Credential access
Reads registry credentials, build secrets, environment variables, and mounted files.
brew / rank 265
Install podman with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper, scoop, winget
Tool for managing OCI containers and pods. Version 6.1.4 via Homebrew; verified 2026-10-31. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install podman.
agent safety
Agent safety answer
podman builds and runs containers with registry and host filesystem access.
Remote mutation
Can push images and change container or pod state.
Publish/artifact risk
Can build and publish container images.
Recommended control
Gate pushes, privileged runs, host mounts, and kube generation.
Agent-use guidance
Allow local inspect/build with limited mounts; require approval for publish or privileged actions.
install
Additional install commands
macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install podmanlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install podmanMacPorts ports tree · sysutils/podman/Portfile · source: api.github.com
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add podmanAlpine Linux edge package indexes · podman · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install podmanDebian stable package indexes · podman · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install podmanFedora Rawhide package metadata · podman · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#podmannixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/po/podman/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S podmanArch Linux sync databases · podman · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install podmanopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · podman · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/podmanScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/podman.json · source: api.github.com
Windows Package Managerverified · 92%
winget install --id RedHat.Podman -eWindows Package Manager source index · RedHat.Podman · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com
overview
Package summary
Tool for managing OCI containers and pods
Project links
Commands and aliases
- podman
- podman-remote
- podmansh
history
Project history and usage
Podman is a daemonless OCI container engine for managing containers, images, volumes, networks, and pods. Most commands can run without elevated privileges, and its command line is deliberately comparable to Docker's.
Project history
Podman grew from the libpod work in the Red Hat container-tools ecosystem. Its original goal was to provide a fully featured debugging experience for CRI-O, but it evolved into a general-purpose engine for OCI containers, images, volumes, and pods.
The first public Podman release was v0.2 in 2018. Podman reached 1.0 in January 2019, emphasizing rootless containers, pods, Kubernetes YAML, remote access, a Docker-compatible command line, and operation without a daemon.
Adoption history
Podman gained adoption through its Docker-comparable command line, daemonless architecture, rootless operation, and close alignment with OCI and Kubernetes concepts. Linux distributions and Red Hat's container-tooling ecosystem made it a prominent alternative to Docker Engine.
Podman later expanded beyond native Linux hosts through remote clients and Podman-managed virtual machines on macOS and Windows. A surrounding ecosystem—including Buildah, Skopeo, Podman Desktop, Compose providers, Quadlet generators, and terminal interfaces—supports specialized workflows.
How it is used
Developers use Podman to build, pull, run, inspect, network, and publish OCI containers and pods. Administrators commonly combine rootless Podman with systemd and Quadlet for persistent services.
On macOS and Windows, Podman operates containers inside a managed Linux virtual machine. Registry authentication is handled through containers-auth files, with Docker's config file supported as a credential fallback.
Why package nerds care
Podman matters to package and systems enthusiasts because it exposes Linux container primitives without requiring a permanent central daemon and makes unprivileged container operation a first-class workflow.
Its modular relationship with Buildah, shared containers configuration and storage libraries, systemd integration through Quadlet, and familiar Docker-like CLI make it both a practical engine and an instructive alternative design for container tooling.
Timeline
- 2018: Podman made its first public release as v0.2.
- 2019: Podman 1.0 established it as a fully featured daemonless container engine.
- 2020s: Remote clients and Podman-managed virtual machines broadened use on macOS and Windows.
- 2020s: Quadlet became Podman's declarative systemd workflow for containers and related resources.
Related projects
- Buildah creates OCI images and shares image storage with Podman. Skopeo inspects and transfers images. CRI-O serves Kubernetes runtimes, while Podman Desktop, podman-compose, Podlet, and Podman TUI provide graphical, Compose, Quadlet-generation, and terminal workflows.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: orange
container infrastructure.
