pkg.soopen package index

brew / rank 611

Install zellij with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper, scoop, winget

Pluggable terminal workspace, with terminal multiplexer as the base feature. Version 0.44.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#zellij.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install zellij

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install zellij

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

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add zellij

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

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#zellij

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

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S zellij

Arch Linux sync databases · zellij · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install zellij

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

Windows

Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/zellij

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/zellij.json · source: api.github.com

Windows Package Managerverified · 92%
winget install --id Zellij.Zellij -e

Windows Package Manager source index · Zellij.Zellij · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com

overview

Package summary

Pluggable terminal workspace, with terminal multiplexer as the base feature

Commands and aliases

  • zellij

history

Project history and usage

Zellij is a Rust terminal workspace and multiplexer aimed at developers, operators, and heavy terminal users, notable for making panes, tabs, layouts, plugins, and collaboration feel like a packaged workspace rather than a bare multiplexer.

Project history

Zellij reached a public beta on April 20, 2021, when Aram Drevekenin described it as a Rust terminal workspace and multiplexer with ambitions to become a general-purpose application development platform. Its early positioning was already distinct from classic screen/tmux culture: it emphasized an out-of-the-box UI, discoverable shortcuts, and a friendlier path for users who had not memorized multiplexer commands.

The project then evolved toward a programmable workspace. In the 2022 Zellij 0.32.0 release, configuration and layouts moved from YAML to KDL, and command panes became a way to preserve, rerun, and compose terminal commands inside layouts. In 2023 the project overhauled its WebAssembly plugin system, framing plugins as terminal applets that can draw UI, react to events, and manage panes, tabs, commands, and editors.

By 2026 the README described Zellij as a terminal workspace with batteries included, with floating and stacked panes, layouts, true multiplayer collaboration, WebAssembly plugins, and a built-in web client. That trajectory matters because Zellij became less a tmux clone and more a terminal-native environment for organizing work.

Adoption history

Zellij adoption followed the path of modern Rust CLI tools: binaries and Cargo installs first, then broad package-manager coverage. The supplied package data lists it across Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, Arch, Scoop, winget, Alpine, and openSUSE-family packaging, which puts it in the common install paths for macOS developers, Linux workstation users, and Windows terminal users.

The public repository shows a large contributor and user footprint for a terminal multiplexer, with tens of thousands of GitHub stars and many releases by 2026. The FAQ also presents it as actively maintained full-time by its creator with community and sponsor support, which helps explain why it is treated by package maintainers as an active, fast-moving CLI rather than a frozen niche utility.

How it is used

Typical use starts with running `zellij` to get a managed session with panes and tabs, then leaning on layouts for repeatable workspaces and `config.kdl` for keybindings, themes, and behavior. Users coming from tmux often care about session persistence, pane management, and shortcut conflicts with terminal editors.

For power users, the interesting usage surface is automation: layouts can encode project workspaces, command panes can run repeatable commands, and WebAssembly plugins can provide custom UI or workflow actions inside the terminal. The plugin model is explicitly designed so plugins can be distributed as `.wasm` files and interact with Zellij state and events.

Why package nerds care

Zellij is a useful package-nerd marker for the Rust-era terminal stack: a single CLI whose value depends on assets that packages must install correctly, including layouts, default plugins, shell completions, man pages, and config migration behavior. Packaging it well is not just putting one binary in PATH.

It also represents a shift in terminal tooling expectations. Where older multiplexers often expected users to bring their own configuration, Zellij competes on defaults, discoverability, and bundled workflow pieces, making it a package whose post-install experience is part of its identity.

Timeline

  • 2021-04-20: Zellij public beta announced as a Rust terminal workspace and multiplexer.
  • 2022-10-25: Zellij 0.32.0 moves configuration from YAML to KDL and adds command panes and a new layout system.
  • 2023-06-27: Zellij announces an overhauled WebAssembly plugin system and Rust SDK for plugin authors.
  • 2026-05-13: GitHub release listing shows v0.44.3 as the latest release.

Related projects

  • tmux and GNU screen are the historical terminal multiplexers users often compare with Zellij.
  • zellij-tile is the Rust SDK used for Zellij WebAssembly plugin development.
  • KDL is the configuration language Zellij adopted for configuration and layouts.

security posture

No protected-tool coverage found yet

No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for zellij. Package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.

