glibc ☆

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Description:
GNU C Library

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: System utilities

Tags: c-library linux compatibility system-library gnu

Install: brew install glibc

About:
Glibc (GNU C Library) is the core system library providing essential APIs for C programs, including system calls, string operations, and math functions. While macOS includes its own libc, Homebrew provides a newer glibc for compatibility with Linux software compiled against specific GNU libc versions. This formula ensures developers can build and run Linux-targeted applications that require modern glibc features.

Key Features:

Provides modern GNU C Library APIs for Linux compatibility
Enables execution of Linux binaries requiring specific glibc versions
Essential dependency for many Linux-focused development tools
Maintained formula with recent glibc releases

Use Cases:

Running Linux binaries on macOS via containerization or virtualization
Developing cross-platform C/C++ applications targeting Linux systems
Building software that requires newer glibc features than system libraries provide

Alternatives:

musl – Lightweight alternative to glibc, but less feature-complete and not binary-compatible
system libc (libSystem) – macOS native libc; incompatible with Linux glibc binaries

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Nov 18, 2024 5:55am		1	VERSION_BUMP	558c0835