# Install colima with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix

Container runtimes on MacOS (and Linux) with minimal setup. Version 0.10.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-27. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#colima.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:colima
```

## Agent safety answer

colima controls local container and Kubernetes runtimes used by developer workflows.

- **Credential access:** Can expose mounted files, container credentials, and runtime config.
- **Remote mutation:** Primarily local, but containers can call remote services.
- **Publish/artifact risk:** Can affect containerized build artifacts and local cluster state.
- **Recommended control:** Gate privileged runtime changes, mounts, and Kubernetes enablement.
- **Agent-use guidance:** Allow status checks; require approval for start options exposing host paths or privileged runtimes.

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install colima
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install colima
```

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

### Linux

- Nix (92%):

```sh
nix profile install nixpkgs#colima
```

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

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:colima
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 0.10.3
- **Source summary:** Container runtimes on MacOS (and Linux) with minimal setup
- **Homepage:** <https://colima.run>
- **Repository:** <https://github.com/abiosoft/colima>
- **Last updated:** 2026-07-27T22:04:03+02:00
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- colima (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 0.10.3
## Project history and usage

Colima is a command-line tool for running container runtimes on macOS and Linux with minimal setup, built around Lima virtual machines.

### Project history

The official README states the project goal as providing container runtimes on macOS with minimal setup and explains the name as Containers on Lima. It also notes the transitive meaning Containers on Linux Machines because Lima is also described as Linux Machines.

Colima grew from a Docker-oriented local runtime into a multi-runtime tool supporting Docker, containerd, Kubernetes, Incus, and newer GPU-accelerated AI workload support.

### Adoption history

Colima became popular in package-manager culture as a lightweight alternative path for local Docker-compatible development on macOS, especially after Docker Desktop licensing and resource-use concerns made VM-backed open tooling more attractive.

The official installation docs list Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, Mise, Arch/AUR, release binaries, and source builds, reflecting broad distribution across developer package ecosystems.

### How it is used

Typical usage is brew install colima followed by colima start, after which Docker, containerd/nerdctl, Kubernetes, or Incus clients can target the VM-backed runtime. Configuration is normally edited with colima start --edit or the colima template command.

### Why package nerds care

Colima is packaging-significant because it coordinates several separately packaged tools: Lima for virtual machines, Docker or containerd clients, kubectl for Kubernetes, and optional Incus or AI workload tooling.

### Timeline

- 2020s: Colima emerges as Containers on Lima for macOS container runtimes.
- v0.7.0: Official README documents Incus runtime support.
- v0.10.0: Official README documents GPU-accelerated AI workload support using krunkit.
- 2020s: Official install docs list Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, Mise, Arch/AUR, binaries, and source builds.

### Related projects

- Official docs directly relate Colima to Lima, Docker, containerd, Kubernetes, nerdctl, Incus, and krunkit.

### Sources

- <https://colima.run/docs>
- <https://github.com/abiosoft/colima>
- <https://github.com/abiosoft/colima/blob/main/docs/INSTALL.md>
- <https://github.com/abiosoft/colima/blob/main/docs/FAQ.md>


## Security Notes

container and virtual machine infrastructure.

- **Geiger risk:** orange / high
- container and virtual machine infrastructure


## 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: ~/.colima/default/colima.yaml, ~/.colima/<profile-name>/colima.yaml, ~/.colima/_templates/default.yaml
## Other Package-Manager Records

- Nix - colima: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/co/colima/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- MacPorts - colima: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/colima/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1


## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/colima.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/colima.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- external package-manager database matches
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated agent safety answer