Codchi

Spec sheet

Purpose

Codchi manages project development environments reproducibly using the Nix package manager.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Support

The project offers community support through GitHub Issues and describes professional feature assistance, troubleshooting, training, and consulting through aformatik.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Beta status

Codchi is in beta and the maker warns that bugs and incomplete features may occur.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Editor integrations

Documentation describes configuring VS Code, VSCodium, JetBrains IDEs, Vim, and Neovim inside a Code Machine.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Host integration

Codchi can create host start-menu shortcuts for graphical applications and provide a shell with the machine's tools.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Isolation

Codchi uses virtualization such as KVM and Hyper-V to isolate environments while aiming for near-native performance.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

License and funding

The GitHub repository identifies an MIT license and says the project is funded through aformatik's use of Codchi and professional services.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

License and vendor lock-in

The project README describes Codchi as fully open source, identifies an MIT license, and says the project avoids vendor lock-in.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Linux support

Linux installation uses LXD for virtualization, and Codchi is currently packaged with Nix on Linux.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

macOS availability

The installation guide says macOS is not currently implemented.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

macOS limitation

The installation page says macOS is not implemented.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

NixOS compatibility

A Code Machine is a NixOS module, and Codchi supports NixOS options alongside its own options.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Project configuration

Code Machines are defined in code and checked into a repository so projects can retain an environment for each commit.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Project setup

Development environments are defined in code in the project repository, supporting setup automation and an environment for each project commit.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Recommended use

The documentation says Codchi is suited to environments needing proper isolation and host integration across Windows and Linux; simpler Nix-shell approaches may suit simpler projects.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Related tools

Codchi can be used alongside devenv.sh or Flox, which provide the development environment while Codchi provides consistency and host integration across Windows and Linux.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Reproducibility

Codchi installs, updates, and rolls back environments, and its homepage describes them as bit-for-bit reproducible across machines.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Secrets

Codchi's design documentation describes secrets as stored on the host and provided to a Code Machine when it starts; it says host-side storage should preferably be encrypted.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Security and isolation

The maker says Codchi can provide isolated environments and describes secret management as a capability enabled by host operating-system integration.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Standards and portability

The homepage says every NixOS module is a valid Code Machine and every Code Machine is a valid NixOS module.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Windows support

Installation instructions cover Windows 10 and 11 and require WSL 2.0.14 or later.Read 3 Oct 2026 · codchi.dev

Where Specifiction places it

• Development Environment Managers#28 of 507.6
• Development Environment Management Tools#19 of 267.5