# Install container with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix Create and run Linux containers using lightweight virtual machines. Version 1.1.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-06. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:container ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install container ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install container ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: devel/container/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#container ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/co/container/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:container - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.1.0 - **Source summary:** Create and run Linux containers using lightweight virtual machines - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** Apache-2.0 - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-07-06T21:40:21Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - container (cli) - container-apiserver (cli) - container (alias) - container-apiserver (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: defined - Service: declared - Bottle: available on arm64_tahoe ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.1.0 - Package-manager updated: 2026-07-06 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/apple/container - Upstream latest detected: 1.1.0 (current) ## Project history and usage Apple's `container` is a macOS-focused CLI for creating and running Linux containers as lightweight virtual machines. It is written in Swift, optimized for Apple silicon, and designed around OCI-compatible images and registries. ### Project history Apple published the initial 0.1.0 release in June 2025 and reached 1.0.0 in June 2026. The README describes the project as active development, with stability guarantees limited to patch versions until the 1.0.0 milestone. ### Adoption history Official documentation frames the tool around macOS developers who need Linux containers without a shared Linux VM. The project also became package-manager-relevant quickly because Homebrew, MacPorts, and Nix package records appeared around a first-party Apple runtime rather than a Docker Desktop replacement package. ### How it is used The CLI can start the system service, pull and run OCI images, build images from Dockerfiles, push images to registries, and manage containers, images, registries, builders, and system components. Its technical overview explains that each container runs in its own lightweight VM through Apple's Containerization package and macOS frameworks such as Virtualization, vmnet, XPC, launchd, Keychain services, and unified logging. ### Why package nerds care For package nerds, `container` is significant because it makes Apple's native container stack installable and scriptable as a CLI. Its use of OCI images preserves interoperability with existing registries, while its macOS-only virtualization model creates a distinct packaging target from Linux containerd/runc stacks and Docker Desktop-style bundles. ### Timeline - 2025: 0.1.0 release published. - 2026: 1.0.0 release published. - 2026: Documentation states support targets macOS 26 and Apple silicon. ### Related projects - `container` uses Apple's Containerization Swift package for low-level container, image, and process management. Its technical overview also connects it to OCI image standards and macOS platform frameworks. ### Sources - - - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. formula declares a Homebrew service. - **Geiger risk:** orange / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal - formula declares a Homebrew service - infrastructure mutation or orchestration signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** container - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Requirements:** arch, macos, xcode - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - container: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/co/container/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - MacPorts - container: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: devel/container/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. - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control 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. - [socktainer](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/socktainer/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [colima](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/colima/) - 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, oci, runtime. - [dcp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dcp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, oci. - [oras](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/oras/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, oci. - [rockcraft](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rockcraft/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, oci. - [skopeo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/skopeo/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, oci. - [umoci](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/umoci/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers, oci. - [amazon-ecs-cli](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/amazon-ecs-cli/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, containers. - [container-canary](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/container-canary/) - Package names and metadata indicate a similar tool family. Shared terms: cli, cloud, cloud-infrastructure, container, containers. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/container.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/container.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - 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