# dog

> command-line DNS client

**Wikidata**: [Q104632273](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104632273)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dog-q104632273

## Summary
dog is a command-line DNS client. It functions as a free software console application used to query Domain Name Servers and is designed to operate on both Unix-like operating systems and Microsoft Windows.

## Key Facts
- **License:** European Union Public Licence
- **Version History:** Version 0.1.0 released on November 7, 2020
- **Official Website:** https://dns.lookup.dog/
- **Source Code Repository:** https://github.com/ogham/dog
- **Operating Systems:** Unix-like operating systems, Microsoft Windows
- **Software Classification:** Client, console application, free software
- **Programming Language:** Rust (Q575650)
- **Copyright Status:** Copyrighted
- **Package Names:** `dog-dns-git` (AUR), `dog` (Homebrew), `net-dns/dog` (Gentoo), `dns/dog` (FreeBSD)
- **Aliases:** ドッグ

## FAQs
### Q: What exactly does the dog command-line tool do?
A: dog is a DNS client that runs in a console or terminal. It sends queries to Domain Name Servers to resolve domain names, acting as a user-side interface for DNS lookups.

### Q: Is dog free to use and modify?
A: Yes. dog is classified as free software and is distributed under the European Union Public Licence. This allows users to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software and its modified versions.

### Q: On which operating systems can I run dog?
A: dog is compatible with Unix-like operating systems (including Linux distributions, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and macOS) and Microsoft Windows.

### Q: Where can I download or access dog?
A: The source code is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/ogham/dog. It is also available via various package managers, including Homebrew, MacPorts, Arch Linux (AUR), Gentoo, FreeBSD, and OpenBSD ports.

## Why It Matters
dog serves as a modern alternative for DNS lookups within the software utility landscape. As a command-line tool, it provides developers and system administrators with a way to query DNS servers directly from a terminal interface, implementing the client side of the Domain Name Server protocol.

Its significance is highlighted by its cross-platform availability; it bridges the gap between Unix-like environments and Microsoft Windows, ensuring consistent DNS querying capabilities across different development infrastructures. The tool's presence in numerous package repositories (such as Arch Linux, Gentoo, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and Homebrew) indicates strong community adoption and relevance for technical users who rely on package managers for software deployment. Furthermore, its open-source nature under the European Union Public Licence allows for transparency, security auditing, and community-driven improvements, distinguishing it from proprietary or closed-source alternatives. By offering a specific implementation of a DNS client written in Rust, it contributes to the ecosystem of modern, memory-safe system utilities.

## Notable For
- **Cross-Platform Design:** Supports both Microsoft Windows and Unix-like systems.
- **Modern Implementation:** Written in Rust (Q575650), a modern systems programming language.
- **Broad Package Availability:** Officially packaged for a wide array of systems including Arch, Gentoo, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and macOS (Homebrew/MacPorts).
- **Open Licensing:** Uses the European Union Public Licence, ensuring user freedoms for modification and distribution.
- **Specialized Functionality:** Specifically implements a DNS client, distinct from general network tools.

## Body
### Overview and Functionality
dog is a console application categorized as a client and free software. Its primary technical function is the implementation of a Domain Name Server client, allowing users to perform DNS lookups via the command line.

### Technical Specifications
- **Programming Language:** The software is implemented in Rust (Wikidata ID: Q575650).
- **Repository:** The source code is maintained in a Git repository hosted by GitHub, utilizing Git Smart HTTP over TLS.
- **Website:** The official online presence is located at https://dns.lookup.dog/ (English).

### Version History
The project has recorded version releases, specifically version **0.1.0**, which was published on **November 7, 2020**. This release was titled "Release 0.1.0" and is documented in the project's GitHub releases.

### Distribution and Installation
dog is widely distributed across various operating system repositories, facilitating easy installation for end-users:
- **Arch Linux:** Available via the `dog-dns-git` AUR package and `dog` arch_linux_package.
- **Gentoo:** Available as `net-dns/dog`.
- **FreeBSD:** Available via the `dns/dog` port.
- **OpenBSD:** Available via the `net/dog` port.
- **macOS:** Available through MacPorts (`dog`) and Homebrew (`dog` formula name).
- **Repology:** The project is tracked under the name `dog-dns`.

### Licensing and Legal
The software is distributed under the **European Union Public Licence**. Despite being "free software," it maintains a copyright status of "copyrighted," allowing for open distribution and modification under the terms of the license.

## References

1. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/ogham/dog)
2. [Release 0.1.0. 2020](https://github.com/ogham/dog/releases/tag/v0.1.0)