# Install oq with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix Performant, and portable jq wrapper to support formats other than JSON. Version 1.3.5 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:oq ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install oq ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install oq ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: devel/oq/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add oq ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: oq from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#oq ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/oq/oq/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:oq - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.3.5 - **Source summary:** Performant, and portable jq wrapper to support formats other than JSON - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - oq (cli) - oq (alias) ## Dependencies - bdw-gc - libyaml - pcre2 ## Build dependencies - crystal ## Uses from macOS - jq - libxml2 ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.3.5 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/Blacksmoke16/oq - Upstream latest detected: v1.3.5 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## 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 Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** oq - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 2 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - oq: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/oq/oq/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - apk - oq - 1.3.5-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: oq from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | portable jq wrapper with support of other formats than JSON | https://github.com/blacksmoke16/oq - MacPorts - oq: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: devel/oq/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [pcre2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pcre2/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [crystal](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/crystal/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [jaq](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jaq/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data-processing, developer-tools, jq, json. - [python-yq](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/python-yq/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data-processing, developer-tools, jq, json. - [dasel](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dasel/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data-processing, developer-tools, json. - [gron](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gron/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data-processing, developer-tools, json. - [yq](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/yq/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data-processing, developer-tools, json. - [gojq](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gojq/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, jq, json. - [ijq](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ijq/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, jq, json. - [jnv](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jnv/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, jq, json. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/oq.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/oq.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph