# Install smartdns with Homebrew, apt, Nix, pacman Rule-based DNS server for fast IP resolution, DoT/DoQ/DoH/DoH3 supported. Version 0.13.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-27. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:smartdns ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install smartdns ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install smartdns ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: smartdns from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#smartdns ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/sm/smartdns/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S smartdns ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: smartdns from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:smartdns - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.13.1 - **Source summary:** Rule-based DNS server for fast IP resolution, DoT/DoQ/DoH/DoH3 supported - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-3.0-only - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-27T19:43:42Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - smartdns (cli) - smartdns (alias) ## Build dependencies - rust ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Service: declared - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.13.1 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-27 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/mokeyish/smartdns-rs - Upstream latest detected: v0.13.1 (current) ## Project history and usage SmartDNS-rs is a Rust implementation of the SmartDNS idea: a local DNS server that queries multiple upstream resolvers and returns the fastest result for the local network. In package-manager terms it sits in the same practical niche as dnsmasq-like local resolvers, but with modern encrypted DNS protocols and cross-platform packaging. ### Project history The upstream SmartDNS project documents the core design: accept local DNS queries, ask multiple upstream DNS servers, test or select the fastest reachable address, and return that result. SmartDNS-rs states that it was inspired by the C SmartDNS project and was written because the original was mainly Linux-oriented while the Rust version targets Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android Termux with compatible configuration. ### Adoption history SmartDNS-rs gained package-manager visibility through Homebrew as `smartdns`, with the README documenting `brew install smartdns` and service startup through Homebrew services. The supplied package metadata also records packages in Debian, Ubuntu, Arch, and Nix, which places it beyond a single-platform GitHub binary. ### How it is used Typical use is as a local DNS daemon, often listening on port 53, configured with upstream DoH, DoT, DoQ, or DoH3 resolvers and domain-specific rules. The README shows running it with `smartdns run -c ./smartdns.conf -v`, installing it as a service, and using `dig` CHAOS TXT diagnostics for server/client information. ### Why package nerds care Package maintainers care because SmartDNS-rs combines DNS daemon behavior, privileged port binding, service integration, cross-platform binaries, and Rust dependency management in one formula. It is also a small example of a C networking utility being reworked for broader package-manager portability. ### Timeline - 2022: First GitHub release of smartdns-rs, 0.1.3, was published. - 2020s: README documents Homebrew installation and cross-platform service management. - 2020s: The Rust version documents compatibility with the original C SmartDNS configuration model. ### Related projects - The README names the original C SmartDNS project as inspiration and Hickory DNS as a dependency or code source. It also positions the tool near dnsmasq-like local DNS servers. ### Sources - GitHub releases API for mokeyish/smartdns-rs: first published release 0.1.3 on 2022-12-04. - - - input source_facts.package-manager: Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Nix, and Arch package names. ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. formula declares a Homebrew service. - **Geiger risk:** orange / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal - formula declares a Homebrew service ## 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 - Unix: ./smartdns.conf, ./etc/smartdns/smartdns.conf ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** smartdns - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - smartdns - 46.1+dfsg-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: smartdns from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | local DNS server to obtain the fastest IP for the best experience | https://github.com/pymumu/smartdns - Nix - smartdns: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/sm/smartdns/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - smartdns - 45+dfsg-1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: smartdns from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | local DNS server to obtain the fastest IP for the best experience | https://github.com/pymumu/smartdns - pacman - smartdns - 48-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: smartdns from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | A local DNS server to obtain the fastest website IP for the best Internet experience | https://github.com/pymumu/smartdns ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Language runtime packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/language-runtime-packages/) - Matched language runtime, compiler, or interpreter metadata. - [rust](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rust/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [q](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/q/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, doh, doq, dot. - [djbdns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/djbdns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, dns-server, networking. - [hickory-dns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hickory-dns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking, rust. - [nextdns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nextdns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, doh, networking. - [technitium-dns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/technitium-dns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, dns-server, networking. - [adns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/adns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [aliddns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aliddns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [bind](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bind/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [dnsx](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dnsx/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, dns, networking, resolution. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/smartdns.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/smartdns.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - 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