Lima: Linux Virtual Machines for Containers
Linux VM launcher with automatic file sharing, port forwarding, and container engine support.
Learn more about Lima
Lima is a virtualization tool that creates Linux virtual machines with integrated file sharing and network port forwarding capabilities. It uses QEMU as the underlying virtualization technology and provides automatic configuration for seamless host-guest integration. The system includes built-in support for multiple container runtimes including containerd, Docker, and Podman, with preconfigured templates for common development scenarios. Lima serves container development workflows, Kubernetes environments, and general Linux application testing across macOS, Linux, and NetBSD hosts.
Automatic Integration
Provides built-in file sharing and port forwarding between host and guest systems without manual configuration. Includes preconfigured templates for Docker, Kubernetes, and containerd environments.
Multi-Engine Support
Supports multiple container runtimes including containerd, Docker, Podman, and Kubernetes within the same virtualization framework. Works across different host operating systems beyond macOS.
QEMU Foundation
Built on QEMU virtualization technology with streamlined configuration management. Provides WSL2-like functionality for non-Windows systems through automated VM provisioning.
# Install Lima via Homebrew
brew install lima
# Start the default Lima VM
limactl start
# Run Linux commands inside the VM
lima uname -a
lima ls -la
lima cat /etc/os-releaseFix #4468 "[v2 regression] `limactl copy` (w/ rsync) puts the destination directory in an extra directory" (#4482)
- –`limactl` CLI:
- –Fix #4468 "[v2 regression] `limactl copy` (w/ rsync) puts the destination directory in an extra directory" (#4482)
- –Fix compilation on macOS < 13 (#4412, #4438, thanks to @jandubois @razzius)
- –Support ASIF disk format (#4327, thanks to @norio-nomura)
- –Update from v2.2.0 to v2.2.1 (#4484)
Full changes: https://github.com/lima-vm/lima/milestone/68?closed=1
- –nerdctl: update from v2.2.0 to v2.2.1 (#4487)
Fix incompatibility with Fedora 43 (#4384)
- –Fix incompatibility with Fedora 43 (#4384)
- –`limactl` CLI:
- –Make errors less scary (#4387)
- –Don't trim whitespace from boot commands (#4381, thanks to @jandubois)
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