# Install makedepend with Homebrew, apk, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper Creates dependencies in makefiles. Version 1.0.9 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:makedepend ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install makedepend ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install makedepend ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: x11/makedepend/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add makedepend ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: makedepend from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install imake ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: imake 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#makedepend ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ma/makedepend/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install makedepend ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: makedepend from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:makedepend - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.0.9 - **Source summary:** Creates dependencies in makefiles - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - makedepend (cli) - makedepend (alias) ## Dependencies - util-macros - xorgproto ## Build dependencies - pkgconf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.0.9 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://x.org/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage makedepend is an X.Org utility that parses C source files and writes include-file dependencies into makefiles so make knows which object files must be rebuilt. ### Project history The upstream AUTHORS file credits Todd Brunhoff of Tektronix and MIT Project Athena as the original author, with Jim Fulton credited for the ifparser. The manpage carries Open Group copyright notices from 1993, 1994, and 1998, reflecting the tool's X11-era heritage. The current X.Org repository keeps makedepend as a standalone utility module. Its GitLab project page describes it as a utility to parse C source files into dependency lists for Makefiles, and the repository tags show modern 1.0.x releases continuing through 1.0.9 in 2024. ### Adoption history makedepend belongs to the older imake/X11 build world, where generated dependency blocks inside Makefiles were a normal way to keep C builds correct before compiler-native dependency flags became the common path. Its continued packaging is mostly about compatibility and maintenance of older build systems. The upstream README points support and development through the X.Org mailing list and freedesktop.org GitLab, which fits its role as a small utility preserved inside the X.Org module set. ### How it is used makedepend reads each C source file, processes preprocessor directives such as makefile or Makefile unless another file is named with -f. A typical makefile target runs makedepend with compiler flags and sources, using a marker line such as '# DO NOT DELETE THIS LINE -- make depend depends on it.' so the generated dependency section can be replaced on later runs. ### Why package nerds care makedepend is a museum piece that still works: it shows how C dependency generation was bolted onto makefiles before today's compiler -M style flags and higher-level build systems took over. For maintainers, it is significant because old X.Org, imake, and C packages may still call makedepend directly. Having it packaged separately keeps those builds reproducible without dragging in a larger historical X11 toolchain. ### Timeline - 1993: Manpage copyright begins with The Open Group. - 2002: Manpage date records a December 14, 2002 manual revision. - 2007: X.Org GitLab tags include makedepend 1.0.1. - 2024: X.Org GitLab tags include makedepend 1.0.9. ### Related projects - X.Org util modules are the current upstream home. - imake-era X11 builds are the historical ecosystem around makedepend. - GNU Make and POSIX make consume the dependency lines makedepend writes. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** makedepend - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - makedepend: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ma/makedepend/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - apk - makedepend - 1.0.9-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: makedepend from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | utility for making makefile dependencies | https://www.freedesktop.org/ - apk - makedepend-doc - 1.0.9-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: makedepend-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | utility for making makefile dependencies (documentation) | https://www.freedesktop.org/ - dnf - imake - 1.0.10-6.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: imake from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | imake source code configuration and build system | http://www.x.org - zypper - makedepend - 1.0.9-1.6: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: makedepend from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Utility to create dependencies in makefiles | https://xorg.freedesktop.org/ - MacPorts - makedepend: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: x11/makedepend/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## 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. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [mk-configure](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mk-configure/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [make](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/make/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: build, cli, developer-tools, makefiles. - [makefile2graph](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/makefile2graph/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: build, cli, developer-tools, makefiles. - [cargo-chef](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cargo-chef/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: build, cli, developer-tools. - [docker-buildx](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/docker-buildx/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: build, cli, developer-tools. - [icecream](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/icecream/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: build, cli, developer-tools. - [aarch64-elf-gcc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aarch64-elf-gcc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c, cli, developer-tools. - [abi-dumper](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abi-dumper/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c, cli, developer-tools. - [aklomp-base64](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aklomp-base64/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c, cli, developer-tools. - [imake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/imake/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: build, cli, developer, developer-tools, xorg. - [lndir](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lndir/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: build, cli, developer, developer-tools, xorg. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/makedepend.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/makedepend.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