distrobox ☆

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Description:
Use any Linux distribution inside your terminal

Type: Formula | Latest Version: 1.8.2.2@0 | Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Developer tools

Tags: containers development linux dev-environment isolation

Install: brew install distrobox

About:
Distrobox creates containerized environments that integrate tightly with the host system, allowing users to run any Linux distribution within their terminal. It enables seamless access to host files, hardware, and network resources while maintaining isolation. This tool is ideal for running outdated applications on newer systems or testing software in different environments without affecting the host.

Key Features:

Seamless host integration with home directory and device access
Support for both Podman and Docker backends
Full systemd compatibility inside containers
Easy export of installed applications to host
Distrobox enters the container namespace and executes commands

Use Cases:

Running legacy or incompatible applications in a compatible environment
Developing in different Linux distributions without dual-booting or VMs
Testing software across multiple distribution versions
Isolating potentially unstable applications from the host system

Alternatives:

Toolbox – Red Hat's solution focused on Fedora/RHEL; Distrobox is distribution-agnostic and more flexible
LXD/LXC – System-level containers with heavier isolation; Distrobox focuses on user-friendly development environments
Docker/Podman directly – Manual container setup requires more configuration; Distrobox automates host integration

License: GPL-3.0-only

Bottles available for: all

Important Notes:

Distrobox requires one of podman or docker. Do
  brew install podman
or consult the documentation for details.

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Oct 12, 2024 3:32pm		0	VERSION_BUMP	d253b716