macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install jimtcllocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install jimtclMacPorts ports tree · lang/jimtcl/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install jimtcl with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Small footprint implementation of Tcl. Version 0.83 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add jimtclAlpine Linux edge package indexes · jimtcl · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install jimshDebian stable package indexes · jimsh · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install jimtclFedora Rawhide package metadata · jimtcl · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#jimtclnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ji/jimtcl/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S jimtclArch Linux sync databases · jimtcl · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install jimtclopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · jimtcl · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Small footprint implementation of Tcl
Project links
Commands and aliases
- build-jim-ext
- jimdb
- jimsh
history
Project history and usage
Jim Tcl is a small-footprint implementation of Tcl intended for embedding, standalone scripting through `jimsh`, and systems where the full Tcl distribution is too large. Its manual describes a Tcl 8.5-compatible core with many Tcl 8.6 commands, optional modules, object-based I/O, sockets, integer, dict, and operating-system features.
Project history
Jim Tcl began in January 2005 as Salvatore Sanfilippo's experiment in hacking on Tcl. The project README says that after about a month it could run simple scripts, and after about two months it had grown beyond a disposable toy into a candidate real interpreter, with early contributions from Pat Thoyts and Clemens Hintze.
The project later developed into an embeddable interpreter with optional extensions, a modular build, and the `jimsh` command shell. Its copyright and maintainer notes show a wider contributor base by 2008 and Steve Bennett as maintainer, while the release stream and reference manual show continuing work through the 0.8x series.
Adoption history
Jim Tcl's most visible adoption came from embedded and systems tooling. OpenOCD documents that it uses Jim Tcl as its command interpreter, that OpenOCD configuration scripts are Jim Tcl scripts, and that OpenOCD commands extend Jim Tcl. That made Jim Tcl part of the toolchain used by developers working with on-chip debugging and microcontroller boards.
How it is used
Jim Tcl can be linked into applications with `cc <source> -ljim`, used interactively with `jimsh`, or used to run Tcl scripts from files, standard input, or `jimsh -e`. The README frames its use cases as scriptable applications, embedded systems, configuration-file-like syntax, and a compact Tcl implementation that can be shipped inside another program.
Why package nerds care
Jim Tcl is package-nerd catnip because it is a language runtime small enough to show up as both an application dependency and a standalone shell. It explains why some packages depend on `jimsh` or `jimtcl` rather than full Tcl: the value is a Tcl-like extension language in roughly hundreds of kilobytes, with feature selection controlled at build time.
Timeline
- 2005: Salvatore Sanfilippo started Jim Tcl in the first days of January; early contributors helped turn it into a beta-stage interpreter.
- 2008: Steve Bennett appears among project copyright holders and maintainer contacts in the README.
- 2023: Release 0.82 continued the 0.8x series with changes such as `try` traps, `aio stat`, async sockets, and richer frame support.
- 2024: Release 0.83 added changes including multi-level `break` and `continue`, fuller stack traces, `lsort -dict`, and additional I/O improvements.
- 2024: The reference manual identifies Jim Tcl v0.83+ and documents a Tcl 8.5+ compatible core plus selected Tcl 8.6 features.
Related projects
- Jim Tcl is directly related to Tcl, Tcl 8.5, Tcl 8.6, and the embeddable-language tradition represented by Lua and Guile. In packaging graphs it is also tied to OpenOCD, which uses Jim Tcl scripts and command extensions for debugger configuration.
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 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
build-jim-ext | cli | global executable | |
jimdb | cli | global executable | |
jimsh | 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 version0.83
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detected0.83
https://github.com/msteveb/jimtcl
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:jimtcl |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.83 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/jimtcl |
| Homepage | https://jim.tcl.tk/index.html |
| Repository | https://github.com/msteveb/jimtcl |
| Upstream docs | https://jim.tcl-lang.org/home/doc/trunk/jim_tcl.txt |
| License | BSD-2-Clause |
| Source archive | https://github.com/msteveb/jimtcl/archive/refs/tags/0.83.tar.gz |
| Dependencies | openssl@3, readline |
| Uses from macOS | sqlite |
| 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 | jimtcl |
| 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.
Debian apt95%
jimsh 0.83-2
small-footprint implementation of Tcl named Jim
sudo apt install jimsh- Section: devel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
Debian apt95%
libjim-dev 0.83-2
small-footprint implementation of Tcl - development files
sudo apt install libjim-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
Debian apt95%
libjim0.83 0.83-2
small-footprint implementation of Tcl - shared library
sudo apt install libjim0.83- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
Nix95%
jimtcl
nix profile install nixpkgs#jimtcl- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
Ubuntu apt95%
jimsh 0.82-4.1build2
small-footprint implementation of Tcl named Jim
sudo apt install jimsh- Section: universe/devel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
Ubuntu apt95%
libjim-dev 0.82-4.1build2
small-footprint implementation of Tcl - development files
sudo apt install libjim-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
Ubuntu apt95%
libjim0.82t64 0.82-4.1build2
small-footprint implementation of Tcl - shared library
sudo apt install libjim0.82t64- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
apk95%
jimtcl 0.83-r0
An open-source, small footprint implementation of Tcl
https://github.com/msteveb/jimtcl
sudo apk add jimtcl- License: BSD-2-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
apk95%
jimtcl-dbg 0.83-r0
An open-source, small footprint implementation of Tcl (debug symbols)
https://github.com/msteveb/jimtcl
sudo apk add jimtcl-dbg- License: BSD-2-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
apk95%
jimtcl-dev 0.83-r0
An open-source, small footprint implementation of Tcl (development files)
https://github.com/msteveb/jimtcl
sudo apk add jimtcl-dev- License: BSD-2-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
apk95%
jimtcl-doc 0.83-r0
An open-source, small footprint implementation of Tcl (documentation)
https://github.com/msteveb/jimtcl
sudo apk add jimtcl-doc- License: BSD-2-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: jimtcl
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
apk95%
jimtcl-readline 0.83-r0
Interface to readline and Tcl wrapper for Jim Tcl
https://github.com/msteveb/jimtcl
sudo apk add jimtcl-readline- License: BSD-2-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
apk95%
jimtcl-sqlite3 0.83-r0
Interface to sqlite3 for Jim Tcl
https://github.com/msteveb/jimtcl
sudo apk add jimtcl-sqlite3- License: BSD-2-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
dnf95%
jimtcl 0.83-4.fc44
A small embeddable Tcl interpreter
sudo dnf install jimtcl- License: BSD-2-Clause-Views
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 13 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
dnf95%
jimtcl-devel 0.83-4.fc44
Development files for jimtcl
sudo dnf install jimtcl-devel- License: BSD-2-Clause-Views
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: jimtcl
- 5 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
pacman95%
jimtcl 0.83-3
A small footprint implementation of Tcl
https://jim.tcl-lang.org/home/doc/www/www/index.html
sudo pacman -S jimtcl- License: BSD-2-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Jimtcl
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