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lightning for Mac

Generates assembly language code at run-time

Quick answer: lightning is a command-line tool for macOS. Install it with brew install lightning. It is distributed under the GPL-3.0-or-later licence.

What lightning is

lightning is a command-line tool for macOS: generates assembly language code at run-time.

It is distributed as a Homebrew formula, which builds or pours a binary and puts it on your PATH. It is distributed under the GPL-3.0-or-later licence.

How to install lightning

  1. Open Terminal (press ⌘ + Space and type “Terminal”).
  2. If Homebrew is not installed yet, run the installer below once.
  3. Run brew install lightning.

Homebrew installer, if you need it:

Prefer a graphical installer? Download it from the official site. MacPicks never hosts or mirrors binaries — the Homebrew command always pulls from the vendor's own release.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I install lightning on Mac?

Run brew install lightning in Terminal. This requires Homebrew; if you do not have it, install it first with the command below.

Is lightning open source?

Yes — Homebrew distributes it under the GPL-3.0-or-later licence.

Does lightning run on Apple silicon?

Homebrew publishes this formula for macOS. If upstream does not ship an Apple silicon build, Rosetta 2 handles the Intel binary.

How popular is lightning?

Homebrew does not publish a 30-day install count for this package, which usually means it is installed directly rather than through the analytics-reporting path.

What version of lightning is current?

The latest packaged version is 2.2.3.