install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install kotlin-language-server

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install kotlin-language-server

MacPorts ports tree · devel/kotlin-language-server/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add kotlin-language-server

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · kotlin-language-server · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#kotlin-language-server

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ko/kotlin-language-server/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Intelligent Kotlin support for any editor/IDE using the Language Server Protocol

Project links

Commands and aliases

kotlin-language-server

history

Project history and usage

fwcd/kotlin-language-server is the long-running community Kotlin implementation of the Language Server Protocol. It mattered because it gave editor-agnostic Kotlin completion, diagnostics, hover, symbols, and navigation before JetBrains published an official Kotlin language server.

Project history

The GitHub repository was created on 2018-05-28 and early release metadata shows version 0.1.3 on 2018-06-12. The README describes a language server providing smart completion, diagnostics, hover, document symbols, definition lookup, and signature help for Kotlin in any LSP-capable editor.

The README explicitly notes that JetBrains later published an official language server and that this community project can be considered deprecated. JetBrains documentation describes the official Kotlin Language Server as based on IntelliJ IDEA, the IntelliJ IDEA Kotlin plugin, JetBrains AIR, and Fleet.

Adoption history

The project became widely referenced because Kotlin users outside IntelliJ IDEA and Android Studio needed LSP support in editors such as VS Code, Atom, Vim/Neovim, Emacs, and Helix. Package-manager adoption in Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, and APK reflects that cross-editor audience.

GitHub repository metadata observed on 2026-07-01 reported 2,035 stars and 249 forks, a notable footprint for a language server maintained outside the language vendor.

How it is used

Users install the `kotlin-language-server` executable and configure an LSP client in their editor. For classpaths, the README documents automatic Maven or Gradle resolution as well as manual scripts such as `[project root]/kls-classpath` or config-root `kotlin-language-server/classpath` files.

Its practical use was strongest for Kotlin/JVM projects where editor users wanted language intelligence without opening the project in IntelliJ IDEA.

Why package nerds care

This package is significant because language servers are exactly the kind of tool package managers make useful: one executable can unlock editor integrations across many frontends.

It also captures a transitional moment in language tooling, where community LSP implementations filled gaps until language vendors shipped official servers.

Timeline

2018-05-28: GitHub repository created.
2018-06-12: 0.1.3 release published in GitHub release metadata.
2019-08-16: 0.3.0 release published.
2019-10-25: 0.4.0 release published.
2025: JetBrains documentation published an official Kotlin Language Server page, and the community README marked fwcd/kotlin-language-server deprecated in favor of it.

Related projects

The project is related to the Language Server Protocol, Kotlin compiler internals, editor LSP clients, VS Code Kotlin integrations, and JetBrains' official Kotlin Language Server.
It also sits near kotlin-debug-adapter and tree-sitter-kotlin, both of which appear in the README as companion editor-agnostic Kotlin tooling.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: blue

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

Risk classifier

blue risk · medium confidence · tool

Why

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal

Signals

text:server

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 8 platform targets.
Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
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.

Unix: [project root]/kls-classpath[project root]/kls-classpath.sh~/.config/kotlin-language-server/classpath~/.config/kotlin-language-server/classpath.sh
Windows: [project root]\kls-classpath.bat[project root]\kls-classpath.cmd%HOMEPATH%\.config\kotlin-language-server\classpath.bat

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`kotlin-language-server`	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 version1.3.13

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detected1.3.13

https://github.com/fwcd/kotlin-language-server

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:kotlin-language-server
Version	1.3.13
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/kotlin-language-server
Homepage	https://github.com/fwcd/kotlin-language-server
Repository	https://github.com/fwcd/kotlin-language-server
Upstream docs	https://github.com/fwcd/kotlin-language-server#readme
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/fwcd/kotlin-language-server/archive/refs/tags/1.3.13.tar.gz
Dependencies	openjdk@21
Build dependencies	gradle
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	kotlin-language-server
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%

kotlin-language-server

nix profile install nixpkgs#kotlin-language-server

normalized package name match
Matched by: Kotlin Language Server

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

apk95%

kotlin-language-server 1.3.13-r0

Kotlin code completion, linting and more for any editor/IDE using the Language Server Protocol

https://github.com/fwcd/kotlin-language-server

sudo apk add kotlin-language-server

License: MIT
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: kotlin-language-server
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Kotlin Language Server

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: kotlin-language-server from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

MacPorts95%

kotlin-language-server

sudo port install kotlin-language-server

normalized package name match
Matched by: Kotlin Language Server

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: devel/kotlin-language-server/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

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/kotlin-language-server.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 kotlin-language-server with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix