# Install distrobox with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, Nix, pacman, zypper Use any Linux distribution inside your terminal. Version 1.8.2.5 via Homebrew; verified 2026-04-27. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:distrobox ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install distrobox ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add distrobox ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: distrobox from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install distrobox ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: distrobox from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install distrobox ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: distrobox from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#distrobox ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/di/distrobox/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S distrobox ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: distrobox from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install distrobox ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: distrobox from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:distrobox - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.8.2.5 - **Source summary:** Use any Linux distribution inside your terminal - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-3.0-only - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-04-27T15:49:18Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-09T07:20:21+00:00 ## Executables - distrobox (cli) - distrobox-assemble (cli) - distrobox-create (cli) - distrobox-enter (cli) - distrobox-ephemeral (cli) - distrobox-export (cli) - distrobox-generate-entry (cli) - distrobox-host-exec (cli) - distrobox-init (cli) - distrobox-list (cli) - distrobox-rm (cli) - distrobox-stop (cli) - distrobox-upgrade (cli) - distrobox (alias) - distrobox-assemble (alias) - distrobox-create (alias) - distrobox-enter (alias) - distrobox-ephemeral (alias) - distrobox-export (alias) - distrobox-generate-entry (alias) - distrobox-host-exec (alias) - distrobox-init (alias) - distrobox-list (alias) - distrobox-rm (alias) - distrobox-stop (alias) - distrobox-upgrade (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Caveats: Distrobox requires one of podman or docker. Do brew install podman or consult the documentation for details. - Bottle: available on all ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-09 - Package-manager version: 1.8.2.5 - Package-manager updated: 2026-04-27 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/89luca89/distrobox - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage distrobox is a container-based system utility for running one Linux distribution's userland inside another while keeping terminal, home directory, GUI, audio, devices, and host integration close at hand. It became especially relevant as immutable and image-based Linux desktops made mutable development environments more valuable. ### Project history The project was created in late 2021 and released 1.0.0 in December 2021. Its documentation describes the original implementation as shell-oriented and based on the same broad ideas introduced by containers/toolbox, while keeping host integration and wide distribution compatibility as central goals. ### Adoption history Official docs include packaging-status badges and a featured-articles section that points to use on Fedora Atomic desktops, SteamOS, Clear Linux, and other host distributions. The 2026 Distrobox Next announcement says the project had received contributions from more than 200 developers, which marks a substantial community for a system CLI. ### How it is used Users create and enter named distroboxes with subcommands such as distrobox-create and distrobox-enter, export applications back to the host, and use distrobox-assemble with a distrobox.ini manifest for batch container creation. The tool wraps Podman, Docker, or lilipod rather than being a container runtime itself. ### Why package nerds care distrobox is important to package-manager users because it loosens the bond between host distribution and package availability. A user can keep a stable or immutable host while installing development stacks from Arch, Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu, or another containerized userland. ### Timeline - 2021: GitHub repository created. - 2021: Distrobox 1.0.0 released. - 2022: Distrobox appears in talks and articles for immutable-desktop and multi-distro workflows. - 2026: Distrobox Next release candidates introduce a Go rewrite for the v2 line. ### Related projects - containers/toolbox is the closest conceptual predecessor named by the official docs. - Podman, Docker, and lilipod are supported container managers used underneath Distrobox. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## 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: ./distrobox.ini ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** distrobox - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Requirements:** linux - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - distrobox - 1.8.1.2-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: distrobox from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Another tool for containerized command line environments on Linux | https://distrobox.it/ - Nix - distrobox: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/di/distrobox/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - distrobox - 1.7.0-1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: distrobox from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Another tool for containerized command line environments on Linux | https://distrobox.it/ - apk - distrobox - 1.8.2.5-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: distrobox from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Use any Linux distribution inside your terminal | https://distrobox.it/ - apk - distrobox-bash-completion - 1.8.2.5-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: distrobox-bash-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Bash completions for distrobox | https://distrobox.it/ - apk - distrobox-doc - 1.8.2.5-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: distrobox-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Use any Linux distribution inside your terminal (documentation) | https://distrobox.it/ - apk - distrobox-zsh-completion - 1.8.2.5-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: distrobox-zsh-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Zsh completions for distrobox | https://distrobox.it/ - dnf - distrobox - 1.8.2.5-1.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: distrobox from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Another tool for containerized command line environments on Linux | https://github.com/89luca89/distrobox - pacman - distrobox - 1.8.2.5-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: distrobox from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Use any linux distribution inside your terminal. | https://distrobox.it - zypper - distrobox - 1.8.2.5-3.1: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: distrobox from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Use any linux distribution inside your terminal | https://github.com/89luca89/distrobox - zypper - distrobox-bash-completion - 1.8.2.5-3.1: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: distrobox-bash-completion from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Bash completion for distrobox | https://github.com/89luca89/distrobox - zypper - distrobox-branding-openSUSE - 1.8.2.5-3.1: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: distrobox-branding-openSUSE from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Distrobox branding package for openSUSE | https://github.com/89luca89/distrobox ## Related links - [Cloud CLI packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/cloud-clis/) - Belongs to a cloud or infrastructure command family. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [conmon](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/conmon/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, containers, podman, system. - [ctop](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ctop/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, containers, docker, system. - [docuum](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/docuum/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, containers, docker, system. - [podlet](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/podlet/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, containers, podman, system. - [podman-compose](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/podman-compose/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, containers, podman, system. - [podman-tui](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/podman-tui/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, containers, podman, system. - [crun](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/crun/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, containers, system. - [podman](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/podman/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, containers, system. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/distrobox.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/distrobox.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