macOS
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brew install mavsdklocal Homebrew formula metadata
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Install mavsdk with Homebrew
API and library for MAVLink compatible systems written in C++17. Version 3.17.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-02.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
API and library for MAVLink compatible systems written in C++17
Project links
Commands and aliases
- mavsdk_server
history
Project history and usage
MAVSDK is the MAVLink project's high-level SDK for building applications that communicate with MAVLink vehicles, especially drones and other aircraft.
Project history
The official repository describes MAVSDK as a set of libraries providing a high-level API to MAVLink, implemented around a C++ core, plugin libraries, and `mavsdk_server` for language clients. Earlier documentation releases tied MAVSDK docs to DroneCore releases, showing the project's earlier DroneCore naming before the MAVSDK identity settled.
The architecture grew around generated language bindings: the repository lists MAVSDK-Proto as the common interface definition, plus Python, Swift, Java, Go, JavaScript, and Rust client projects at different maturity levels.
Adoption history
Official MAVSDK C++ documentation says the library is used in production environments, while still warning that the API continues to evolve. The project is most closely associated with PX4 and MAVLink workflows, with ArduPilot compatibility added gradually as functionality is tested.
How it is used
Package-manager users typically install MAVSDK to get the C++ library and `mavsdk_server`, then connect code to a MAVLink system or simulator. The C++ quickstart explicitly documents Homebrew installation on macOS and shows the common simulator-driven takeoff-and-land workflow.
Why package nerds care
MAVSDK is package-nerdy because it packages a robotics protocol stack into a conventional SDK shape: native library, generated protocol definitions, language-specific clients, and a server process that bridges MAVLink to gRPC.
Timeline
- 2018: DroneCore-era documentation releases v0.3.0, v0.4.0, and v0.5.0.
- 2018: Official repository notes MAVSDK-Swift was first released and used in production.
- 2019: Official repository notes MAVSDK-Python and MAVSDK-Java first public package releases.
- 2026: MAVSDK repository presents C++ core, proto definitions, server, and multiple language clients under the MAVSDK name.
Related projects
- MAVLink, PX4, ArduPilot, QGroundControl, MAVSDK-Proto, MAVSDK-Python, MAVSDK-Swift, MAVSDK-Java
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:server
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 10 runtime dependencies.
- 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.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
mavsdk_server | 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 version3.17.1
manager updated2026-07-02
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://github.com/mavlink/MAVSDK
- infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/mavlink/MAVSDKnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:mavsdk |
|---|---|
| Version | 3.17.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/mavsdk |
| Homepage | https://mavsdk.mavlink.io/main/en/index.html |
| Repository | https://github.com/mavlink/MAVSDK |
| Upstream docs | https://mavsdk.mavlink.io/main/en |
| License | BSD-3-Clause |
| Source archive | https://github.com/mavlink/MAVSDK.git |
| Last updated | 2026-07-02T20:34:06Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | abseil, c-ares, curl, grpc, jsoncpp, openssl@3, protobuf, re2, tinyxml2, xz |
| Build dependencies | cmake, python@3.14, rust |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, 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 | mavsdk |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 5 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
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.
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