install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install libslax

local Homebrew formula metadata

overview

Package summary

Implementation of the SLAX language (an XSLT alternative)

Project links

Commands and aliases

slax-config
slaxproc

history

Project history and usage

libslax is Juniper's open-source C implementation of SLAX, an alternate syntax for XSLT used for Junos automation scripts. It provides the parser, writer, processor, debugger, profiler, and libraries behind the `slaxproc` command.

Project history

Juniper documentation describes SLAX, Stylesheet Language Alternative syntaX, as a language for Junos OS commit scripts, op scripts, event scripts, and SNMP scripts. It keeps XSLT semantics but replaces XML-heavy syntax with a style closer to C and Perl.

The libslax distribution overview says SLAX was originally developed as part of Junos OS for on-box scripting to customize and enhance the CLI. It also describes libslax as an open-source New BSD licensed C implementation built on libxml2, libxslt, and libexslt.

Adoption history

libslax adoption is concentrated in the Junos ecosystem. Juniper states that standard Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved include the libslax tools, while the open-source distribution can be installed on a Unix-like computer for off-box SLAX development.

The Juniper version table ties libslax versions to Junos releases, including libslax 0.14.1 with Junos OS 14.1, libslax 0.17.1 across Junos 14.2 through 17.3, libslax 0.22.0 across Junos 17.4 through 25.2, and libslax 3.1.6 for 25.4R1 and later.

How it is used

Network engineers use libslax indirectly through Junos script execution and directly through `slaxproc` to validate SLAX syntax, run or debug scripts, format files, and convert between SLAX and XSLT. The debugger and profiler make it more than a syntax translator.

Outside Junos devices, Homebrew's package gives developers a local Unix-like environment for writing and testing SLAX scripts before deploying them into Junos automation workflows.

Why package nerds care

libslax is niche, but it is a useful package-manager artifact because it exposes a vendor network-automation language as a normal open-source C toolchain. It pulls Junos scripting out of appliance firmware and into local development environments.

It also represents an unusual branch in XSLT history: rather than replacing XSLT, SLAX keeps the transform model and changes the surface syntax so humans can write network automation code with less XML noise.

Timeline

2014: Juniper's version table maps Junos OS 14.1 to libslax 0.14.1 and SLAX 1.1.
2017: The libslax Read the Docs build records Juniper Networks copyright for the hosted documentation.
2025-08-26: The Juniper/libslax GitHub repository release list records libslax-3.1.6.
25.4R1: Juniper's version table maps Junos OS 25.4R1 and later to libslax 3.1.6 and SLAX 1.3.

Related projects

libslax is built on libxml2, libxslt, and libexslt. It is closely related to Junos OS automation scripting, Juniper's junoscriptorium example repository, and the broader XSLT/XML tooling ecosystem.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: green

library-like package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

library-like package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:library-like

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
Build metadata lists 2 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.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`slax-config`	cli	global executable
`slaxproc`	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 version3.1.6

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/Juniper/libslax

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/Juniper/libslaxnone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:libslax
Version	3.1.6
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/libslax
Homepage	https://github.com/Juniper/libslax/wiki
Repository	https://github.com/Juniper/libslax
Upstream docs	https://github.com/Juniper/libslax/wiki
License	BSD-3-Clause
Source archive	https://github.com/Juniper/libslax/releases/download/3.1.6/libslax-3.1.6.tar.gz
Dependencies	openssl@3
Build dependencies	bison, libtool
Uses from macOS	curl, libedit, libxml2, libxslt, sqlite
Bottle	available (on arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	libslax
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Head Version	HEAD
Conflicts With	gastown genometools libxi
Requirements	macos
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	head stable

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/libslax.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install libslax with Homebrew