# Install varlock with Homebrew Add declarative schema to .env files using @env-spec decorator comments. Version 1.10.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-08. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:varlock ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install varlock ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:varlock - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.10.0 - **Source summary:** Add declarative schema to .env files using @env-spec decorator comments - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-07-08T03:17:01Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - varlock (cli) - varlock (alias) ## Dependencies - node ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.10.0 - Package-manager updated: 2026-07-08 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://varlock.dev - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage Varlock is a young configuration and secrets tool for `.env`-based workflows. Its project tagline frames the tool around AI-safe `.env` files: schemas are safe for agents and collaborators to read, while actual secrets are resolved separately. ### Project history The project is built on `@env-spec`, a DSL that extends normal `.env` syntax with JSDoc-style decorator comments and function-call values. The initial `@env-spec` RFC was proposed on May 13, 2025 by maintainers Phil Millman and Theo Ephraim, describing the goal of richer validation, type coercion, sensitive-value handling, and dynamic loading while keeping the familiar `.env` format. ### Adoption history Varlock targets the pain point left by `.env.example`: example files are safe to commit but often drift from real runtime requirements. Varlock instead promotes a committed `.env.schema` as a single source of truth, with local or environment-specific `.env.*` files supplying values. ### How it is used Typical usage starts with `varlock init`, which scans existing `.env` files and creates a root `.env.schema`. Users then run `varlock load` to validate and inspect resolved environment variables or `varlock run -- ` to execute a process with resolved values. The tool also ships as a standalone binary, Docker image, editor support, and plugins for secret backends such as 1Password, AWS, Azure, Google Secret Manager, HashiCorp Vault, and others. ### Why package nerds care For package users, Varlock is notable as an attempt to standardize metadata around environment variables without forcing a new YAML, JSON, or TypeScript schema file. It is especially tuned for modern AI-assisted development, where agents need configuration context but should not be handed plaintext secrets. ### Timeline - 2025-05-13: Initial `@env-spec` RFC proposed. - 2026: Repository documents Varlock as a CLI, Docker image, VS Code extension ecosystem, and plugin host for multiple secret backends. ### Related projects - DMNO is cited by the maintainers as the predecessor whose lessons informed Varlock. - `@env-spec` is the underlying specification and parser family used by Varlock. ### Sources - Initial @env-spec RFC: https://github.com/dmno-dev/varlock/discussions/17 - Official @env-spec overview: https://varlock.dev/env-spec/overview/ - Official GitHub repository: https://github.com/dmno-dev/varlock - Official installation guide: https://varlock.dev/getting-started/installation/ ## Security Notes No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for varlock. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL. ## 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: .env.schema ## Credential files - Unix: .env.local, .env.* ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** varlock - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Security and crypto packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/security-crypto-tools/) - Matched security, identity, cryptography, password, signing, or certificate metadata. - [node](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/node/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [doppler](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/doppler/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, configuration, environment-variables, secrets-management, security. - [infisical](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/infisical/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, environment-variables, secrets-management, security. - [secretspec](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/secretspec/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, configuration, secrets-management, security. - [chamber](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chamber/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, secrets-management, security. - [credstash](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/credstash/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, secrets-management, security. - [envchain](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/envchain/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, environment-variables, secrets-management, security. - [openbao](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openbao/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, secrets-management, security. - [sops](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/sops/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, secrets-management, security. - [varlock](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/npm/varlock/) - Same normalized package name appears in another local ecosystem. Shared terms: env, environment, files, management, secrets. - [varlock](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/npm/varlock/) - Same normalized package name in another local ecosystem. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/varlock.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/varlock.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 - cross-ecosystem install command graph