# Install lima with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix, scoop, winget, zypper Linux virtual machines. Version 2.1.4 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-03. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:lima ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install lima ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install lima ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/lima/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add lima ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#lima ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/lima/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install lima ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: lima from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ### Windows - Scoop (92%): ```sh scoop install main/lima ``` Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/lima.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget (92%): ```sh winget install --id Lima.Lima -e ``` Evidence: Windows Package Manager source index: Lima.Lima from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:lima - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 2.1.4 - **Source summary:** Linux virtual machines - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** Apache-2.0 - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-07-03T05:31:26Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - apptainer.lima (cli) - docker.lima (cli) - kubectl.lima (cli) - lima (cli) - limactl (cli) - nerdctl.lima (cli) - podman.lima (cli) - apptainer.lima (alias) - docker.lima (alias) - kubectl.lima (alias) - lima (alias) - limactl (alias) - nerdctl.lima (alias) - podman.lima (alias) ## Build dependencies - go ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Caveats: The guest agents for non-native architectures are now provided in a separate formula: brew install lima-additional-guestagents - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 2.1.4 - Package-manager updated: 2026-07-03 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/lima-vm/lima - Upstream latest detected: v2.1.4 (current) ## Project history and usage Lima, short for Linux Machines, is a command-line tool for running Linux virtual machines with automatic file sharing and port forwarding. It is best known in the macOS developer ecosystem as the low-level VM layer behind container workflows that need a real Linux guest. ### Project history The Lima documentation says the project began in May 2021 to promote containerd and nerdctl to Mac users. Its first GitHub release, v0.1.0, was published in May 2021 and demonstrated a minimal workflow of starting a VM with limactl and running Linux commands through lima. The project quickly broadened beyond its original containerd focus. Its README describes support for other container engines such as Docker, Podman, and Kubernetes, non-container workloads, and hosts beyond macOS including Linux and NetBSD. ### Adoption history Lima gained adoption as developers looked for open, scriptable alternatives to heavier desktop container products on macOS, especially after Apple Silicon made VM architecture and filesystem integration more visible in local development. Projects such as Colima and Rancher Desktop used Lima as a building block for friendlier container and Kubernetes experiences. Lima joined the Cloud Native Computing Foundation as a Sandbox project in September 2022 and was promoted to Incubating in October 2025, reflecting its role as shared infrastructure for cloud-native local development. ### How it is used Users create or start named instances with limactl, then run commands inside the guest via the lima wrapper or connect container tools to sockets exposed by the VM. Templates cover common setups such as containerd, Docker, Podman, Kubernetes, and Apptainer. ### Why package nerds care Lima is package-nerd significant because it turns a pile of VM details into a package-manager-friendly CLI. Its Homebrew formula gives macOS users a reproducible way to get Linux containers, port forwarding, file sharing, QEMU or native virtualization choices, and YAML-controlled instances without installing a full GUI product. ### Timeline - 2021-05: Lima began with the goal of promoting containerd and nerdctl to Mac users. - 2021-05-14: The v0.1.0 release was published as the first public release. - 2022-09: Lima joined CNCF as a Sandbox project. - 2025-10: Lima was promoted to CNCF Incubating. ### Related projects - Lima is related to containerd, nerdctl, QEMU, Apple's virtualization stack, Docker, Podman, Kubernetes, Colima, and Rancher Desktop. Its positioning is often compared to WSL2 because both provide Linux environments with host integration. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes virtual machine infrastructure. - **Geiger risk:** orange / high - 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: ${LIMA_HOME:-$HOME/.lima}//lima.yaml, ${LIMA_HOME:-$HOME/.lima}/_config/networks.yaml ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** lima - **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 - lima: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/lima/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - apk - lima - 1.2.1-r6: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Linux virtual machine launcher focusing on running containers | https://lima-vm.io/ - apk - lima-bash-completion - 1.2.1-r6: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima-bash-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Bash completions for lima | https://lima-vm.io/ - apk - lima-doc - 1.2.1-r6: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Linux virtual machine launcher focusing on running containers (documentation) | https://lima-vm.io/ - apk - lima-fish-completion - 1.2.1-r6: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima-fish-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Fish completions for lima | https://lima-vm.io/ - apk - lima-guestagent - 1.2.1-r6: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima-guestagent from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Lima guest agent | https://lima-vm.io/ - apk - lima-zsh-completion - 1.2.1-r6: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima-zsh-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Zsh completions for lima | https://lima-vm.io/ - zypper - lima - 2.1.2-1.1: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: lima from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Linux virtual machines, with a focus on running containers | https://github.com/lima-vm/lima - MacPorts - lima: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/lima/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Scoop - main/lima: normalized package name match | Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/lima.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget - Lima.Lima: normalized package name match | Windows Package Manager source index: Lima.Lima from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## 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. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [go](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/go/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [colima](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/colima/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [lume](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lume/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, macos, system, virtual-machines, virtualization. - [libosinfo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libosinfo/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [nemu](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nemu/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [osinfo-db-tools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/osinfo-db-tools/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [qemu](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/qemu/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [rvvm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rvvm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [virt-manager](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/virt-manager/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [vmdktool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/vmdktool/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [distrobox](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/distrobox/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, containers, docker, linux, podman. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/lima.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/lima.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