install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install shadowenv

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#shadowenv

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

overview

Package summary

Reversible directory-local environment variable manipulations

Project links

Commands and aliases

shadowenv

history

Project history and usage

Shadowenv is Shopify's reversible directory-local environment manager. Trusted Shadowlisp files modify environment variables when a user enters a project and the previous values are restored when the user leaves.

Project history

Shopify developed Shadowenv as a project-local environment-variable shadowing tool. It scans a directory and its ancestors for `.shadowenv.d` directories, evaluates trusted Shadowlisp programs, applies their environment changes on entry, and restores the prior environment on exit.

Adoption history

The official documentation describes use at Shopify and installation through Homebrew on macOS. Its documented integrations and non-interactive `shadowenv exec` mode extend the same directory-local environment model beyond interactive shells.

How it is used

Users install a shell hook for Bash, Zsh, or Fish, place numbered `.lisp` programs under `.shadowenv.d`, and run `shadowenv trust` before loading them. `shadowenv exec -- <command>` applies the environment to non-interactive commands.

Why package nerds care

Shadowenv occupies the same package-nerd niche as directory-aware environment tools while emphasizing reversibility and explicit trust. Its small Shadowlisp programs make environment changes composable, and its signature-based trust mechanism addresses the risk of executing project-local code merely by changing directories.

Timeline

2019: The documented build process used the Rust nightly toolchain dated 2018-12-26, reflecting the project's early Rust implementation.
Public project era: Shopify published Shadowenv's source and documentation for external use.

Related projects

Shadowenv belongs to the broader family of directory-local development-environment tools and shell hooks. Its official documentation also describes editor integrations and Shopify's internal `dev` tooling.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
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.

Unix: .shadowenv.d/*.lisp

Credential files

Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.

Unix: ~/.config/shadowenv/trust-key

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`shadowenv`	cli	global 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 generated2026-09-19

manager version3.5.1

manager updated2026-09-14

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detected3.5.1

https://github.com/Shopify/shadowenv

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:shadowenv
Version	3.5.1
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/shadowenv
Homepage	https://shopify.github.io/shadowenv/
Repository	https://github.com/Shopify/shadowenv
Upstream docs	https://shopify.github.io/shadowenv/
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/Shopify/shadowenv/archive/refs/tags/3.5.1.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-09-14T12:21:27+02:00
Pulse	updated
Build dependencies	rust
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	shadowenv
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	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%

shadowenv

nix profile install nixpkgs#shadowenv

normalized package name match
Matched by: Shadowenv

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

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.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/shadowenv.yml

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

Install shadowenv with Homebrew, Nix