A flexible JSON/YAML linter for creating automated style guides, with baked in support for OpenAPI v3.1, v3.0, and v2.0 as well as AsyncAPI v2.x.
Publisher’s description
What is Spectral?
Spectral by Stoplight is open-source Windows software in the developer utilities category. It is written in TypeScript.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides Portable installers for 64-bit Windows. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 6.17.0, released on October 2, 2026. The version history goes back to October 18, 2022: 18 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 4.5 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (stoplightio/spectral) has 3,244 stars. Similar programs include WinMerge, jq and x64dbg.
Project description on GitHub: “A flexible JSON/YAML linter for creating automated style guides, with baked in support for OpenAPI (v3.1, v3.0, and v2.0), Arazzo v1.0, as well as AsyncAPI v2.x.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Portable: runs without installation
- Updated in the last two months
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: Spectral is an open-source developer utilitie tool for 64-bit PCs. It is actively maintained.
Is Spectral safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
CB5D08792C41B1240FB547099ACE3227BA1931761A14B0FCDEFD92F96160B7BF· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the stoplightio/spectral repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- Actively maintained10
- No dangerous workflows10
- No binaries in the repository10
- Licence declared10
- Published packages10
- Code review5
- Pinned dependencies2
- Restricted token permissions0
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge0
- Fuzzing0
- Security policy0
- Signed releases0
- Static code analysis0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 18 versions ›18 versions over 4 years · about 4.5 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.17.0Latest | October 2, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 6.16.3 | August 3, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 6.16.2 | July 20, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 6.16.1 | July 16, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 6.15.0 | April 22, 2025 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 6.14.3 | March 4, 2025 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 6.14.2 | November 20, 2024 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 6.14.1 | November 13, 2024 | — | 64-bit Portable |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Stoplight.Spectral -eProgram files (.exe): spectral.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask font-spectralInformation
- Publisher
- Stoplight
- Category
- Developer utilities
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/stoplightio/spectral
- Written in
- TypeScript
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 6.17.0
- Released
- October 2, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- October 18, 2022
- Versions listed
- 18
- Updates / year
- 4.5
- GitHub stars
- 3,244
- GitHub forks
- 302
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- Stoplight.Spectral
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Spectral free?
Yes. Spectral is open-source software under the Apache-2.0 licence.
Is Spectral safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Spectral with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does Spectral run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Spectral?
The versions page lists all 18 versions with links to their official installer files, back to October 18, 2022.
Can I use Spectral without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to Spectral?
WinMerge, jq, x64dbg, Biome and Vale. The alternatives page compares them.