Risk classifier
orange risk · high confidence · infrastructure
Why
- container infrastructure
Signals
- override:podman
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Formula metadata declares a service or daemon block.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 5 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 3 build dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
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
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
/usr/share/containers/containers.conf/etc/containers/containers.conf$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/containers/containers.conf~/.config/containers/containers.conf/etc/containers/registries.conf$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/containers/registries.conf~/.config/containers/registries.conf/etc/containers/storage.conf$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/containers/storage.conf~/.config/containers/storage.conf$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/containers/podman-connections.json~/.config/containers/podman-connections.json
Credential files
Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.
- Unix
$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/containers/auth.json$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/containers/auth.json~/.config/containers/auth.json
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
podman | cli | global executable | |
podman-remote | cli | global executable | |
podmansh | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-11-04
manager version6.1.4
manager updated2026-10-31
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv6.1.4
https://github.com/podman-container-tools/podman
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:podman |
|---|---|
| Version | 6.1.4 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/podman |
| Homepage | https://podman.io/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/podman-container-tools/podman |
| Upstream docs | https://podman.io/ |
| License | Apache-2.0 AND GPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://github.com/podman-container-tools/podman/archive/refs/tags/v6.1.4.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-10-31T16:06:09+09:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Build dependencies | go, go-md2man, make |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_golden_gate, arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_tahoe, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | declared |
| Caveats | In order to run containers locally, podman depends on a Linux kernel. One can be started manually using `podman machine` from this package. To start a podman VM automatically at login, also install the cask "podman-desktop". |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | podman |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Requirements |
|
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
podman 5.4.2+ds1-2+b2
tool to manage containers and pods
https://github.com/containers/podman
sudo apt install podman- Section: admin
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: podman
- 11 dependencies
- 15 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
Debian apt95%
podman-docker 5.4.2+ds1-2+b2
tool to manage containers and pods (Docker CLI)
https://github.com/containers/podman
sudo apt install podman-docker- Section: admin
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: podman
- 1 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
Debian apt95%
podman-remote 5.4.2+ds1-2+b2
tool to manage containers and pods (remote CLI)
https://github.com/containers/podman
sudo apt install podman-remote- Section: admin
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: podman
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
Nix95%
podman
nix profile install nixpkgs#podman- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
Ubuntu apt95%
podman 4.9.3+ds1-1build2
tool to manage containers and pods
https://github.com/containers/podman
sudo apt install podman- Section: universe/admin
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libpod
- 10 dependencies
- 11 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
apk95%
podman 5.8.6-r0
Simple management tool for pods, containers and images
sudo apk add podman- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: podman
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
apk95%
podman-bash-completion 5.8.6-r0
Bash completions for podman
sudo apk add podman-bash-completion- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: podman
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
apk95%
podman-doc 5.8.6-r0
Simple management tool for pods, containers and images (documentation)
sudo apk add podman-doc- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: podman
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
apk95%
podman-docker 5.8.6-r0
Emulate Docker CLI using Podman
sudo apk add podman-docker- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: podman
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
apk95%
podman-docker-doc 5.8.6-r0
Emulate Docker CLI using Podman (documentation)
sudo apk add podman-docker-doc- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: podman
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
apk95%
podman-docker-systemd 5.8.6-r0
Emulate Docker CLI using Podman (systemd files)
sudo apk add podman-docker-systemd- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: podman
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
apk95%
podman-fish-completion 5.8.6-r0
Fish completions for podman
sudo apk add podman-fish-completion- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: podman
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
apk95%
podman-openrc 5.8.6-r0
Simple management tool for pods, containers and images (OpenRC init scripts)
sudo apk add podman-openrc- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: podman
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
apk95%
podman-remote 5.8.6-r0
Remote CLI for Podman
sudo apk add podman-remote- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: podman
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
apk95%
podman-systemd 5.8.6-r0
Simple management tool for pods, containers and images (systemd files)
sudo apk add podman-systemd- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: podman
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
apk95%
podman-zsh-completion 5.8.6-r0
Zsh completions for podman
sudo apk add podman-zsh-completion- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: podman
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Podman
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated agent safety answer
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation