install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install oq

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install oq

MacPorts ports tree · devel/oq/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add oq

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · oq · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#oq

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/oq/oq/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Performant, and portable jq wrapper to support formats other than JSON

Project links

Commands and aliases

oq

history

Project history and usage

oq is a Crystal-written wrapper around `jq` that converts non-JSON formats into JSON for filtering and then serializes the result back out. Its core idea is to keep jq's filter language while adding practical YAML and XML input/output paths.

Project history

George Dietrich introduced oq in a 2019 article after comparing existing jq-adjacent tooling and wanting a more portable, higher-performance option for large non-JSON documents. The project goals were portability, performance, and extending the formats that jq can handle without replacing jq's filter language.

The 1.x series broadened oq from a CLI into a small Crystal library as well. Release notes for v1.2.0 describe library support, a SimpleYAML format for streamable large inputs, and better handling of multiple non-JSON files; v1.3.0 added XML namespace options and forced-array behavior for XML parsing.

Adoption history

oq remains a niche developer utility, but it has enough packaging surface to be available through Homebrew, Alpine, MacPorts, and Nix in the input metadata. Homebrew describes it as a performant and portable jq wrapper, with Crystal required only for source builds.

How it is used

A typical use keeps jq syntax in place and adds format flags, such as reading YAML with `-i yaml`, writing XML with `-o xml`, or using the tool as a Crystal dependency through `OQ::Processor`. That makes it useful in shell scripts where JSON, YAML, and XML need the same transformation logic.

Why package nerds care

oq is package-nerd interesting because it does less than a full data-query language and more than a one-off converter. It packages the proven jq execution model with format adapters and a single-binary distribution story, which is often the sweet spot for command-line glue.

Timeline

2019: The author publishes the oq introduction and motivation.
2021-02-27: v1.2.0 adds library support, SimpleYAML, and improved multiple-file handling for non-JSON inputs.
2021-08-17: v1.3.0 adds XML namespace controls and XML force-array behavior.
2024-04-04: v1.3.5 is tagged.

Related projects

oq depends conceptually on jq and overlaps with yq-style data conversion workflows. Its implementation and library surface are tied to Crystal, libyaml, and XML/JSON conversion behavior.

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 6 platform targets.
Installs with 3 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.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`oq`	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 version1.3.5

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv1.3.5

https://github.com/Blacksmoke16/oq

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:oq
Version	1.3.5
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/oq
Homepage	https://blacksmoke16.github.io/oq
Repository	https://github.com/Blacksmoke16/oq
Upstream docs	https://blacksmoke16.github.io/oq
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/Blacksmoke16/oq/archive/refs/tags/v1.3.5.tar.gz
Dependencies	bdw-gc, libyaml, pcre2
Build dependencies	crystal
Uses from macOS	jq, libxml2
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	oq
Version Scheme	0
Revision	2
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Nix95%

oq

nix profile install nixpkgs#oq

normalized package name match
Matched by: Oq

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/oq/oq/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

apk95%

oq 1.3.5-r0

portable jq wrapper with support of other formats than JSON

https://github.com/blacksmoke16/oq

sudo apk add oq

License: MIT
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: oq
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Oq

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: oq from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

MacPorts95%

oq

sudo port install oq

normalized package name match
Matched by: Oq

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: devel/oq/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

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.

combined/oq.yml

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

Install oq with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix