Mac users waited a long time for a straightforward way to run Gerbv, the free open-source Gerber RS-274X viewer from the gEDA project family. Historically there was no official Mac binary at all — no DMG, just MacPorts or building from source. That changed on March 20, 2026: v2.13.0 is the first Gerbv release to include an official macOS build, published alongside the Windows and Linux packages on GitHub Releases. This guide covers installing that build, verifying it, dealing with Gatekeeper, and the Homebrew alternative. The headline detail to remember: the official macOS artifact is a .zip archive, not a .dmg — there is no DMG in the release, so do not go hunting for one.
What you are downloading
The macOS asset in the v2.13.0 release is named gerbv_v2.13.0_.macOS.zip and is 6,795,082 bytes (about 6.8 MB). Inside the archive is the Gerbv application, built on the same GTK 2 and Cairo stack as the other platforms — Gerbv is still a GTK 2 application; the GTK 3 port remains a plan, not a shipped change. Gerbv views Gerber RS-274X files, Excellon drill files and CSV pick-and-place files, stacking layers so you can inspect a board design before it goes to fabrication. It is a 2D viewer: no 3D view, no design-rule checking, and no support for legacy RS-274D files.
Step 1: Download the official macOS ZIP
Use the macOS button on the download page, which links to the official file via /go/gerbv-macos. That redirect lands on the v2.13.0 asset at github.com/gerbv/gerbv, the project’s official release channel. Save the ZIP to your Downloads folder. If a third-party site offers you a Gerbv “.dmg”, treat it with suspicion — no such file exists in any 2026 release, so anything packaged as one did not come from the project.
Step 2: Verify the SHA-256 checksum
Before opening the archive, confirm it is exactly the file the project published. Open Terminal, change to the Downloads folder, and run:
shasum -a 256 gerbv_v2.13.0_.macOS.zipThe output must match the published SHA-256 for the macOS build:
7d79adf7556508baa6c9d080949866371cbb49809f2082e0e6639cb62c4dba0fIf the values differ, delete the download and fetch it again from the official release. Only proceed once the checksum matches — this is also the check that makes the Gatekeeper step below a reasonable, informed action rather than a leap of faith.
Step 3: Unzip and run
Double-click the ZIP in Finder (or run unzip gerbv_v2.13.0_.macOS.zip in Terminal) to extract the application. You can run Gerbv from the extracted folder, or drag it into your Applications folder to keep it with your other apps — either works, because the ZIP build is self-contained rather than a disk-image installer. The first time you open it, load a board: use the File menu to open your Gerber RS-274X layers, your Excellon drill file and any CSV pick-and-place file, and Gerbv stacks them in the layer list. From there you can toggle layer visibility and colours, use transparency to see through stacked layers, measure distances on the image, and export views to PNG, PDF, PS, SVG or DXF for documentation.
Gatekeeper: opening an unsigned app
Gerbv’s macOS build is not signed with a paid Apple Developer certificate or notarised, so on first launch macOS Gatekeeper may tell you the app cannot be opened because it is from an unidentified developer, or move to block it entirely. As general guidance for unsigned open-source applications whose checksum you have verified against the official release, the standard workaround is to right-click (Control-click) the app and choose Open, then confirm Open in the dialog. That registers your decision for that copy of the app, and later launches behave normally. Newer macOS versions may instead direct you to the Privacy & Security section of System Settings, where an “Open Anyway” button appears for the blocked app after a first attempt. Either way: only do this for the file whose SHA-256 you verified in Step 2, and never for a copy obtained from an unofficial repackager.
Alternative: install with Homebrew
If you already use Homebrew, you can skip the manual download entirely:
brew install gerbvThe Homebrew formula tracks the same stable release — formulae.brew.sh lists gerbv at 2.13.0, with bottles for Apple Silicon Macs (and Linux). One caveat to be aware of: the formula page currently flags the formula as deprecated, with a disable date of 2027-08-28 shown when this guide was written. The formula still installs the current release, but if Homebrew is your only channel it is worth keeping the official GitHub ZIP method above in mind for the future. Whichever route you take, the application itself is identical: same viewer, same formats, same GPL-2.0-or-later licence.
Where to go next
Release background — why native macOS and Windows builds only arrived in 2026, after a long quiet period — is covered in Gerbv 2.13.0 release notes explained and the full version history. Windows and Linux users have their own guides: installing on Windows and installing on Linux. All filenames, sizes and checksums for every platform are collected on the download page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Gerbv DMG for macOS?
No. The first official macOS build, shipped in v2.13.0 on March 20, 2026, is a .zip archive (gerbv_v2.13.0_.macOS.zip). No .dmg exists in the release.
Why does Gatekeeper block Gerbv on first launch?
The build is unsigned and not notarised, so macOS warns about an unidentified developer. After verifying the SHA-256 checksum, the usual guidance is to right-click the app, choose Open, and confirm.
Can I install Gerbv on a Mac with Homebrew?
Yes — brew install gerbv installs the same 2.13.0 stable release. Note the Homebrew formula is flagged deprecated with a disable date of 2027-08-28 shown on formulae.brew.sh.