Install behavior

  • No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
  • Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
  • Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
  • Build metadata lists 1 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.

Linux
/home/alice/.config/zellij/config.kdl
macOS
/Users/Alice/Library/Application Support/org.Zellij-Contributors.Zellij/config.kdl
Unix
~/.config/zellij/config.kdl/etc/zellij/config.kdl

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
zellijcliglobal 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 generated2026-08-04
manager version0.44.3
manager updated2026-06-22
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv0.44.3

https://github.com/zellij-org/zellij

  • okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:zellij
Version0.44.3
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/zellij
Homepagehttps://zellij.dev
Repositoryhttps://github.com/zellij-org/zellij
Upstream docshttps://zellij.dev
LicenseMIT
Source archivehttps://github.com/zellij-org/zellij/archive/refs/tags/v0.44.3.tar.gz
Last updated2026-06-22T14:06:45-07:00
Pulseupdated
Dependenciesopenssl@3
Build dependenciesrust
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Namezellij
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Head VersionHEAD
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
URL Keys
  • head
  • 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.

Nix95%

zellij

nix profile install nixpkgs#zellij
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ze/zellij/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
apk95%

zellij 0.44.3-r0

Terminal multiplexer

https://zellij.dev/

sudo apk add zellij
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: zellij
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: zellij from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

zellij-bash-completion 0.44.3-r0

Bash completions for zellij

https://zellij.dev/

sudo apk add zellij-bash-completion
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: zellij
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: zellij-bash-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

zellij-doc 0.44.3-r0

Terminal multiplexer (documentation)

https://zellij.dev/

sudo apk add zellij-doc
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: zellij
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: zellij-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

zellij-fish-completion 0.44.3-r0

Fish completions for zellij

https://zellij.dev/

sudo apk add zellij-fish-completion
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: zellij
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: zellij-fish-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

zellij-zsh-completion 0.44.3-r0

Zsh completions for zellij

https://zellij.dev/

sudo apk add zellij-zsh-completion
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: zellij
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: zellij-zsh-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
pacman95%

zellij 0.44.3-1

A terminal multiplexer

https://zellij.dev

sudo pacman -S zellij
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • 7 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: zellij from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz
zypper95%

zellij 0.44.3-1.3

Terminal workspace with batteries included

https://github.com/zellij-org/zellij

sudo zypper install zellij
  • License: MIT
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: zellij
  • 3 dependencies
  • 3 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: zellij from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

zellij-bash-completion 0.44.3-1.3

Bash Completion for zellij

https://github.com/zellij-org/zellij

sudo zypper install zellij-bash-completion
  • License: MIT
  • Category: System/Shells
  • Architecture: noarch
  • Source Package: zellij
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: zellij-bash-completion from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

zellij-fish-completion 0.44.3-1.3

Fish Completion for zellij

https://github.com/zellij-org/zellij

sudo zypper install zellij-fish-completion
  • License: MIT
  • Category: System/Shells
  • Architecture: noarch
  • Source Package: zellij
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: zellij-fish-completion from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

zellij-zsh-completion 0.44.3-1.3

Zsh Completion for zellij

https://github.com/zellij-org/zellij

sudo zypper install zellij-zsh-completion
  • License: MIT
  • Category: System/Shells
  • Architecture: noarch
  • Source Package: zellij
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: zellij-zsh-completion from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst
MacPorts95%

zellij

sudo port install zellij
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/zellij/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Scoop95%

main/zellij

scoop install main/zellij
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
Scoop official bucket manifest trees · api.github.com · Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/zellij.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1
winget95%

Zellij.Zellij

winget install --id Zellij.Zellij -e
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Zellij
Windows Package Manager source index · cdn.winget.microsoft.com · Windows Package Manager source index: Zellij.Zellij from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix

package graph

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

Related tools

  • openssl@3Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • rustBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • nnnShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, plugins, productivity.
  • tuiosShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, productivity, terminal-multiplexer.
  • tmuxShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, productivity.
  • vimShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, productivity.
  • himalayaShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, productivity.
  • yaziShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, productivity.

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.

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