libnsgif
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Description:
Decoding library for the GIF image file format
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Multimedia
Tags: gif image-decoding c-library multimedia graphics
Install: brew install libnsgif
About:
Libnsgif is a lightweight, standalone C library designed for decoding GIF image files. It provides a robust and efficient API for extracting raw pixel data and frame information from GIF streams. Its primary value is enabling GIF support in applications without the overhead of larger, more complex image processing libraries.
Key Features:
  • Written in C for portability and minimal dependencies
  • Provides a simple, non-blocking decoding API
  • Supports animated GIFs by decoding frames sequentially
  • Can output raw pixel data in 32-bit ARGB format
Use Cases:
  • Integrating GIF support into custom web browsers or renderers
  • Building lightweight image viewers for embedded systems
  • Processing GIF files in server-side applications
Alternatives:
  • giflib – giflib is a widely used, more feature-complete library, while libnsgif is designed to be smaller and simpler for specific use cases.
  • libvips – libvips is a full-featured image processing suite; libnsgif is a specialized decoder focused solely on GIF format.
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