macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install intltoollocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install intltoolMacPorts ports tree · textproc/intltool/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install intltool with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
String tool. Version 0.51.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add intltoolAlpine Linux edge package indexes · intltool · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install intltoolDebian stable package indexes · intltool · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install intltoolFedora Rawhide package metadata · intltool · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#intltoolnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/in/intltool/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S intltoolArch Linux sync databases · intltool · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install intltoolopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · intltool · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
String tool
Project links
Commands and aliases
- intltool-extract
- intltool-merge
- intltool-prepare
- intltool-update
- intltoolize
history
Project history and usage
intltool is a gettext-adjacent internationalization tool collection for extracting, collecting, and merging translations for desktop-era data formats such as XML, Glade, .desktop, .server, and OAF files. Its niche was not a new translation catalog format, but the build-system glue that let GNOME and freedesktop-style projects keep using PO files while translating non-C source assets.
Project history
The freedesktop project page presents intltool as a centralizing layer around GNU gettext-compatible PO files. Older distribution references and the project page point to Launchpad and older GNOME FTP downloads, which matches its role as a long-lived GNOME/freedesktop build dependency rather than an application-facing tool.
The tool's later history is tied to deprecation by capability growth in GNU gettext. GNOME's migration guide says intltool was invented to bridge the gap between what gettext supported and what modern GNOME application files needed, and that gettext support for formats such as GtkBuilder XML, .desktop files, GSettings schemas, AppData, and ITS-backed XML made intltool increasingly unnecessary.
Adoption history
intltool became common because desktop projects needed translations in metadata and UI description files, not only in C or header sources. Its presence in package managers such as Homebrew and traditional Linux distributions reflects its status as a build-time dependency carried forward for older autotools projects.
As gettext absorbed more file-format support, adoption shifted from new use toward compatibility. GNOME's migration guide is explicitly written for removing intltool from build chains and replacing its macros, generated files, and desktop/XML merge rules with direct gettext rules.
How it is used
Package builders usually encounter intltool through commands such as intltoolize, intltool-extract, intltool-merge, intltool-update, and intltool-prepare. The important operational detail is that it participates in the source tree's translation build flow rather than acting as an end-user localization editor.
Why package nerds care
intltool is package-nerd archaeology: a small dependency that explains why many older GNOME and freedesktop tarballs have m4 macros, .in files, and translation merge steps that look unlike modern gettext-only projects. Knowing why it existed helps maintainers decide whether to patch it in, keep it as a build dependency, or migrate it away.
Timeline
- GNOME/freedesktop era: intltool is used to bridge gettext PO files with translatable XML, Glade, .desktop, .server, and OAF files.
- 2010-2015: gettext gains support for several file types that intltool had commonly handled.
- 2016: GNOME publishes migration guidance for moving intltool-using projects to pure gettext.
- 2021: The freedesktop intltool page points users to Launchpad for downloads and bugs, with older versions on GNOME FTP.
Related projects
- GNU gettext is the translation system intltool wraps and eventually yields to for many use cases.
- itstool is called out by GNOME as the fallback path for XML formats not covered by gettext's native handling.
- GNOME and freedesktop desktop application build systems are the ecosystem where intltool mattered most.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 10 platform targets.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
intltool-extract | cli | global executable | |
intltool-merge | cli | global executable | |
intltool-prepare | cli | global executable | |
intltool-update | cli | global executable | |
intltoolize | 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 version0.51.0
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://wiki.freedesktop.org/www/Software/intltool
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://wiki.freedesktop.org/www/Software/intltoolnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:intltool |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.51.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/intltool |
| Homepage | https://wiki.freedesktop.org/www/Software/intltool |
| Repository | https://code.launchpad.net/intltool |
| Upstream docs | https://freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/intltool |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://launchpad.net/intltool/trunk/0.51.0/+download/intltool-0.51.0.tar.gz |
| Uses from macOS | perl |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, 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 | intltool |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 2 |
| 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.
Debian apt95%
intltool 0.51.0-7
Utility scripts for internationalizing XML
https://launchpad.net/intltool
sudo apt install intltool- Section: devel
- Architecture: all
- 7 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Intltool
Nix95%
intltool
nix profile install nixpkgs#intltool- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Intltool
Ubuntu apt95%
intltool 0.51.0-6
Utility scripts for internationalizing XML
https://launchpad.net/intltool
sudo apt install intltool- Section: universe/devel
- Architecture: all
- 7 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Intltool
apk95%
intltool 0.51.0-r9
The internationalization tool collection
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/intltool
sudo apk add intltool- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: intltool
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Intltool
apk95%
intltool-doc 0.51.0-r9
The internationalization tool collection (documentation)
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/intltool
sudo apk add intltool-doc- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: intltool
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Intltool
dnf95%
intltool 0.51.0-44.fc44
Utility for internationalizing various kinds of data files
https://launchpad.net/intltool
sudo dnf install intltool- License: GPL-2.0-or-later WITH Autoconf-exception-generic
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: intltool
- 6 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Intltool
pacman95%
intltool 0.51.0-6
The internationalization tool collection
https://launchpad.net/intltool
sudo pacman -S intltool- License: GPL
- Architecture: any
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Intltool
zypper95%
intltool 0.51.0-8.6
Internationalization Tool Collection
https://edge.launchpad.net/intltool/
sudo zypper install intltool- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Development/Tools/Other
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: intltool
- 4 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Intltool
MacPorts95%
intltool
sudo port install intltool- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Intltool
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