macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install nekolocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install nekoMacPorts ports tree · lang/neko/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install neko with Homebrew, apk, chocolatey, apt, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, zypper
High-level, dynamically typed programming language. Version 2.4.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-25.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add nekoAlpine Linux edge package indexes · neko · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install libapache2-mod-nekoDebian stable package indexes · libapache2-mod-neko · source: deb.debian.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#nekonixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ne/neko/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S nekoArch Linux sync databases · neko · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install libneko2openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · libneko2 · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Chocolateyverified · 92%
choco install nekoChocolatey community package catalog · neko · source: community.chocolatey.org
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/nekoScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/neko.json · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
High-level, dynamically typed programming language
Project links
Commands and aliases
- neko
- nekoc
- nekoml
- nekotools
history
Project history and usage
Neko is both a small dynamically typed programming language and a virtual machine designed as a common runtime for multiple languages. In package-manager practice, it is most historically tied to Haxe, which supported compilation to Neko bytecode before HashLink became the preferred successor target.
Project history
The Neko website says it was developed as part of Motion-Twin's research and development work on better languages by Nicolas Cannasse. The same site describes the compiler as producing `.n` bytecode executed by the VM, with a lightweight embeddable runtime and a C foreign-function interface.
The Haxe manual records Neko as a VM originally designed for Haxe and says it was superseded by HashLink, introduced with Haxe 3.4. Nicolas Cannasse's 2016 HashLink article adds the historical detail that Neko was designed before Haxe and intended for several languages, but in practice NekoML and Haxe were the two that targeted it.
Adoption history
Neko's adoption followed Haxe's early toolchain and server/runtime story rather than becoming a mainstream standalone language. The Neko GitHub repository's README marked the project deprecated on 2021-09-09, saying it is no longer actively maintained and is kept compatible with existing Haxe standard-library and language features.
Despite that deprecation, package-manager usage persists because old Haxe projects, tooling, and runtime integrations still need it. Homebrew listed stable version 2.4.1 and showed 1,052 installs over 365 days, 174 over 90 days, and 72 over 30 days when checked on 2026-07-01. The GitHub API showed 584 stars and 110 forks the same day.
How it is used
Users install `neko`, `nekoc`, `nekoml`, and `nekotools` to run Neko bytecode, compile `.neko` sources, support legacy Haxe targets, or work with Neko's bundled libraries and Apache module history. Homebrew's formula notes the `NEKOPATH` environment variable, which matters because Neko expects to find its runtime libraries.
For package nerds, Neko is less about new application development and more about keeping an older cross-language VM and Haxe target buildable. Its dependencies on a garbage collector, regex, TLS, database, and build tooling also show the VM's broader ambition as an embeddable and server-capable runtime.
Why package nerds care
Neko is significant as an early piece of the Haxe ecosystem and a predecessor to HashLink. It is a good example of a package that remains useful after deprecation because language ecosystems have long tails of bytecode targets, build scripts, and runtime assumptions.
Timeline
- 2005: Haxe started; Neko predates or overlaps the earliest Haxe runtime design work.
- 2013-05-25: HaxeFoundation/neko GitHub repository created.
- 2016-11-22: HashLink article described HashLink as the successor to NekoVM for Haxe system/server/desktop applications.
- 2021-09-09: Neko README marked the project deprecated and not actively maintained.
- 2026-07-01: Homebrew formula stable version observed as 2.4.1.
Related projects
- Haxe
- HashLink
- NekoML
- Motion-Twin
- mod_neko
Sources
security posture
Risk level: yellow
generalized runtime or code generation signal.
Risk classifier
yellow risk · medium confidence · runtime
Why
- generalized runtime or code generation signal
Signals
- text:programming language
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
neko | cli | global executable | |
nekoc | cli | global executable | |
nekoml | cli | global executable | |
nekotools | 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 version2.4.1
manager updated2026-06-25
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://github.com/HaxeFoundation/neko
- infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/HaxeFoundation/nekonone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:neko |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.4.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/neko |
| Homepage | https://nekovm.org/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/HaxeFoundation/neko |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/HaxeFoundation/neko#readme |
| License | MIT |
| Source archive | https://github.com/HaxeFoundation/neko/archive/refs/tags/v2-4-1.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-25T13:37:56+02:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | bdw-gc, mariadb-connector-c, mbedtls@3, pcre2 |
| Build dependencies | cmake, pkgconf |
| Uses from macOS | apr, sqlite |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
| Caveats | You must add the following line to your .bashrc or equivalent: export NEKOPATH="$HOMEBREW_PREFIX/lib/neko" |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | neko |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 1 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
libapache2-mod-neko 2.4.0-2+b1
Apache module for running server-side Neko programs
sudo apt install libapache2-mod-neko- Section: httpd
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: neko
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
Debian apt95%
libneko2 2.4.0-2+b1
Lightweight virtual machine - shared library
sudo apt install libneko2- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: neko
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
Debian apt95%
neko 2.4.0-2+b1
Lightweight virtual machine - compiler and tools
sudo apt install neko- Section: interpreters
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: neko
- 11 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
Debian apt95%
neko-dev 2.4.0-2+b1
Lightweight virtual machine - headers
sudo apt install neko-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: neko
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
Nix95%
neko
nix profile install nixpkgs#neko- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
Ubuntu apt95%
libapache2-mod-neko 2.3.0-2build2
Apache module for running server-side Neko programs
sudo apt install libapache2-mod-neko- Section: universe/interpreters
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: neko
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
Ubuntu apt95%
libneko2 2.3.0-2build2
Lightweight virtual machine - shared library
sudo apt install libneko2- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: neko
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
Ubuntu apt95%
neko 2.3.0-2build2
Lightweight virtual machine - compiler and tools
sudo apt install neko- Section: universe/interpreters
- Architecture: amd64
- 11 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
Ubuntu apt95%
neko-dev 2.3.0-2build2
Lightweight virtual machine - headers
sudo apt install neko-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: neko
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
apk95%
neko 2.4.1-r1
The Neko Virtual Machine
sudo apk add neko- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: neko
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
apk95%
neko-dev 2.4.1-r1
The Neko Virtual Machine (development files)
sudo apk add neko-dev- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: neko
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
apk95%
neko-doc 2.4.1-r1
The Neko Virtual Machine (documentation)
sudo apk add neko-doc- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: neko
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
pacman95%
neko 2.4.1-4
High-level dynamically typed programming language
sudo pacman -S neko- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- 5 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
zypper95%
libneko2 2.4.1-2.3
Neko virtual machine shared library
sudo zypper install libneko2- License: MIT
- Category: System/Libraries
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: neko
- 4 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
zypper95%
neko 2.4.1-2.3
A cross-platform lightweight virtual machine and language
sudo zypper install neko- License: MIT
- Category: Development/Languages/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: neko
- 12 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
zypper95%
neko-devel 2.4.1-2.3
Development files for the Neko virtual machine
sudo zypper install neko-devel- License: MIT
- Category: Development/Languages/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: neko
- 1 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Neko
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
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment