macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install open-ocdlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install openocdMacPorts ports tree · cross/openocd/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install open-ocd with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, zypper
On-chip debugging, in-system programming and boundary-scan testing. Version 0.12.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add openocdAlpine Linux edge package indexes · openocd · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install openocdDebian stable package indexes · openocd · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install openocdFedora Rawhide package metadata · openocd · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#openocdnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/op/openocd/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S openocdArch Linux sync databases · openocd · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install openocdopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · openocd · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/openocdScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/openocd.json · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
On-chip debugging, in-system programming and boundary-scan testing
Project links
Commands and aliases
- openocd
history
Project history and usage
OpenOCD, the Open On-Chip Debugger, is a command-line server and toolset for embedded debugging, in-system flash programming, and boundary-scan work. It sits between host debuggers such as GDB and hardware debug adapters that speak transports such as JTAG or SWD.
Project history
OpenOCD was created by Dominic Rath as part of a 2005 diploma thesis at the University of Applied Sciences Augsburg. Its documentation describes the project as having grown from that thesis into an open-source project supported by software and hardware developers around the world.
The project's scope expanded from JTAG-centered on-chip debugging into a practical embedded bring-up tool: it handles debug adapters, target configuration scripts, CPU cores, flash chips, FPGA/PLD loading paths, and server interfaces for GDB, Telnet, and RPC clients.
Adoption history
OpenOCD became a common tool in embedded development because it gives open tooling a shared place to encode adapter and board knowledge. The user guide documents bundled script libraries for interfaces, boards, targets, and site-specific configuration, which is why many vendor and community board workflows invoke openocd with one or two -f script arguments.
Distribution packaging spread it broadly across embedded Linux and desktop development environments. Homebrew, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Nix, Scoop, and other package managers expose the same openocd executable, making it a portable default for projects that want to document one debugger command.
How it is used
A typical OpenOCD session names an adapter script and a board or target script, starts the OpenOCD server, waits for a JTAG or SWD target to be detected, and then connects GDB to the server for breakpoints, stepping, register access, and memory inspection.
For production and lab work, OpenOCD is also used for flash programming and boundary-scan tasks. The documentation covers NOR and NAND flash support, PLD/FPGA loading commands, and SVF/XSVF execution for JTAG test patterns.
Why package nerds care
OpenOCD is package-nerd significant because its executable is only half the package. The script library, USB permissions, adapter driver choices, Tcl integration, and packaged target definitions are what turn the binary into a usable hardware tool.
It also shows why embedded packages are unusually sensitive to version and build options: support for a specific probe, chip, flash driver, or board script can decide whether a firmware workflow works at all.
Timeline
- 2005: Dominic Rath created OpenOCD as part of a diploma thesis at the University of Applied Sciences Augsburg.
- 2008-2025: the user guide credits the OpenOCD Project across this span, with earlier named contributors credited for 2007-2010 documentation work.
- 2026-06-29: the OpenOCD user guide snapshot used for this enrichment documents release 0.12.0+dev.
Related projects
- GDB is the debugger most commonly paired with OpenOCD for source-level debugging.
- JTAG, SWD, SVF, XSVF, and IEEE 1149.1 are the hardware and test-procedure ecosystems that explain much of OpenOCD's command surface.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 12 platform targets.
- Installs with 4 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 1 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.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
openocd.cfg$(INSTALLDIR)/scripts
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
openocd | 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 version0.12.0
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://openocd.org/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:open-ocd |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.12.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/open-ocd |
| Homepage | https://openocd.org/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/openocd-org/openocd |
| Upstream docs | https://openocd.org/doc/html/index.html |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/openocd/openocd/0.12.0/openocd-0.12.0.tar.bz2 |
| Dependencies | capstone, hidapi, libftdi, libusb |
| Build dependencies | pkgconf |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, monterey, sonoma, ventura, 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 | open-ocd |
| Aliases |
|
| 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.
MacPorts94%
openocd
sudo port install openocd- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
Debian apt92%
openocd 0.12.0-3+b2
Open on-chip JTAG/SWD debug solution for embedded target devices
http://openocd.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install openocd- Section: embedded
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: openocd
- 7 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
Nix92%
openocd
nix profile install nixpkgs#openocd- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
Ubuntu apt92%
openocd 0.12.0-1build2
Open on-chip JTAG/SWD debug solution for embedded target devices
http://openocd.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install openocd- Section: universe/embedded
- Architecture: amd64
- 8 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
apk92%
openocd 0.12.0-r7
Free and Open On-Chip Debugging, In-System Programming and Boundary-Scan Testing
sudo apk add openocd- License: GPL-2.0-only AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: openocd
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
apk92%
openocd-dev 0.12.0-r7
Free and Open On-Chip Debugging, In-System Programming and Boundary-Scan Testing (development files)
sudo apk add openocd-dev- License: GPL-2.0-only AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: openocd
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
apk92%
openocd-doc 0.12.0-r7
Free and Open On-Chip Debugging, In-System Programming and Boundary-Scan Testing (documentation)
sudo apk add openocd-doc- License: GPL-2.0-only AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: openocd
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
apk92%
openocd-udev 0.12.0-r7
udev rules for openocd
sudo apk add openocd-udev- License: GPL-2.0-only AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: openocd
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
dnf92%
openocd 0.12.0-3.fc42.5
Debugging, in-system programming and boundary-scan testing for embedded devices
https://sourceforge.net/projects/openocd
sudo dnf install openocd- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: openocd
- 8 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
pacman92%
openocd 1:0.12.0-5
Debugging, in-system programming and boundary-scan testing for embedded target devices
sudo pacman -S openocd- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- 7 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
zypper92%
openocd 0.12.0-2.11
Debugging, in-system programming and boundary-scan testing for embedded devices
http://openocd.sourceforge.net/
sudo zypper install openocd- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Development/Tools/Debuggers
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: openocd
- 10 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
zypper92%
openocd-data 0.12.0-2.11
Hardware Scripts for OpenOCD
http://openocd.sourceforge.net/
sudo zypper install openocd-data- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Development/Tools/Debuggers
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: openocd
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
Scoop92%
main/openocd
scoop install main/openocd- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Openocd
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 configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment