install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install kalker

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install kalker

MacPorts ports tree · math/kalker/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add kalker

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · kalker · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#kalker

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ka/kalker/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Windows

Scoopverified · 92%

scoop install main/kalker

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/kalker.json · source: api.github.com

Windows Package Managerverified · 92%

winget install --id PaddiM8.kalker -e

Windows Package Manager source index · PaddiM8.kalker · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com

overview

Package summary

Full-featured calculator with math syntax

Project links

Commands and aliases

kalker

history

Project history and usage

Kalker is a Rust-based scientific calculator packaged as a command-line tool and also presented as a website, Android app, WebAssembly-backed browser calculator, Rust library, JavaScript binding, and web component. In package-manager terms it belongs to the small but loved class of terminal calculators that try to feel like math notation rather than a four-function shell utility.

Project history

The GitHub repository was created on 2020-06-04, and GitHub releases show public 0.1.x builds beginning on 2020-06-12. The README describes Kalker as supporting variables, user-defined functions, complex numbers, differentiation, integration, vectors, matrices, number bases, syntax highlighting, and loading predefined function files.

The project split its reusable engine from its front ends: the README identifies the Rust crate `kalk` as the library that powers the tool, plus `@paddim8/kalk` JavaScript bindings and `@paddim8/kalk-component` for browser use. That made Kalker more than a single binary while keeping the Homebrew package focused on the `kalker` executable.

Adoption history

Kalker followed the Rust CLI adoption path: Cargo installation from upstream, release binaries for major desktop platforms, then distribution through package managers including Homebrew, MacPorts, AUR, Nix/NixOS, NetBSD pkgsrc, Scoop, and winget as recorded by its README and batch package metadata.

By 2026-07-01, the repository metadata showed roughly low-thousands GitHub stars, enough to mark it as a recognized niche calculator rather than infrastructure software.

How it is used

Typical use is interactive or one-shot calculation with math-like syntax: defining variables and functions, evaluating symbolic-looking expressions, using constants and built-in functions, and loading a personal file of predefined formulas. Its appeal is strongest for people who want a terminal-native calculator without switching mental models to a spreadsheet or CAS notebook.

The documented file-loading behavior and default startup file make it useful for recurring domain formulas, such as physics constants or repeated engineering calculations, while staying lightweight enough for shell workflows.

Why package nerds care

Kalker is interesting to package nerds because it is a multi-surface Rust project whose CLI, library, npm binding, and browser demo all orbit one calculation engine. It also shows the modern pattern of a small desktop utility being available through Cargo, OS package managers, JavaScript packaging, and WebAssembly at the same time.

Timeline

2020: GitHub repository created and 0.1.x releases published.
2024: v2.2.0 released, showing the project had moved well beyond its initial Rust CLI shape.
2025: v2.2.2 released on GitHub.

Related projects

`kalk` is the Rust crate behind Kalker, and `@paddim8/kalk` exposes the engine to JavaScript and WebAssembly use.
Kalker sits near terminal calculators such as bc, qalc, and eva, but emphasizes human-readable math syntax and multi-platform app surfaces.

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 8 platform targets.
Build metadata lists 1 build dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Configuration files

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Linux: $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/kalker/default.kalker~/.config/kalker/default.kalker
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/kalker/default.kalker
Windows: %APPDATA%\kalker\default.kalker

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`kalker`	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 version2.2.2

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv2.2.2

https://github.com/PaddiM8/kalker

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:kalker
Version	2.2.2
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/kalker
Homepage	https://kalker.strct.net
Repository	https://github.com/PaddiM8/kalker
Upstream docs	https://github.com/PaddiM8/kalker#readme
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/PaddiM8/kalker/archive/refs/tags/v2.2.2.tar.gz
Build dependencies	rust
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, 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	kalker
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Nix95%

kalker

nix profile install nixpkgs#kalker

normalized package name match
Matched by: Kalker

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ka/kalker/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

apk95%

kalker 2.2.2-r0

Calculator that supports user-defined variables, functions, differentiation, and integration

https://kalker.xyz

sudo apk add kalker

License: MIT
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: kalker
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Kalker

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: kalker from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

MacPorts95%

kalker

sudo port install kalker

normalized package name match
Matched by: Kalker

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: math/kalker/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Scoop95%

main/kalker

scoop install main/kalker

normalized package name match
Matched by: Kalker

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · api.github.com · Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/kalker.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1

winget95%

PaddiM8.kalker

winget install --id PaddiM8.kalker -e

normalized package name match
Matched by: Kalker

Windows Package Manager source index · cdn.winget.microsoft.com · Windows Package Manager source index: PaddiM8.kalker from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

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.

combined/kalker.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated configuration and credential file locations
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install kalker with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix, scoop, winget