ghostscript
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Description:
Interpreter for PostScript and PDF
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: postscript pdf converter document-processing graphics
Install: brew install ghostscript
About:
Ghostscript is a powerful interpreter for the PostScript (PS) and Portable Document Format (PDF) page description languages. It can render, manipulate, and convert these file formats into other raster or vector formats. Its core value lies in providing a robust backend engine for document processing tasks in server and development environments.
Key Features:
  • Converts PS/PDF to raster formats like JPEG, PNG, and TIFF
  • Supports PDF creation and manipulation from various sources
  • Acts as the printing engine for many open-source and commercial applications
  • Scriptable command-line interface for automation
Use Cases:
  • Batch converting a directory of PDF files to JPEG images
  • Generating PDF reports from raw PostScript code in a script
  • Debugging and inspecting PostScript language files
Alternatives:
  • Poppler – Poppler is primarily a PDF-focused rendering library, whereas Ghostscript handles both PS and PDF and is often used as a standalone interpreter.
  • ImageMagick – ImageMagick is a broader image manipulation suite that often uses Ghostscript as a delegate to handle PostScript and PDF input files.
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Mar 17, 2026 1:37pm 0 REVISION_ONLY 3c145007
Feb 12, 2026 10:39am 1 REVISION_ONLY 193a8629
Sep 14, 2025 10:00pm 0 VERSION_BUMP f14bcc6c
Sep 10, 2024 7:44am 0 VERSION_BUMP eb9c4d28
Jul 31, 2024 11:25pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 21f0803f
May 6, 2024 8:36am 0 VERSION_BUMP d05df007
Nov 4, 2023 12:26am 0 VERSION_BUMP 0e594be4
Sep 18, 2023 4:43am 0 VERSION_BUMP 4d39b0ad
Sep 17, 2023 11:03pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 0e220757
Jun 22, 2023 6:17am 0 VERSION_BUMP f2619c55
Jun 22, 2023 12:40am 0 VERSION_BUMP 6e7fb4e5
Mar 27, 2023 10:01am 0 VERSION_BUMP b1a67135