install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install libiodbc

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install libiodbc

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

Linux

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install libiodbc

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

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#libiodbc

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

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%

sudo pacman -S libiodbc

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

overview

Package summary

Database connectivity layer based on ODBC. (alternative to unixodbc)

Project links

Commands and aliases

iodbc-config
iodbctest
iodbctestw

history

Project history and usage

iODBC is an open source ODBC driver manager for Unix-like systems and other platforms. In package-manager terms, libiodbc is the alternative ODBC driver-manager stack most often compared with unixODBC.

Project history

The iODBC source tree carries copyright attribution to Ke Jin in 1995 and OpenLink Software from 1996 onward. The official FAQ says iODBC stands for Independent Open Database Connectivity, is dual-licensed under BSD and LGPL terms, and is hosted by OpenLink for the wider community as a free ODBC driver-manager component for Linux, macOS, Unix-like systems, VMS, and other platforms.

The README frames iODBC as a complete implementation of an ODBC driver manager plus the iodbctest command-line SQL interface. It also documents the Unix configuration model around ODBCINI, ~/.odbc.ini, system odbc.ini, and odbcinst.ini, which became the practical shape that packagers and administrators deal with.

Adoption history

iODBC appears in long-running Unix and macOS packaging because many database clients and language bindings need a driver manager that can load vendor ODBC drivers. The official downloads page lists source builds, macOS SDK installers, and distro package names for Debian-family, Fedora, Gentoo, and FreeBSD systems.

How it is used

Users install libiodbc to provide libiodbc, iodbc-config, iodbctest, and related driver-manager pieces. It is used to define DSNs, load ODBC driver shared libraries, test database connectivity, and support applications that speak the ODBC API rather than a database-specific client API.

Why package nerds care

libiodbc matters because ODBC is a cross-language, cross-database compatibility layer, and driver managers sit at an awkward boundary between system configuration, dynamic linking, GUI setup tools, and per-driver credentials. The package is also historically interesting on macOS because Apple shipped iODBC components while package managers continued to carry OpenLink-maintained builds.

Timeline

1995: The source tree records the original iODBC copyright attribution to Ke Jin.
1996: OpenLink Software began the copyright period recorded by the project and later became custodian and sponsor according to the official FAQ.
2009-09-11: iODBC 3.52.7 added the iODBC Graphical Administrator for Mac OS X and other driver-manager fixes.
2016-07-12: iODBC 3.52.12 added Cocoa dialogs and a 64-bit iODBC Administrator for Mac OS X workflows.
2023-05-02: OpenLink published the 3.52.16 release on GitHub.

Related projects

Related projects include unixODBC as the other common open source ODBC driver manager, OpenLink ODBC drivers, Virtuoso, language bindings such as DBD::ODBC and Ruby/ODBC, and database-specific ODBC drivers for PostgreSQL, MySQL, and commercial databases.

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:database

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 12 platform targets.
Build metadata lists 3 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: $ODBCINI~/.odbc.ini/etc/odbc.ini/etc/odbcinst.ini

Credential files

Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.

Unix: $ODBCINI~/.odbc.ini/etc/odbc.ini

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure
`iodbc-config`	cli	global executable
`iodbctest`	cli	global executable
`iodbctestw`	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 version3.52.16

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv3.52.16

https://github.com/openlink/iODBC

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:libiodbc
Version	3.52.16
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/libiodbc
Homepage	https://www.iodbc.org/
Repository	https://github.com/openlink/iODBC
Upstream docs	https://www.iodbc.org/dataspace/doc/iodbc/wiki/iodbcWiki/FAQ
License	BSD-3-Clause OR LGPL-2.0-only
Source archive	https://github.com/openlink/iODBC/archive/refs/tags/v3.52.16.tar.gz
Build dependencies	autoconf, automake, libtool
Bottle	available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, monterey, 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	libiodbc
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	yes
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%

libiodbc

nix profile install nixpkgs#libiodbc

normalized package name match
Matched by: Libiodbc

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

dnf95%

libiodbc 3.52.16-4.fc44

iODBC Driver Manager

http://www.iodbc.org/

sudo dnf install libiodbc

License: LGPL-2.0-only OR BSD-3-Clause
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: libiodbc
2 dependencies
3 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Libiodbc

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libiodbc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

libiodbc-devel 3.52.16-4.fc44

Header files and libraries for iODBC development

http://www.iodbc.org/

sudo dnf install libiodbc-devel

License: LGPL-2.0-only OR BSD-3-Clause
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: libiodbc
5 dependencies
2 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Libiodbc

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libiodbc-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

pacman95%

libiodbc 3.52.16-2

Independent Open DataBase Connectivity for Linux

http://www.iodbc.org/dataspace/doc/iodbc/wiki/iodbcWiki/

sudo pacman -S libiodbc

License: LGPL
Architecture: x86_64
1 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Libiodbc

Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: libiodbc from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

MacPorts95%

libiodbc

sudo port install libiodbc

normalized package name match
Matched by: Libiodbc

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: devel/libiodbc/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/libiodbc.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 libiodbc with Homebrew, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman