# Install vala with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, pacman, zypper Compiler for the GObject type system. Version 0.56.19 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:vala ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install vala ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install vala ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: lang/vala/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add vala ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: vala from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install libvala-0.56-0 ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: libvala-0.56-0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install libvala ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libvala from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S vala ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: vala from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install libvala-0_56-0 ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libvala-0_56-0 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:vala - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.56.19 - **Source summary:** Compiler for the GObject type system - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-2.1-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-22T14:06:33-07:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-09T07:20:21+00:00 ## Executables - vala (cli) - vala-0.56 (cli) - vala-gen-introspect (cli) - vala-gen-introspect-0.56 (cli) - valac (cli) - valac-0.56 (cli) - valadoc (cli) - valadoc-0.56 (cli) - vapigen (cli) - vapigen-0.56 (cli) - vala (alias) - vala-0.56 (alias) - vala-gen-introspect (alias) - vala-gen-introspect-0.56 (alias) - valac (alias) - valac-0.56 (alias) - valadoc (alias) - valadoc-0.56 (alias) - vapigen (alias) - vapigen-0.56 (alias) ## Dependencies - gettext - glib - graphviz - pkgconf ## Build dependencies - gobject-introspection ## 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: 2026-07-09 - Package-manager version: 0.56.19 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-22 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage Vala is a programming language and compiler for the GObject type system. Its package-manager identity is a compiler/toolchain package: it provides `valac`, versioned compiler binaries, `valadoc`, `vapigen`, and related tools used to build GNOME-style native software without adding a separate runtime ABI. ### Project history Vala appeared publicly in 2006 as a new language for GNOME developers. The August 2006 Vala 0.0.2 announcement called it a compiler for the GObject type system and described `valac` as a self-hosting compiler that translated Vala source into C source and headers. The early design goal was to bring modern language features to GNOME developers without imposing extra runtime requirements or a different ABI from C applications and libraries. The announcement described syntax similar to C#, modified for GObject, with interfaces, properties, signals, foreach, lambda expressions, type inference, assisted memory management, and planned generics and exception handling. Modern Vala documentation preserves that identity: Vala uses high-level abstractions while keeping the same ABI as C libraries, uses the GObject type system, and includes code-generation routines that make targeting the GNOME stack simple. ### Adoption history Vala grew inside GNOME's development world, where the value proposition was native GObject/GLib code with a higher-level syntax and generated C output. The retired GNOME project page calls it a cross-platform development tool and notes third-party distributions for Windows, macOS, Linux, BSDs, and other platforms. Packaging spread reflects that compiler-toolchain role. The input lists packages across Homebrew, Alpine, Debian, Fedora, MacPorts, Arch, Ubuntu, openSUSE, and zypper-style ecosystems, usually exposing both libraries and command-line tools. ### How it is used The central tool is `valac`, which the official documentation describes as transforming Vala code into compilable C code. The Vala distribution also includes tools such as `valadoc`, `vapigen`, and `vala-gen-introspect` for documentation and bindings work. `vapigen` is especially important in package workflows because it generates VAPI bindings from GObject Introspection GIR files. The official binding guide explains that Vala bindings are usually small files that let `valac` map Vala code to C APIs and integrate with pkg-config-oriented builds. ### Why package nerds care Vala matters to package nerds because it is both a language and a source-to-C compiler bound tightly to GLib, GObject, GIR, pkg-config, VAPI files, and distro development packages. Build failures often involve the exact Vala compiler version, generated C, missing VAPI files, or GObject introspection metadata rather than a simple missing binary. The Homebrew package is useful outside Linux because it brings a GNOME-oriented compiler stack to macOS, including versioned tools like `valac-0.56`, `valadoc-0.56`, and `vapigen-0.56` listed in the input. ### Timeline - 2006: Vala 0.0.2 preview release is announced for the GObject type system. - 2006: Vala 0.0.3 adds arrays, switch statements, and experimental GTK+ and Cairo bindings. - 2021: Vala 0.40.25 is listed as a stable long-term-support release. - 2022: Vala 0.48.25 is listed as a stable long-term-support release. - 2024: Vala 0.56.17 is listed as a stable long-term-support release. ### Related projects - GLib and GObject are the runtime and type-system foundations Vala targets. - GObject Introspection, GIR files, VAPI files, pkg-config, and `vapigen` are central to Vala library binding workflows. - Vala Language Server adds editor code intelligence on top of the Vala compiler stack. ### Sources - - - - - - - source_facts.executables - source_facts.package-manager ## 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:** vala - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - libvala-0.56-0 - 0.56.18-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libvala-0.56-0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | C# like language for the GObject system - library | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Debian apt - libvala-0.56-dev - 0.56.18-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libvala-0.56-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | C# like language for the GObject system - development headers | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Debian apt - libvalacodegen-0.56-0 - 0.56.18-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libvalacodegen-0.56-0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | internal package for C# like language for the GObject system | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Debian apt - libvaladoc-0.56-0 - 0.56.18-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libvaladoc-0.56-0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | API documentation generator for vala (library) | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Debian apt - libvaladoc-0.56-data - 0.56.18-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libvaladoc-0.56-data from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | API documentation generator for vala (data) | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Debian apt - libvaladoc-0.56-dev - 0.56.18-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libvaladoc-0.56-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | API documentation generator for vala (devel files) | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Debian apt - vala-0.56-doc - 0.56.18-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: vala-0.56-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | C# like language for the GObject system - documentation | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Debian apt - valac - 0.56.18-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: valac from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | C# like language for the GObject system | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Debian apt - valac-0.56-vapi - 0.56.18-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: valac-0.56-vapi from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | C# like language for the GObject system - vapi files | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Debian apt - valac-bin - 0.56.18-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: valac-bin from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | internal package for C# like language for the GObject system | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Debian apt - valadoc - 0.56.18-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: valadoc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | API documentation generator for vala | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Ubuntu apt - libvala-0.56-0 - 0.56.16-3build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libvala-0.56-0 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | C# like language for the GObject system - library | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Ubuntu apt - libvala-0.56-dev - 0.56.16-3build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libvala-0.56-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | C# like language for the GObject system - development headers | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Ubuntu apt - libvalacodegen-0.56-0 - 0.56.16-3build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libvalacodegen-0.56-0 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | internal package for C# like language for the GObject system | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Ubuntu apt - libvaladoc-0.56-0 - 0.56.16-3build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libvaladoc-0.56-0 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | API documentation generator for vala (library) | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ - Ubuntu apt - libvaladoc-0.56-data - 0.56.16-3build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libvaladoc-0.56-data from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | API documentation generator for vala (data) | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [Language runtime packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/language-runtime-packages/) - Matched language runtime, compiler, or interpreter metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [gettext](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gettext/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [glib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/glib/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [graphviz](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/graphviz/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gobject-introspection](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gobject-introspection/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [vala-language-server](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/vala-language-server/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [valabind](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/valabind/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [idris2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/idris2/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, language-runtime, programming-language. - [lisette](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lisette/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, language-runtime, programming-language. - [nesc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nesc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, language-runtime, programming-language. - [halide](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/halide/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, language-runtime, programming-language. - [algol68g](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/algol68g/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, language-runtime, programming-language. - [ats2-postiats](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ats2-postiats/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, language-runtime, programming-language. - [ballerina](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ballerina/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, language-runtime, programming-language. - [c3c](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/c3c/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compiler, language-runtime, programming-language. - [gjs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gjs/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, gettext, glib, gnome, gobject. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/vala.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/vala.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