# Install neovim-remote with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix

Control nvim processes using nvr command-line tool. Version 2.5.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-15. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#neovim-remote.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:neovim-remote
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install neovim-remote
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install neovim-remote
```

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

### Linux

- Nix (92%):

```sh
nix profile install nixpkgs#neovim-remote
```

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

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:neovim-remote
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 2.5.1
- **Source summary:** Control nvim processes using nvr command-line tool
- **Homepage:** <https://github.com/mhinz/neovim-remote>
- **Repository:** <https://github.com/mhinz/neovim-remote>
- **Last updated:** 2026-07-15T12:00:17Z
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- nvr (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 2.5.1
## Project history and usage

neovim-remote provides the `nvr` command, a small Python client for controlling Neovim server processes from the shell. Its core value is restoring Vim-style remote workflows around Neovim's RPC/listen-address model.

### Project history

The `mhinz/neovim-remote` repository was created on 2015-12-04. Its README explains the context directly: Neovim always starts a server, exposes an address such as `v:servername`, and can be started with `nvim --listen /tmp/nvimsocket`; `nvr` then sends commands to that server.

The project released v1.4.0 in 2016 and v1.7.0 in 2017, then continued through tags such as v2.5.1. It fills a precise compatibility gap around `--remote` and friends, especially for users moving Vim workflows into Neovim.

### Adoption history

The repository had 1,894 stars and 83 forks when queried on 2026-07-01. Homebrew analytics showed 210 installs in 30 days, 359 in 90 days, and 1,130 in 365 days, which is healthy for a narrow workflow helper.

The package also exists on PyPI as `neovim-remote`, so Homebrew is one install route rather than the original distribution channel. The adoption audience is shell-heavy Neovim users, tmux users, plugin authors, and people who use Neovim as `$EDITOR` or Git editor.

### How it is used

Typical commands include `nvr file`, `nvr --remote file1 file2`, `nvr --remote-send`, `nvr --remote-expr`, `nvr -cc split file`, and `git config --global core.editor 'nvr --remote-wait-silent'`.

The canonical use case is avoiding nested Neovim inside Neovim's `:terminal`: a Git commit launched from a terminal buffer can open a commit-message buffer in the existing Neovim session and block until that buffer is closed.

### Why package nerds care

This is a classic tiny-package-with-real-leverage entry. It does not compete with Neovim; it packages a missing bit of client/server ergonomics around Neovim's API, similar in spirit to `emacsclient` workflows.

### Timeline

- {'date': '2015-12-04', 'event': 'The `mhinz/neovim-remote` repository was created.'}
- {'date': '2016-12-06', 'event': 'Release v1.4.0 was published.'}
- {'date': '2017-06-23', 'event': 'Release v1.7.0 was published with README/use-case updates.'}

### Related projects

- Neovim
- PyPI neovim-remote
- vimtex
- tmux workflows

### Sources

- <https://api.github.com/repos/mhinz/neovim-remote>
- <https://api.github.com/repos/mhinz/neovim-remote/releases?per_page=8>
- <https://formulae.brew.sh/api/formula/neovim-remote.json>
- <https://github.com/mhinz/neovim-remote>
- <https://github.com/mhinz/neovim-remote/blob/master/INSTALLATION.md>
- <https://pypi.org/project/neovim-remote/>


## Security Notes

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

- **Geiger risk:** green / low
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

## Other Package-Manager Records

- Nix - neovim-remote: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ne/neovim-remote/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- MacPorts - neovim-remote: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/neovim-remote/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/neovim-remote.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/neovim-remote.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- external package-manager database matches
- cross-ecosystem install command graph