# 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 ```sh sudo av install brew:intltool ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install intltool ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install intltool ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: textproc/intltool/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add intltool ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: intltool from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install intltool ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: intltool from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install intltool ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: intltool 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#intltool ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/in/intltool/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S intltool ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: intltool from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install intltool ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: intltool from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:intltool - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.51.0 - **Source summary:** String tool - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - intltool-extract (cli) - intltool-merge (cli) - intltool-prepare (cli) - intltool-update (cli) - intltoolize (cli) - intltool-extract (alias) - intltool-merge (alias) - intltool-prepare (alias) - intltool-update (alias) - intltoolize (alias) ## Uses from macOS - perl ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.51.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://wiki.freedesktop.org/www/Software/intltool - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 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:** intltool - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 2 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - intltool - 0.51.0-7: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: intltool from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Utility scripts for internationalizing XML | https://launchpad.net/intltool - Nix - intltool: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/in/intltool/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - intltool - 0.51.0-6: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: intltool from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Utility scripts for internationalizing XML | https://launchpad.net/intltool - apk - intltool - 0.51.0-r9: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: intltool from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | The internationalization tool collection | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/intltool - apk - intltool-doc - 0.51.0-r9: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: intltool-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | The internationalization tool collection (documentation) | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/intltool - dnf - intltool - 0.51.0-44.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: intltool from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Utility for internationalizing various kinds of data files | https://launchpad.net/intltool - pacman - intltool - 0.51.0-6: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: intltool from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | The internationalization tool collection | https://launchpad.net/intltool - zypper - intltool - 0.51.0-8.6: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: intltool from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Internationalization Tool Collection | https://edge.launchpad.net/intltool/ - MacPorts - intltool: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: textproc/intltool/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## 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. - [itstool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/itstool/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, localization, translation, xml. - [po4a](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/po4a/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, gettext, localization, translation. - [translate-toolkit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/translate-toolkit/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, gettext, localization, translation. - [crowdin](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/crowdin/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, localization, translation. - [phrase-cli](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/phrase-cli/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, localization, translation. - [podiff](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/podiff/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, gettext, localization. - [transifex-cli](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/transifex-cli/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, localization, translation. - [decasify](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/decasify/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, localization. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/intltool.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/intltool.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