pkg.soopen package index

brew / rank 2128

Install balena-cli with Homebrew, chocolatey, MacPorts, Nix, scoop, winget

Command-line tool for interacting with the balenaCloud and balena API. Version 25.2.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-27. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#balena-cli.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install balena-cli

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install balena-cli

MacPorts ports tree · devel/balena-cli/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#balena-cli

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ba/balena-cli/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Windows

Chocolateyverified · 92%
choco install balena-cli

Chocolatey community package catalog · balena-cli · source: community.chocolatey.org

Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/balena-cli

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/balena-cli.json · source: api.github.com

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

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

overview

Package summary

Command-line tool for interacting with the balenaCloud and balena API

Commands and aliases

  • balena

history

Project history and usage

balena CLI is the official command-line interface for balenaCloud, openBalena, and the balena API. It is a cross-platform operational tool for IoT and edge-device fleets, used interactively and in scripts.

Project history

The balena-io/balena-cli GitHub repository was created on March 2, 2015. The README describes it as the official balena CLI and says it builds on the balena API and balena SDK, can be imported in Node.js applications, and is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

The project has evolved with balena's platform. Its changelog is generated by Versionist, follows semantic versioning, and shows a long-running release train with major-version compatibility and deprecation policy documented in the README.

Adoption history

balena CLI is a central tool for balenaCloud and openBalena users because it handles account login, fleet and device operations, image deployment, OS downloads, SSH, API-backed scripting, and CI-friendly workflows. The Homebrew formula API reported stable version 25.1.10 with 248 installs in the previous 30 days as of June 30, 2026.

The input package facts list Homebrew, Chocolatey, MacPorts, Nix, Scoop, and winget packages, reflecting broad packaging for developer workstations and Windows/macOS/Linux operator environments.

How it is used

Common workflows begin with `balena login`, then use CLI commands to interact with balenaCloud or openBalena resources. The README calls out proxy support, shell support, command reference docs, troubleshooting, auto-completion, and regular upgrading to stay compatible with backend services.

Why package nerds care

balena CLI matters because it is the package-managed entry point to an IoT fleet platform. It turns cloud/device operations into reproducible terminal commands, which makes it important for CI, deployment scripts, support workflows, and developers who need to manage physical devices without living entirely in a web console.

Timeline

  • 2015-03-02: balena-io/balena-cli repository created on GitHub.
  • 2026-04-29: v25.1.0 changelog adds organization management commands.
  • 2026-06-29: v25.1.10 released on GitHub.
  • 2026-06-30: Homebrew formula reports stable balena-cli 25.1.10.

Related projects

  • balenaCloud and openBalena are the platform targets documented by the README.
  • The CLI builds on the balena API and balena SDK, and the changelog shows regular SDK and compose-parser dependency updates.

security posture

Risk level: orange

infrastructure mutation or orchestration signal.

Risk classifier

orange risk · medium confidence · infrastructure

Why

  • infrastructure mutation or orchestration signal

Signals

  • text:cloud

Install behavior

  • No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.

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
~/.balenarc.yml$PWD/balenarc.yml
Windows
%UserProfile%\_balenarc.yml%CD%\balenarc.yml

Credential files

Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.

Unix
~/.balena/token
Windows
%UserProfile%\_balena\token

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
balenaexecutableindexed executableDiscovered from the local executable index.

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 generated2026-08-03
manager version25.2.0
manager updated2026-07-27
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
  • okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:balena-cli
Version25.2.0
Package managerHomebrew
Homepagehttps://docs.balena.io/reference/balena-cli/latest/
Last updated2026-07-27T19:30:35Z
Pulseupdated
Bottlenot recorded
Servicenone declared

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%

balena-cli

nix profile install nixpkgs#balena-cli
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Balena Cli
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ba/balena-cli/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
MacPorts95%

balena-cli

sudo port install balena-cli
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Balena Cli
MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: devel/balena-cli/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Chocolatey95%

balena-cli

choco install balena-cli
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Balena Cli
Chocolatey community package catalog · community.chocolatey.org · Chocolatey community package catalog: balena-cli from http://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/Packages?$filter=IsLatestVersion&$select=Id&$top=1000&$skiptoken='11','azurestorageemulator'
Scoop95%

main/balena-cli

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

Balena.BalenaCLI

winget install --id Balena.BalenaCLI -e
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Balena Cli
Windows Package Manager source index · cdn.winget.microsoft.com · Windows Package Manager source index: Balena.BalenaCLI 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.

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
  • pkg.so package database
  • pkgdb category and tag curation