# Install lima with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix, zypper, scoop, winget
Linux virtual machines. Version 2.2.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-21. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#lima.
## Install
```sh
sudo av install brew:lima
```
Additional install commands:
### macOS
- Homebrew (100%):
```sh
brew install lima
```
Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata
- MacPorts (94%):
```sh
sudo port install lima
```
Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/lima/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1
### Linux
- apk (92%):
```sh
sudo apk add lima
```
Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
- Nix (92%):
```sh
nix profile install nixpkgs#lima
```
Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/lima/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- zypper (92%):
```sh
sudo zypper install lima
```
Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: lima from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst
### Windows
- Scoop (92%):
```sh
scoop install main/lima
```
Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/lima.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- winget (92%):
```sh
winget install --id Lima.Lima -e
```
Evidence: Windows Package Manager source index: Lima.Lima from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix
## Package facts
- **Package key:** brew:lima
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 2.2.0
- **Source summary:** Linux virtual machines
- **Homepage:**
- **Repository:**
- **Last updated:** 2026-07-21T16:32:32Z
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00
## Executables
- apptainer.lima (alias)
- docker.lima (alias)
- kubectl.lima (alias)
- lima (alias)
- limactl (alias)
- nerdctl.lima (alias)
- podman.lima (alias)
## Install behavior
- Bottle: not available
## Freshness
- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 2.2.0
## Project history and usage
Lima, short for Linux Machines, is a command-line tool for running Linux virtual machines with automatic file sharing and port forwarding. It is best known in the macOS developer ecosystem as the low-level VM layer behind container workflows that need a real Linux guest.
### Project history
The Lima documentation says the project began in May 2021 to promote containerd and nerdctl to Mac users. Its first GitHub release, v0.1.0, was published in May 2021 and demonstrated a minimal workflow of starting a VM with limactl and running Linux commands through lima.
The project quickly broadened beyond its original containerd focus. Its README describes support for other container engines such as Docker, Podman, and Kubernetes, non-container workloads, and hosts beyond macOS including Linux and NetBSD.
### Adoption history
Lima gained adoption as developers looked for open, scriptable alternatives to heavier desktop container products on macOS, especially after Apple Silicon made VM architecture and filesystem integration more visible in local development. Projects such as Colima and Rancher Desktop used Lima as a building block for friendlier container and Kubernetes experiences.
Lima joined the Cloud Native Computing Foundation as a Sandbox project in September 2022 and was promoted to Incubating in October 2025, reflecting its role as shared infrastructure for cloud-native local development.
### How it is used
Users create or start named instances with limactl, then run commands inside the guest via the lima wrapper or connect container tools to sockets exposed by the VM. Templates cover common setups such as containerd, Docker, Podman, Kubernetes, and Apptainer.
### Why package nerds care
Lima is package-nerd significant because it turns a pile of VM details into a package-manager-friendly CLI. Its Homebrew formula gives macOS users a reproducible way to get Linux containers, port forwarding, file sharing, QEMU or native virtualization choices, and YAML-controlled instances without installing a full GUI product.
### Timeline
- 2021-05: Lima began with the goal of promoting containerd and nerdctl to Mac users.
- 2021-05-14: The v0.1.0 release was published as the first public release.
- 2022-09: Lima joined CNCF as a Sandbox project.
- 2025-10: Lima was promoted to CNCF Incubating.
### Related projects
- Lima is related to containerd, nerdctl, QEMU, Apple's virtualization stack, Docker, Podman, Kubernetes, Colima, and Rancher Desktop. Its positioning is often compared to WSL2 because both provide Linux environments with host integration.
### Sources
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## Security Notes
virtual machine infrastructure.
- **Geiger risk:** orange / high
- 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: ${LIMA_HOME:-$HOME/.lima}//lima.yaml, ${LIMA_HOME:-$HOME/.lima}/_config/networks.yaml
## Other Package-Manager Records
- Nix - lima: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/lima/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- apk - lima - 1.2.1-r7: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Linux virtual machine launcher focusing on running containers | https://lima-vm.io/
- apk - lima-bash-completion - 1.2.1-r7: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima-bash-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Bash completions for lima | https://lima-vm.io/
- apk - lima-doc - 1.2.1-r7: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Linux virtual machine launcher focusing on running containers (documentation) | https://lima-vm.io/
- apk - lima-fish-completion - 1.2.1-r7: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima-fish-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Fish completions for lima | https://lima-vm.io/
- apk - lima-guestagent - 1.2.1-r7: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima-guestagent from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Lima guest agent | https://lima-vm.io/
- apk - lima-zsh-completion - 1.2.1-r7: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lima-zsh-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Zsh completions for lima | https://lima-vm.io/
- zypper - lima - 2.2.0-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: lima from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Linux virtual machines, with a focus on running containers | https://github.com/lima-vm/lima
- MacPorts - lima: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/lima/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- Scoop - main/lima: normalized package name match | Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/lima.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- winget - Lima.Lima: normalized package name match | Windows Package Manager source index: Lima.Lima from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix
## Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/lima.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/lima.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