# Install vfox with Homebrew, Nix, scoop, winget Version manager with support for Java, Node.js, Flutter, .NET & more. Version 1.0.11 via Homebrew; verified 2026-04-29. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:vfox ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install vfox ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#vfox ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/vf/vfox/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Windows - Scoop (92%): ```sh scoop install main/vfox ``` Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/vfox.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget (92%): ```sh winget install --id version-fox.vfox -e ``` Evidence: Windows Package Manager source index: version-fox.vfox from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:vfox - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.0.11 - **Source summary:** Version manager with support for Java, Node.js, Flutter, .NET & more - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** Apache-2.0 - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-04-29T19:14:02Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-09T07:20:21+00:00 ## Executables - vfox (cli) - vfox (alias) ## Build dependencies - go ## 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: 2026-07-09 - Package-manager version: 1.0.11 - Package-manager updated: 2026-04-29 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/version-fox/vfox - Upstream latest detected: v1.0.11 (current) ## Project history and usage vfox, also branded VersionFox, is a cross-platform SDK and runtime version manager. It follows the family of tools represented by nvm, sdkman, fvm, and asdf, but emphasizes native Windows support, a plugin system, and version scopes for global, project, and shell-session use. ### Project history The version-fox/vfox repository was created in December 2023. Its documentation presents the project as a multi-SDK manager for Java, Node.js, Flutter, .NET, Go, Python, and other runtimes, with plugins used to extend support beyond the built-in set. Public interest became visible in early 2024 through community posts such as a Show HN submission describing vfox as a cross-platform version manager with plugin extensibility, per-project and per-shell version locking, and compatibility with common version files such as .node-version, .nvmrc, and .sdkmanrc. ### Adoption history vfox's adoption has centered on developers who want one runtime manager across Windows, Linux, and macOS. The GitHub project had grown to several thousand stars by 2026, and its package-manager presence includes Homebrew, Scoop, winget, and Nix, reflecting the project's cross-platform positioning. The plugin ecosystem is central to adoption. vfox documents a public plugin registry where users can install plugins with commands such as vfox add , and external tools such as mise document vfox plugins as a supported backend for installing development tools. ### How it is used The common workflow is to install vfox, activate its shell integration, add or auto-install a plugin, install a runtime version, and choose whether that version is global, project-local, or limited to the current shell session. The quick-start guide demonstrates commands such as vfox install nodejs@21.5.0 and vfox use -g nodejs@latest while warning that exact versions are preferable for production reproducibility. For project teams, vfox matters because it can automatically switch runtime versions when entering a project directory and can understand existing ecosystem files such as .nvmrc or .sdkmanrc. That lowers migration friction from single-runtime managers or from asdf-style workflows. ### Why package nerds care vfox is part of the newer generation of meta-version-managers that treat language runtimes, SDKs, and developer tools as pluggable package targets. Its notable package-nerd angle is the attempt to make that model comfortable on native Windows as well as Unix-like shells. ### Timeline - 2023-12: version-fox/vfox was created on GitHub. - 2024-04: vfox was posted to Hacker News as a multi-runtime version manager with project and shell version scopes. - 2026-04: GitHub releases show vfox v1.0.11. - 2026: GitHub metadata showed thousands of stars and ongoing releases, while documentation and downstream package-manager records continued to present it as a cross-platform SDK manager. ### Related projects - vfox explicitly positions itself near nvm, fvm, sdkman, and asdf-vm. It is also related to mise through mise's vfox backend, which can consume vfox plugins for development-tool installation. ### Sources - - - - - - - - - ## Security Notes infrastructure mutation or orchestration signal. - **Geiger risk:** orange / medium - infrastructure mutation or orchestration signal ## 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: ~/.version-fox, .vfox.toml, vfox.toml ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** vfox - **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 - vfox: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/vf/vfox/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Scoop - main/vfox: normalized package name match | Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/vfox.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget - version-fox.vfox: normalized package name match | Windows Package Manager source index: version-fox.vfox from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Related links - [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. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [go](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/go/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [fnm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fnm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, nodejs, version-management, version-manager. - [uru](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/uru/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, runtime-management, version-management, version-manager. - [proto](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/proto/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, version-management, version-manager. - [rbenv](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rbenv/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, version-management, version-manager. - [swiftly](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/swiftly/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, version-management, version-manager. - [tenv](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/tenv/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, version-management, version-manager. - [tfenv](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/tfenv/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, version-management, version-manager. - [tgenv](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/tgenv/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, version-management, version-manager. - [ndenv](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ndenv/) - Both packages touch the same language runtime or ecosystem. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, management, manager. - [node-build](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/node-build/) - Both packages touch the same language runtime or ecosystem. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, management, manager. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/vfox.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/vfox.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