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CLI Open source 28,803 installs/mo

ninja for Mac

Small build system for use with gyp or CMake

Quick answer: ninja is a command-line tool for macOS. Install it with brew install ninja. It is distributed under the Apache-2.0 licence. It has 28,803 Homebrew installs in the last 30 days.

What ninja is

ninja is a command-line tool for macOS: small build system for use with gyp or CMake.

It is distributed as a Homebrew formula, which builds or pours a binary and puts it on your PATH. It is distributed under the Apache-2.0 licence.

How to install ninja

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

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 ninja on Mac?

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

Is ninja open source?

Yes — Homebrew distributes it under the Apache-2.0 licence.

Does ninja 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 ninja?

It was installed 28,803 times in the last 30 days according to Homebrew analytics, ranking #68 in this catalogue.

What version of ninja is current?

The latest packaged version is 1.13.2.