Install neovim-remote with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix

Project links

• Homepage
• Upstream docs
• Package manager page

Commands and aliases

• nvr

Project history

The `mhinz/neovim-remote` repository was created on 2015-12-04. Its README explains the context directly: Neovim always starts a server, exposes an address such as `v:servername`, and can be started with `nvim --listen /tmp/nvimsocket`; `nvr` then sends commands to that server.

The project released v1.4.0 in 2016 and v1.7.0 in 2017, then continued through tags such as v2.5.1. It fills a precise compatibility gap around `--remote` and friends, especially for users moving Vim workflows into Neovim.

Adoption history

The repository had 1,894 stars and 83 forks when queried on 2026-07-01. Homebrew analytics showed 210 installs in 30 days, 359 in 90 days, and 1,130 in 365 days, which is healthy for a narrow workflow helper.

The package also exists on PyPI as `neovim-remote`, so Homebrew is one install route rather than the original distribution channel. The adoption audience is shell-heavy Neovim users, tmux users, plugin authors, and people who use Neovim as `$EDITOR` or Git editor.

How it is used

Typical commands include `nvr file`, `nvr --remote file1 file2`, `nvr --remote-send`, `nvr --remote-expr`, `nvr -cc split file`, and `git config --global core.editor 'nvr --remote-wait-silent'`.

The canonical use case is avoiding nested Neovim inside Neovim's `:terminal`: a Git commit launched from a terminal buffer can open a commit-message buffer in the existing Neovim session and block until that buffer is closed.

Why package nerds care

This is a classic tiny-package-with-real-leverage entry. It does not compete with Neovim; it packages a missing bit of client/server ergonomics around Neovim's API, similar in spirit to `emacsclient` workflows.

Timeline

• {'date': '2015-12-04', 'event': 'The `mhinz/neovim-remote` repository was created.'}
• {'date': '2016-12-06', 'event': 'Release v1.4.0 was published.'}
• {'date': '2017-06-23', 'event': 'Release v1.7.0 was published with README/use-case updates.'}

Related projects

• Neovim
• PyPI neovim-remote
• vimtex
• tmux workflows

Sources

• https://api.github.com/repos/mhinz/neovim-remote
• https://api.github.com/repos/mhinz/neovim-remote/releases?per_page=8
• https://formulae.brew.sh/api/formula/neovim-remote.json
• https://github.com/mhinz/neovim-remote
• https://github.com/mhinz/neovim-remote/blob/master/INSTALLATION.md
• https://pypi.org/project/neovim-remote/