - 1.14.0-2+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libgspell-1-3 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | spell-checking library for GTK+ applications | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - Debian apt - libgspell-1-common - 1.14.0-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libgspell-1-common from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | libgspell architecture-independent files | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - Debian apt - libgspell-1-dev - 1.14.0-2+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libgspell-1-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | spell-checking library for GTK+ applications - development files | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - Debian apt - libgspell-1-doc - 1.14.0-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libgspell-1-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | spell-checking library for GTK+ applications - documentation | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - Nix - gspell: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/gs/gspell/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - gir1.2-gspell-1 - 1.12.2-1build4: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gir1.2-gspell-1 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | spell-checking library for GTK+ applications - GObject introspection | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - Ubuntu apt - gspell-1-tests - 1.12.2-1build4: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gspell-1-tests from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | spell-checking library for GTK+ applications - installed tests | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - Ubuntu apt - libgspell-1-2 - 1.12.2-1build4: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgspell-1-2 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | spell-checking library for GTK+ applications | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - Ubuntu apt - libgspell-1-common - 1.12.2-1build4: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgspell-1-common from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | libgspell architecture-independent files | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - Ubuntu apt - libgspell-1-dev - 1.12.2-1build4: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgspell-1-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | spell-checking library for GTK+ applications - development files | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - Ubuntu apt - libgspell-1-doc - 1.12.2-1build4: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgspell-1-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | spell-checking library for GTK+ applications - documentation | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - apk - gspell - 1.14.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gspell from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Flexible API to add spell checking to a GTK+ application | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - apk - gspell-dbg - 1.14.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gspell-dbg from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Flexible API to add spell checking to a GTK+ application (debug symbols) | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell - apk - gspell-dev - 1.14.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gspell-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Flexible API to add spell checking to a GTK+ application (development files) | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gspell ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [cairo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cairo/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [enchant](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/enchant/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gdk-pixbuf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gdk-pixbuf/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gettext](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gettext/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [glib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/glib/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gtk+3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gtk-3/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [harfbuzz](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/harfbuzz/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gobject-introspection](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gobject-introspection/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [meson](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/meson/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [ninja](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ninja/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [cherrytree](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cherrytree/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [enter-tex](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/enter-tex/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [evince](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/evince/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [gedit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gedit/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [geeqie](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/geeqie/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [gitg](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gitg/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [gnome-recipes](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gnome-recipes/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [pan](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pan/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [hunspell](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hunspell/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library, spell-checking. - [libadwaita](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libadwaita/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, gnome, gtk, library. - [libdazzle](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libdazzle/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, gnome, gtk, library. - [libiconv](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libiconv/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library, text. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/gspell.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/gspell.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