Automic VaultAutomic Vault

brew

Install lcov with Homebrew, apk, chocolatey, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper

Graphical front-end for GCC's coverage testing tool (gcov). Version 2.5 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-07.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install lcov

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install lcov

MacPorts ports tree · devel/lcov/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add lcov

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

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install lcov

Debian stable package indexes · lcov · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install lcov

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · lcov · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#lcov

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

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S lcov

Arch Linux sync databases · lcov · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install lcov

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · lcov · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Graphical front-end for GCC's coverage testing tool (gcov)

Commands and aliases

  • gendesc
  • genhtml
  • geninfo
  • genpng
  • lcov
  • llvm2lcov
  • perl2lcov
  • py2lcov
  • xml2lcov
  • xml2lcovutil.py

history

Project history and usage

LCOV is the Linux Test Project GCOV extension: a suite of Perl-oriented command-line tools that collect, transform, merge, filter, and render code coverage data, most famously as navigable HTML reports generated by `genhtml`.

Project history

The LCOV README describes the project as a tool for manipulating and displaying what parts of a program were covered during tests. It began as a front end around GCC `gcov` output and was initially designed to support Linux kernel coverage measurements, while also working for ordinary user-space programs.

Over time LCOV expanded beyond GCC `gcov` text data. The README lists converters and support for coverage sources such as LLVM `llvm-cov`, Python Coverage.py, Cobertura-like XML, Perl Devel::Cover, and Jacoco-style workflows, along with differential coverage, date binning, owner binning, and spreadsheet/reporting support.

Adoption history

LCOV became a common package in Unix developer toolchains because it gives C and C++ projects a simple path from compiler coverage flags to browsable HTML reports. It is packaged across Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, Nix, MacPorts, Chocolatey, Alpine, and openSUSE-style ecosystems.

Its adoption also comes from CI and kernel-development workflows: coverage reports are easy to publish as artifacts, and LCOV trace files can be merged, filtered, and compared across test runs.

How it is used

Typical usage captures baseline or test coverage with `lcov` or `geninfo`, removes unwanted paths, merges trace files, and renders the result with `genhtml`. Related utilities convert data from Perl, Python, LLVM, and XML coverage formats into LCOV trace data.

Why package nerds care

LCOV matters to package nerds because it is one of the standard lingua franca formats and toolsets for coverage artifacts. Many packages, CI recipes, and dashboards understand LCOV trace files or HTML output even when the project itself uses a different compiler or language.

It is also a classic example of a packaging-friendly developer tool: script-based, manpage documented, configurable via system and user rc files, and useful both in local shells and noninteractive build farms.

Timeline

  • 2000s: LCOV originated in the Linux Test Project as a GCOV extension for kernel coverage measurement.
  • 2022-06-03: Version 1.16 release published on GitHub.
  • 2023-05-25: Version 2.0 release published.
  • 2024-04-19: Version 2.1 release published.
  • 2025-01-09: Version 2.3 release published.
  • 2025-12-21: Version 2.4 release published.

Related projects

  • Related projects and formats include GCC `gcov`, LLVM `llvm-cov`, Linux Test Project, Coverage.py, Cobertura XML, Perl Devel::Cover, Jacoco, gcovr, CI coverage artifact publishing, and kernel coverage tooling.

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.
  • 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
/etc/lcovrc~/.lcovrc

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
gendesccliglobal executable
genhtmlcliglobal executable
geninfocliglobal executable
genpngcliglobal executable
lcovcliglobal executable
llvm2lcovcliglobal executable
perl2lcovcliglobal executable
py2lcovcliglobal executable
xml2lcovcliglobal executable
xml2lcovutil.pycliglobal 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 version2.5
manager updated2026-07-07
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:lcov
Version2.5
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/lcov
Homepagehttps://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov
Repositoryhttps://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov
Upstream docshttps://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov#readme
LicenseGPL-2.0-or-later
Source archivehttps://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov/releases/download/v2.5/lcov-2.5.tar.gz
Last updated2026-07-07T08:09:46Z
Pulseupdated
Build dependenciessphinx-doc
Uses from macOSperl
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Namelcov
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Head VersionHEAD
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
URL Keys
  • head
  • 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.

Debian apt95%

lcov 2.3.1-1

Summarise Code coverage information from GCOV

https://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov

sudo apt install lcov
  • Section: devel
  • Architecture: all
  • 9 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Lcov
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: lcov from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

lcov

nix profile install nixpkgs#lcov
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Lcov
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/lc/lcov/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Ubuntu apt95%

lcov 2.0-4ubuntu2

Summarise Code coverage information from GCOV

https://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov.git

sudo apt install lcov
  • Section: universe/devel
  • Architecture: all
  • 7 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Lcov
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: lcov from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

lcov 2.3.1-r1

LCOV is an extension to GCOV. It provides a graphical frontend for converage information

https://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov

sudo apk add lcov
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: lcov
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Lcov
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lcov from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

lcov-doc 2.3.1-r1

LCOV is an extension to GCOV. It provides a graphical frontend for converage information (documentation)

https://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov

sudo apk add lcov-doc
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: lcov
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Lcov
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lcov-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

lcov 2.0-7.fc44

LTP GCOV extension code coverage tool

https://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov/

sudo dnf install lcov
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: noarch
  • Source Package: lcov
  • 5 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Lcov
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: lcov from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
pacman95%

lcov 2.4-1

front-end for GCC’s coverage testing tool gcov

https://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov

sudo pacman -S lcov
  • License: GPL
  • Architecture: any
  • 5 dependencies
  • 5 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Lcov
Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: lcov from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz
zypper95%

lcov 2.4-1.2

A Graphical GCOV Front-end

https://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov

sudo zypper install lcov
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: noarch
  • Source Package: lcov
  • 9 dependencies
  • 3 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Lcov
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: lcov from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

lcov-example 2.4-1.2

Example for lcov

https://github.com/linux-test-project/lcov

sudo zypper install lcov-example
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: noarch
  • Source Package: lcov
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Lcov
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: lcov-example from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst
MacPorts95%

lcov

sudo port install lcov
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Lcov
MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: devel/lcov/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Chocolatey95%

lcov

choco install lcov
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Lcov
Chocolatey community package catalog · community.chocolatey.org · Chocolatey community package catalog: lcov from http://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/Packages?$filter=IsLatestVersion&$select=Id&$top=1000&$skiptoken='11','kubectx'

package graph

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

Related tools

Same workflow

  • gcovrShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, coverage, developer-tools, gcov, testing.
  • kcovShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, coverage, developer-tools, testing.
  • allureShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, testing.
  • artilleryShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, testing.
  • bustedShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, testing.
  • bztShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, testing.

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.

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