# Install colima with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix Container runtimes on MacOS (and Linux) with minimal setup. Version 0.10.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-04. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:colima ``` ## 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. Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install colima ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install colima ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/colima/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#colima ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/co/colima/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:colima - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.10.3 - **Source summary:** Container runtimes on MacOS (and Linux) with minimal setup - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-04T18:20:36Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - colima (cli) - colima (alias) ## Dependencies - lima ## Build dependencies - go ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Service: declared - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.10.3 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-04 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/abiosoft/colima - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## 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 Notes container and virtual machine infrastructure. - **Geiger risk:** orange / high - container and virtual machine infrastructure ## 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 - Unix: ~/.colima/default/colima.yaml, ~/.colima//colima.yaml, ~/.colima/_templates/default.yaml ## 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:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - colima: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/co/colima/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - MacPorts - colima: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/colima/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Cloud CLI packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/cloud-clis/) - Belongs to a cloud or infrastructure command family. - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Language runtime packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/language-runtime-packages/) - Matched language runtime, compiler, or interpreter metadata. - [lima](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lima/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [go](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/go/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [container](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/container/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, macos, runtime. - [containerd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/containerd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, kubernetes, runtime. - [container-canary](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/container-canary/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, docker, kubernetes. - [dcp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dcp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, docker, kubernetes. - [dtop](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dtop/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, docker. - [incus](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/incus/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, linux, virtualization. - [kbld](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/kbld/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, kubernetes. - [ko](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ko/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, kubernetes. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/colima.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/colima.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph - curated agent safety answer