meta-version-managers.md

Meta Version Manager Comparison

Meta version managers are generic enough to support multiple languages, unlike "regular" version managers.

Note that systems like Nix and Guix are intentionally omitted. They are completely different systems.

Support Matrix

Name	GitHub Stars	Language	Method	Uses .tool-versions
asdf	23,000+	Bash	Shim	✅
mise	13,000+	Rust	PATH	✅
pkgx	9,200+	Rust	❔	❌
sdkman	5,000+	Bash,Groovy	Shim	❌
spack	4,500+	Python	❔	❌
vfox	3,100+	Go	❔	✅
anyenv	1,800+	Bash	❔	❌
vmr	925+	Go	❔	❌
Hermit	500+	Go,HCL	❔	❌
aqua	300+	Go	❔	❌
proto	445+	Rust	❔	❌
Woof	21+	Bash,jq	PATH	✅

Supported Interfaces

Name	CLI	TUI	GUI
asdf	✅	❌	❌
sdkman	✅	❌	❌
mise	✅	❔	❌
Hermit	✅	❌	❌
aqua	✅	✅	❌
proto	✅	❔	❔
Woof	✅	✅	❌
vmr	✅	✅	❌

Custom

sdkman

• Uses .sdkmanrc

mise

• Uses .mise.toml

proto

It checks in order:

• CLI argument
• PROTO_*_VERSION environment variable
• .prototools (local)
• version manager configs (e.g. .nvmrc) & manifest files (e.g. package.json)
• ~/.proto/.prototools (global)