agent safety

Agent safety answer

colima controls local container and Kubernetes runtimes used by developer workflows.

Credential access

Can expose mounted files, container credentials, and runtime config.

Remote mutation

Primarily local, but containers can call remote services.

Publish/artifact risk

Can affect containerized build artifacts and local cluster state.

Recommended control

Gate privileged runtime changes, mounts, and Kubernetes enablement.

Agent-use guidance

Allow status checks; require approval for start options exposing host paths or privileged runtimes.

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install colima

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install colima

MacPorts ports tree · sysutils/colima/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#colima

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/co/colima/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Container runtimes on MacOS (and Linux) with minimal setup

Project links

Commands and aliases

colima

history

Project history and usage

Colima is a command-line tool for running container runtimes on macOS and Linux with minimal setup, built around Lima virtual machines.

Project history

The official README states the project goal as providing container runtimes on macOS with minimal setup and explains the name as Containers on Lima. It also notes the transitive meaning Containers on Linux Machines because Lima is also described as Linux Machines.

Colima grew from a Docker-oriented local runtime into a multi-runtime tool supporting Docker, containerd, Kubernetes, Incus, and newer GPU-accelerated AI workload support.

Adoption history

Colima became popular in package-manager culture as a lightweight alternative path for local Docker-compatible development on macOS, especially after Docker Desktop licensing and resource-use concerns made VM-backed open tooling more attractive.

The official installation docs list Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, Mise, Arch/AUR, release binaries, and source builds, reflecting broad distribution across developer package ecosystems.

How it is used

Typical usage is brew install colima followed by colima start, after which Docker, containerd/nerdctl, Kubernetes, or Incus clients can target the VM-backed runtime. Configuration is normally edited with colima start --edit or the colima template command.

Why package nerds care

Colima is packaging-significant because it coordinates several separately packaged tools: Lima for virtual machines, Docker or containerd clients, kubectl for Kubernetes, and optional Incus or AI workload tooling.

Timeline

2020s: Colima emerges as Containers on Lima for macOS container runtimes.
v0.7.0: Official README documents Incus runtime support.
v0.10.0: Official README documents GPU-accelerated AI workload support using krunkit.
2020s: Official install docs list Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, Mise, Arch/AUR, binaries, and source builds.

Related projects

Official docs directly relate Colima to Lima, Docker, containerd, Kubernetes, nerdctl, Incus, and krunkit.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: orange

container and virtual machine infrastructure.

Risk classifier

orange risk · high confidence · infrastructure

Why

container and virtual machine infrastructure

Signals

override:colima

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Formula metadata declares a service or daemon block.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
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: ~/.colima/default/colima.yaml~/.colima/<profile-name>/colima.yaml~/.colima/_templates/default.yaml

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`colima`	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 version0.10.3

manager updated2026-06-04

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/abiosoft/colima

infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/abiosoft/colimanone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:colima
Version	0.10.3
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/colima
Homepage	https://colima.run
Repository	https://github.com/abiosoft/colima
Upstream docs	https://colima.run/docs
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/abiosoft/colima.git
Last updated	2026-06-04T18:20:36Z
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	lima
Build dependencies	go
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	colima
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.

Nix95%

colima

nix profile install nixpkgs#colima

normalized package name match
Matched by: Colima

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

MacPorts95%

colima

sudo port install colima

normalized package name match
Matched by: Colima

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/colima/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/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/colima.yml

Used sources

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

Install colima with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix