install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install rcm

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install rcm

MacPorts ports tree · sysutils/rcm/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add rcm

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · rcm · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install rcm

Debian stable package indexes · rcm · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install rcm

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · rcm · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#rcm

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/rc/rcm/package.nix · source: api.github.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%

sudo zypper install rcm

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · rcm · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

RC file (dotfile) management

Project links

Commands and aliases

lsrc
mkrc
rcdn
rcup

history

Project history and usage

rcm is a Unix dotfile-management suite comprising `rcup`, `mkrc`, `rcdn`, and `lsrc`. It manages links between a dotfiles repository and the user's home directory while supporting tags, host-specific files, and multiple source directories.

Project history

rcm originated as Mike Burns's dotfile-management suite and was subsequently maintained by Burns and thoughtbot. The repository records a 2013 copyright for Burns and a 2014 copyright for thoughtbot.

The official rationale says the suite was built as an abstraction over the shell, Ruby, Python, and Make scripts people were writing and sharing for dotfile management.

Adoption history

The official README documents installation through Homebrew, MacPorts, Alpine, Debian, Fedora, FreeBSD, Gentoo, OpenBSD, Ubuntu, and other Unix package systems. This breadth reflects its appeal to users who keep one dotfiles repository across multiple machines and operating systems.

How it is used

`mkrc` moves an existing configuration into the dotfiles directory, `rcup` installs or updates links, `rcdn` removes managed links, and `lsrc` previews or lists mappings.

Users configure defaults in `~/.rcrc`, or select another file with the `RCRC` environment variable. The file uses POSIX shell syntax and can define source directories, exclusions, tags, hostname behavior, and symlink rules.

Why package nerds care

rcm turns the informal Unix practice of keeping dotfiles in a repository and writing custom symlink scripts into a small, composable tool suite. Tags, host-specific files, multiple source directories, exclusions, and hooks cover configurations that outgrow a simple `ln -s` loop.

Its deliberately Unix-oriented, shell-compatible configuration and separate commands make it attractive to users who prefer transparent filesystem conventions over a database-backed configuration manager.

Timeline

2013: The rcm manual and Mike Burns copyright establish the early public suite.
2014: thoughtbot copyright and maintenance are recorded.
2016: Updated command manuals document the mature multi-command workflow.
2019: Ubuntu began carrying rcm in its standard repositories, as noted by the official installation guide.

Related projects

thoughtbot/dotfiles is an official example configuration repository that uses rcm.
GNU Stow and other symlink-based dotfile managers address a similar workflow with different directory and metadata conventions.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 1 platform targets.

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: ~/.rcrc

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure
`lsrc`	cli	global executable
`mkrc`	cli	global executable
`rcdn`	cli	global executable
`rcup`	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 generated2026-09-19

manager version1.3.6

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://thoughtbot.github.io/rcm/rcm.7.html

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://thoughtbot.github.io/rcm/rcm.7.htmlnone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:rcm
Version	1.3.6
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/rcm
Homepage	https://thoughtbot.github.io/rcm/rcm.7.html
Upstream docs	https://thoughtbot.github.io/rcm/rcm.7.html
License	BSD-3-Clause
Source archive	https://thoughtbot.github.io/rcm/dist/rcm-1.3.6.tar.gz
Bottle	available (on all)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	rcm
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

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%

rcm 1.3.4-1

tool to manage rc files (dotfiles)

https://github.com/thoughtbot/rcm

sudo apt install rcm

Section: utils
Architecture: all
normalized package name match
Matched by: Rcm

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: rcm from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

rcm

nix profile install nixpkgs#rcm

normalized package name match
Matched by: Rcm

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/rc/rcm/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Ubuntu apt95%

rcm 1.3.4-1

tool to manage rc files (dotfiles)

https://github.com/thoughtbot/rcm

sudo apt install rcm

Section: universe/utils
Architecture: all
normalized package name match
Matched by: Rcm

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: rcm from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

apk95%

rcm 1.3.6-r0

rc file (dotfile) management

https://github.com/thoughtbot/rcm

sudo apk add rcm

License: BSD-3-Clause
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: rcm
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Rcm

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: rcm from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

rcm-doc 1.3.6-r0

rc file (dotfile) management (documentation)

https://github.com/thoughtbot/rcm

sudo apk add rcm-doc

License: BSD-3-Clause
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: rcm
normalized package name match
Matched by: Rcm

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: rcm-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

dnf95%

rcm 1.3.6-11.fc45

Management suite for dotfiles

https://github.com/thoughtbot/rcm

sudo dnf install rcm

License: LicenseRef-Callaway-BSD
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: noarch
Source Package: rcm
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Rcm

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: rcm from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/652278618dec9c023176a80c435a32a2c8154869fb0eb662c267a54df28d77d9-primary.xml.zst

zypper95%

rcm 1.3.6-1.8

An rc file (dotfile) management tool

https://thoughtbot.github.io/rcm/

sudo zypper install rcm

License: BSD-3-Clause
Category: Productivity/File utilities
Architecture: noarch
Source Package: rcm
2 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Rcm

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: rcm from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/d310d5a96106e1e8872a385adf98aaa23be9db5d80937a6717314e7e7f37715065c6c748ab7ccee6475d620b46979c0fe64235fc0c46988e17edf659578fcf31-primary.xml.zst

MacPorts95%

rcm

sudo port install rcm

normalized package name match
Matched by: Rcm

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/rcm/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

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.

combined/rcm.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
cross-ecosystem install command graph
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

Install rcm with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

Package summary

Project links

Commands and aliases

Project history and usage

Project history

Adoption history

How it is used

Why package nerds care

Timeline

Related projects

Sources

Risk level: green

Risk classifier

Why

Signals

Install behavior

Recommended review

Configuration and credential file locations

Configuration files

Installed executables

Version and freshness

Package metadata

Source database details

Other package-manager records

Internal package links

Topical hubs

Same workflow

Agent security guides

Generated from repository data

Combined YAML source

Used sources