install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install aws-nuke

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install aws-nuke

MacPorts ports tree · sysutils/aws-nuke/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install aws-nuke

Debian stable package indexes · aws-nuke · source: deb.debian.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#aws-nuke

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/aw/aws-nuke/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Windows

Scoopverified · 92%

scoop install main/aws-nuke

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/aws-nuke.json · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Nuke a whole AWS account and delete all its resources

Project links

Commands and aliases

aws-nuke

history

Project history and usage

aws-nuke is a destructive AWS account cleanup tool for deleting resources across an account. It is designed for controlled teardown workflows rather than routine administration.

Project history

The repository history starts in June 2016 with commits adding deletion support for EC2 instances, Auto Scaling groups, security groups, Route 53 records, and VPCs. The current ekristen project documents itself as a full fork of the original rebuy-de/aws-nuke project.

The fork's README says the fork became necessary because the original maintainers had limited time and contribution feedback cycles were slow. Version 3 rewrote the tool around libnuke, a shared library intended to avoid maintaining duplicated cleanup logic across cloud-specific nuke tools.

Adoption history

aws-nuke became a recognizable tool in AWS-heavy development and test environments because it automates the otherwise tedious process of finding and deleting many resource types. Its own warning documentation emphasizes blocklists, explicit account configuration, and central management of the config file because mistakes can delete live infrastructure.

The project is packaged through Homebrew and several other package managers in the supplied facts, which fits its use as an operator CLI: teams want a pinned binary available on developer laptops, CI jobs, and ephemeral cleanup machines.

How it is used

Use centers on a YAML configuration file passed with --config or -c. The docs describe the config as user supplied YAML loaded from the path specified by the --config flag, with the CLI usage showing config.yaml as the default.

For AWS authentication, the official docs describe static credential flags, environment variables, and shared AWS config/credential files normally located at ~/.aws/config and ~/.aws/credentials. The CLI can also use AWS profiles and assume-role settings.

Why package nerds care

Package nerds care about aws-nuke because it is one of the rare packageable CLIs whose whole purpose is irreversible infrastructure deletion. Its formula is not just a convenience wrapper; distributing the right upstream and version matters for supported AWS resource coverage and safety controls.

Timeline

2016: Initial aws-nuke commits add deletion support for core AWS resources.
2017: v1.0 tag appears in the public git history.
2018: v2.0.0 tag appears.
2025: libnuke 1.x dependency work lands in the current fork.
2026: v3.x tags show continued active releases.

Related projects

rebuy-de/aws-nuke is the original project acknowledged by the current fork.
ekristen/libnuke is the shared core library used by version 3.

Sources

https://aws-nuke.ekristen.dev/auth/
https://aws-nuke.ekristen.dev/cli-usage/
https://aws-nuke.ekristen.dev/config/
https://github.com/ekristen/aws-nuke#readme
official git history and tags from https://github.com/ekristen/aws-nuke

security posture

No protected-tool coverage found yet

No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for aws-nuke. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Build metadata lists 1 build dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Configuration files

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Unix: config.yaml

Credential files

Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.

Unix: ~/.aws/config~/.aws/credentials
Windows: C:\Users\USERNAME\.aws\configC:\Users\USERNAME\.aws\credentials

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`aws-nuke`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-08

manager version3.65.0

manager updated2026-06-15

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv3.65.0

https://github.com/ekristen/aws-nuke

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:aws-nuke
Version	3.65.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/aws-nuke
Homepage	https://aws-nuke.ekristen.dev
Repository	https://github.com/ekristen/aws-nuke
Upstream docs	https://aws-nuke.ekristen.dev/
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/ekristen/aws-nuke/archive/refs/tags/v3.65.0.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-06-15T10:20:10-04:00
Pulse	updated
Build dependencies	go
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	aws-nuke
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Head Version	HEAD
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	head stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Debian apt95%

aws-nuke 2.16.0-1+b19

Delete a whole AWS account and all resources

https://github.com/rebuy-de/aws-nuke

sudo apt install aws-nuke

Section: golang
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: aws-nuke
1 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Aws Nuke

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: aws-nuke from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

aws-nuke

nix profile install nixpkgs#aws-nuke

normalized package name match
Matched by: Aws Nuke

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/aw/aws-nuke/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Ubuntu apt95%

aws-nuke 2.16.0-1build1

Delete a whole AWS account and all resources

https://github.com/rebuy-de/aws-nuke

sudo apt install aws-nuke

Section: universe/golang
Architecture: amd64
1 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Aws Nuke

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: aws-nuke from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

MacPorts95%

aws-nuke

sudo port install aws-nuke

normalized package name match
Matched by: Aws Nuke

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/aws-nuke/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Scoop95%

main/aws-nuke

scoop install main/aws-nuke

normalized package name match
Matched by: Aws Nuke

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · api.github.com · Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/aws-nuke.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/aws-nuke.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated configuration and credential file locations
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install aws-nuke with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix, scoop