macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install nuspelllocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install nuspellMacPorts ports tree · textproc/nuspell/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install nuspell with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Fast and safe spellchecking C++ library. Version 5.1.7 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add nuspellAlpine Linux edge package indexes · nuspell · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install libnuspell-devDebian stable package indexes · libnuspell-dev · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install mingw32-nuspellFedora Rawhide package metadata · mingw32-nuspell · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#nuspellnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/nu/nuspell/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S nuspellArch Linux sync databases · nuspell · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install libnuspell5openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · libnuspell5 · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Fast and safe spellchecking C++ library
Project links
Commands and aliases
- nuspell
history
Project history and usage
Nuspell is a modern C++ spell-checking library and command-line tool designed as a safer, faster, more maintainable successor in the Hunspell/MySpell lineage while retaining compatibility with Hunspell dictionaries.
Project history
The Nuspell site and FOSDEM materials place the project in the long spell-checker line from spell, ispell, aspell, MySpell, and Hunspell. Mozilla Open Source Support funded the pure C++ rewrite in 2017 and 2018 for Nuspell 2.0, then funded base functionality and integration work in 2019 and 2020 for Nuspell 3.0. The GitHub release API shows v2.0.0 published on November 22, 2018 and v3.0.0 on November 23, 2019.
Adoption history
Nuspell's adoption story is less about replacing every installed Hunspell binary and more about being a compatible library that can reuse the enormous pool of Hunspell dictionaries. Its homepage points users to language packs from LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, Ubuntu, and Debian, and says Nuspell itself does not ship dictionaries.
How it is used
Practical use is either `nuspell` as a CLI spell checker or libnuspell embedded in editors, document tools, and language-processing applications. Its headline features for package maintainers are Hunspell dictionary compatibility, ICU-backed Unicode, complex morphology and compounding support, personal dictionaries, and performance claims up to 3.5 times faster than Hunspell.
Why package nerds care
Nuspell is a packaging bridge: it wants to modernize the implementation while preserving the old dictionary ecosystem. That makes the dependency graph more interesting than the install count suggests; Homebrew listed 149 installs over 365 days on July 1, 2026, but the library's value is mostly in downstream applications and dictionary compatibility.
Timeline
- 2017-2018: Mozilla Open Source Support funds the pure C++ Nuspell 2.0 rewrite.
- 2018-11-22: GitHub release v2.0.0 is published.
- 2019-2020: MOSS funds base functionality and integration for Nuspell 3.0.
- 2019-11-23: GitHub release v3.0.0 is published.
- 2025-11-25: GitHub release v5.1.7 is published.
Related projects
- Hunspell
- MySpell
- Aspell
- Ispell
- Enchant
- LibreOffice
- Firefox
- Thunderbird
Sources
- https://api.github.com/repos/nuspell/nuspell/releases?per_page=100
- https://archive.fosdem.org/2019/schedule/event/nuspell/attachments/slides/3230/export/events/attachments/nuspell/slides/3230/presentation.pdf
- https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/nuspell
- https://github.com/nuspell/nuspell
- https://nuspell.github.io/
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
nuspell | 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 version5.1.7
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv5.1.7
https://github.com/nuspell/nuspell
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:nuspell |
|---|---|
| Version | 5.1.7 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/nuspell |
| Homepage | https://nuspell.github.io/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/nuspell/nuspell |
| Upstream docs | https://nuspell.github.io/documentation.html |
| License | LGPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://github.com/nuspell/nuspell/archive/refs/tags/v5.1.7.tar.gz |
| Dependencies | icu4c@78 |
| Build dependencies | cmake, doxygen, pandoc |
| 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 | nuspell |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| 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%
libnuspell-dev 5.1.6-1+b1
spell checker (development)
sudo apt install libnuspell-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: nuspell
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
Debian apt95%
libnuspell5 5.1.6-1+b1
spell checker (shared library)
sudo apt install libnuspell5- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: nuspell
- 4 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
Debian apt95%
nuspell 5.1.6-1+b1
spell checker (program)
sudo apt install nuspell- Section: text
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: nuspell
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
Nix95%
nuspell
nix profile install nixpkgs#nuspell- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
Ubuntu apt95%
libnuspell-dev 5.1.4-1build1
spell checker (development)
sudo apt install libnuspell-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: nuspell
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
Ubuntu apt95%
libnuspell5 5.1.4-1build1
spell checker (shared library)
sudo apt install libnuspell5- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: nuspell
- 4 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
Ubuntu apt95%
nuspell 5.1.4-1build1
spell checker (program)
sudo apt install nuspell- Section: universe/text
- Architecture: amd64
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
apk95%
nuspell 5.1.7-r0
Free and open source C++ spell checking library
sudo apk add nuspell- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: nuspell
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
apk95%
nuspell-dev 5.1.7-r0
Free and open source C++ spell checking library (development files)
sudo apk add nuspell-dev- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: nuspell
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
apk95%
nuspell-doc 5.1.7-r0
Free and open source C++ spell checking library (documentation)
sudo apk add nuspell-doc- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: nuspell
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
apk95%
nuspell-libs 5.1.7-r0
Free and open source C++ spell checking library (libraries)
sudo apk add nuspell-libs- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: nuspell
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
dnf95%
mingw32-nuspell 5.1.7-3.fc45
MinGW Windows nuspell library
sudo dnf install mingw32-nuspell- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: nuspell
- 4 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
dnf95%
mingw64-nuspell 5.1.7-3.fc45
MinGW Windows nuspell library
sudo dnf install mingw64-nuspell- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: nuspell
- 4 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
dnf95%
nuspell 5.1.7-3.fc45
Fast and safe spellchecking C++ library and command-line tool
sudo dnf install nuspell- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: nuspell
- 6 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
dnf95%
nuspell-devel 5.1.7-3.fc45
Development tools for nuspell
sudo dnf install nuspell-devel- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: nuspell
- 6 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
pacman95%
nuspell 5.1.7-2
Fast and safe spellchecking C++ library
sudo pacman -S nuspell- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nuspell
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