# Install libplist with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Library for Apple Binary- and XML-Property Lists. Version 2.7.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-13. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:libplist ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install libplist ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install libplist ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: textproc/libplist/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add libplist ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libplist from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install libplist++-2.0-4 ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: libplist++-2.0-4 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install libplist ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libplist from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#libplist ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libplist/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S libplist ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: libplist from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install libplist++-2_0-4 ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libplist++-2_0-4 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:libplist - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 2.7.0 - **Source summary:** Library for Apple Binary- and XML-Property Lists - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-2.1-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-13T23:35:04+02:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - plistutil (cli) - plistutil (alias) ## Build dependencies - autoconf - automake - libtool - pkgconf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 2.7.0 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-13 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/libimobiledevice/libplist - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage libplist is the libimobiledevice project's portable C library for Apple property-list data. It reads and writes binary, XML, JSON, and OpenStep plist formats and ships the `plistutil` command-line converter. ### Project history libplist belongs to the libimobiledevice family, a free software stack for talking to iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Apple TV devices from non-Apple platforms without bundling Apple's proprietary libraries. In that stack, property-list parsing is foundational because many Apple device protocols exchange structured plist data. The NEWS file shows the library evolving from the 1.x API line into 2.x releases with a custom XML parser, binary-plist parsing refactors, fuzzing, Cython bindings, JSON/OpenStep support, and more explicit format/error APIs. ### Adoption history The README states that libplist is used by libimobiledevice and corresponding projects. Distribution packaging follows from that role: a small serialization library becomes a shared dependency for iOS-device tooling, command-line utilities, and bindings. The project also gained packaging importance outside direct device access because plist files are a common Apple serialization format. `plistutil` gives Unix users a simple way to convert and inspect those files without Apple tooling. ### How it is used Developers link libplist to parse, generate, and convert plist data in C or C++ programs, with optional Python bindings. Command-line users use `plistutil` to convert between supported plist encodings. Packagers care about the library/utility split, generated documentation, Cython option, and libimobiledevice dependency graph. ### Why package nerds care libplist is significant because it is the small serialization layer underneath a larger reverse-engineered device-access stack. It turns Apple's plist formats into ordinary Unix-library territory. Its security and fuzzing history matter because plist parsing often sits at a trust boundary: tools may ingest files or device-provided data that should not crash or corrupt memory. ### Timeline - 2018: The NEWS file's 2.0.0 entry records parser refactoring, removal of the libxml2 dependency, malformed-input handling, and security fixes. - 2020: The NEWS file's 2.2.0 entry records GitHub Actions build testing, `plistutil` improvements, and the libplist-2.0 API-version rename. - 2023: The NEWS file's 2.3.0 entry records JSON and OpenStep format support plus new format/error APIs. - 2025: The NEWS file's 2.7.0 entry records Unix-timestamp helper APIs and build/tooling changes. ### Related projects - libimobiledevice is the parent stack and main downstream user family. - usbmuxd, libusbmuxd, libirecovery, and other libimobiledevice projects are related packages in the same device-access ecosystem. - Apple property lists are the data format family that libplist implements independently. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes library-like package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - library-like package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** libplist - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - libplist++-2.0-4 - 2.6.0-2+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libplist++-2.0-4 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | C++ Library for handling Apple binary and XML property lists | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Debian apt - libplist++-dev - 2.6.0-2+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libplist++-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | C++ library for handling Apple binary and XML property lists - dev files | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Debian apt - libplist-2.0-4 - 2.6.0-2+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libplist-2.0-4 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Library for handling Apple binary and XML property lists | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Debian apt - libplist-dev - 2.6.0-2+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libplist-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Library for handling Apple binary and XML property lists - development files | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Debian apt - libplist-doc - 2.6.0-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libplist-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Library for handling Apple binary and XML property lists - docs | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Debian apt - libplist-utils - 2.6.0-2+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libplist-utils from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Apple property list converter | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Debian apt - python3-plist - 2.6.0-2+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: python3-plist from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Library for handling Apple binary and XML property lists - Python3 bindings | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Nix - libplist: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libplist/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - libplist++-2.0-4 - 2.3.0-1~exp2build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libplist++-2.0-4 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | C++ Library for handling Apple binary and XML property lists | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Ubuntu apt - libplist++-dev - 2.3.0-1~exp2build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libplist++-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | C++ library for handling Apple binary and XML property lists - dev files | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Ubuntu apt - libplist-2.0-4 - 2.3.0-1~exp2build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libplist-2.0-4 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Library for handling Apple binary and XML property lists | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Ubuntu apt - libplist-dev - 2.3.0-1~exp2build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libplist-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Library for handling Apple binary and XML property lists - development files | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Ubuntu apt - libplist-doc - 2.3.0-1~exp2build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libplist-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Library for handling Apple binary and XML property lists - docs | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Ubuntu apt - libplist-utils - 2.3.0-1~exp2build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libplist-utils from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Apple property list converter | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - Ubuntu apt - python3-plist - 2.3.0-1~exp2build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: python3-plist from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Library for handling Apple binary and XML property lists - Python3 bindings | https://www.libimobiledevice.org/ - apk - libplist - 2.7.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libplist from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | library to handle Apple Property List format whereas it's binary or XML | https://libimobiledevice.org ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [autoconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/autoconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [automake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/automake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libtool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libtool/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [ideviceinstaller](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ideviceinstaller/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [ifuse](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ifuse/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [ios-webkit-debug-proxy](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ios-webkit-debug-proxy/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [ldid](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ldid/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [libimobiledevice](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libimobiledevice/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [libirecovery](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libirecovery/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [capnp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/capnp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: binary-format, cli, developer-tools, serialization. - [flatbuffers](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flatbuffers/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, serialization. - [flatcc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flatcc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, serialization. - [nanopb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nanopb/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, serialization. - [planus](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/planus/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, serialization. - [protobuf-c](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/protobuf-c/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, serialization. - [buffrs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/buffrs/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, serialization. - [dhall-json](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dhall-json/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, serialization. - [kaitai-struct-compiler](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/kaitai-struct-compiler/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: binary, binary-format, cli, developer, developer-tools. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/libplist.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/libplist.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph