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direnv for Mac

Load/unload environment variables based on $PWD

Quick answer: direnv is a command-line tool for macOS. Install it with brew install direnv. It is distributed under the MIT licence. It has 26,029 Homebrew installs in the last 30 days.

What direnv is

direnv is a command-line tool for macOS: load/unload environment variables based on $PWD.

It is distributed as a Homebrew formula, which builds or pours a binary and puts it on your PATH. It is distributed under the MIT licence.

How to install direnv

  1. Open Terminal (press ⌘ + Space and type “Terminal”).
  2. If Homebrew is not installed yet, run the installer below once.
  3. Run brew install direnv.

Homebrew installer, if you need it:

Prefer a graphical installer? Download it from the official site. MacPicks never hosts or mirrors binaries — the Homebrew command always pulls from the vendor's own release.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I install direnv on Mac?

Run brew install direnv in Terminal. This requires Homebrew; if you do not have it, install it first with the command below.

Is direnv open source?

Yes — Homebrew distributes it under the MIT licence.

Does direnv run on Apple silicon?

Homebrew publishes this formula for macOS. If upstream does not ship an Apple silicon build, Rosetta 2 handles the Intel binary.

How popular is direnv?

It was installed 26,029 times in the last 30 days according to Homebrew analytics, ranking #76 in this catalogue.

What version of direnv is current?

The latest packaged version is 2.38.2.