# Install hqx with Homebrew, dnf Magnification filter designed for pixel art. Version 1.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:hqx ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install hqx ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install hqx ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: hqx from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:hqx - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.2 - **Source summary:** Magnification filter designed for pixel art - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-2.1-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - hqx (cli) - hqx (alias) ## Dependencies - devil ## Build dependencies - autoconf - automake - libtool - pkgconf ## 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: 1.2 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/grom358/hqx - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage hqx is a C library and command-line tool for the hq2x, hq3x, and hq4x pixel-art scaling filters. The upstream README describes hqx as a fast, high-quality magnification filter designed for pixel art. ### Project history The grom358 implementation packages Maxim Stepin's hqx pixel-art scaling family as a buildable Unix library and CLI. Its NEWS file says version 1.0 added 24-bit color support, a command-line tool using the DevIL image library, and an autotools build system. The README explains the algorithmic shape: each source pixel is evaluated against its 3-by-3 neighborhood, color differences are calculated in YUV space, a 256-entry lookup table selects interpolation patterns, and the result preserves sharp edges better than nearest-neighbor scaling for sprites and line art. ### Adoption history The README ties hqx to emulator culture, naming Nestopia, bsnes, ZSNES, Snes9x, and FCE Ultra as users of the algorithm family. Homebrew and Fedora packaging make the grom358 library/CLI available outside emulator source trees. ### How it is used The documented CLI usage is `hqx -s scaleBy input output`, where the scale is 2, 3, or 4. The library API exposes functions such as `hq4x_32` after `hqxInit()`, allowing applications to scale RGB bitmaps directly. The filter is intended for images with sharp edges, such as pixel art, line graphics, and cartoon sprites, rather than photographs. ### Why package nerds care hqx matters because it packages a once-emulator-specific graphics algorithm as a reusable system library and filter command. That is exactly the sort of niche media primitive package managers keep alive: small, old-school, useful when you need it, and awkward to rederive from scratch. Its significance is also historical: hq2x/hq3x/hq4x belong to the era when emulator authors competed to make low-resolution console graphics look acceptable on higher-resolution displays without losing pixel-art structure. ### Timeline - 2001-2002: Archived HiEnd3D hq2x material carries Maxim Stepin copyright dates. - 1.0: The grom358 NEWS file records 24-bit color support, the DevIL-based command-line tool, and autotools build support. - 1.2: Homebrew packages the grom358 hqx implementation as version 1.2. ### Related projects - hq2x, hq3x, and hq4x are the three scaling filters implemented by the package. - DevIL is the image library required by the documented command-line build. - Nestopia, bsnes, ZSNES, Snes9x, and FCE Ultra are emulator projects named in the upstream README as users of the hqx algorithm family. - Scale2x and 2xSaI are neighboring pixel-art scaling algorithms shown alongside hq2x in preserved HiEnd3D comparison material. ### 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:** hqx - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - dnf - hqx - 1.2-13.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: hqx from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | High quality upscaling program for pixel-art | https://github.com/grom358/hqx - dnf - libhqx - 1.2-13.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libhqx from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | High quality upscaling library for pixel-art | https://github.com/grom358/hqx - dnf - libhqx-devel - 1.2-13.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libhqx-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Development files for libhqx | https://github.com/grom358/hqx ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [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. - [Media and graphics packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/media-graphics-tools/) - Matched media, image, audio, video, or graphics metadata. - [autoconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/autoconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [automake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/automake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libtool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libtool/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [camellia](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/camellia/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c-library, cli, image-processing, media. - [gdk-pixbuf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gdk-pixbuf/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c-library, cli, image-processing, media. - [imageworsener](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/imageworsener/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image-processing, image-scaling, media. - [leptonica](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/leptonica/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c-library, cli, image-processing, media. - [babl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/babl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image-processing, media. - [caire](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/caire/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image-processing, media. - [chafa](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chafa/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image-processing, media. - [dssim](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dssim/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image-processing, media. - [glyph](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/glyph/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: art, cli, image, image-processing, media. - [jp2a](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jp2a/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: art, cli, image, image-processing, media. - [triangle](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/triangle/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: art, cli, image, image-processing, media. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/hqx.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/hqx.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