ActiveState Platform Free plan 9.1 Visit vfox
vfox.dev
What it is
vfox is a free, Apache 2.0-licensed version manager for development runtimes and SDKs on Linux, macOS and Windows. It supports project, session and global version scopes, and can switch to a project's version when entering its directory. Teams can record tool versions in `.vfox.toml` and share that configuration. A plugin system adds support for tools and environments; its public registry includes community plugins for tools such as Bun, Clang, CMake, Crystal, Dart, Deno and .NET. Plugins that support legacy version files can read formats such as `.nvmrc`, and this capability is enabled by default. Documented shells include PowerShell, Git Bash, Bash, ZSH, Fish, CMD, Clink, Cmder and Nushell. CMD is limited to global scope and is not recommended. For Docker, CI/CD and other non-interactive shells, the documentation recommends `vfox exec` instead of shell activation hooks. The configuration guide lists support for HTTP(S) proxies only. For shared SDK storage on Linux and macOS, the guide recommends group permissions and warns against world-writable access.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- vfox is a cross-platform version manager for installing and switching development environments and runtime versions.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Purpose
- vfox is a cross-platform version manager for installing and switching between development runtimes and SDKs.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Audience
- The introduction recommends vfox for people switching between projects that require different runtime environments or versions.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Integrations
- The documentation lists community plugins for tools including Bun, Clang, CMake, Crystal, Dart, Deno, and .NET.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Security
- The multi-user guide recommends group permissions for a shared SDK directory and warns that broad 777 permissions expose it to unauthorized users.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- License
- The site states that vfox is released under the Apache 2.0 License.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Automatic switching
- It can automatically switch to the appropriate version when entering a project directory.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- CI and containers
- For Docker, CI/CD, and other non-interactive shells, the FAQ recommends `vfox exec` because shell activation hooks are intended for interactive shells.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- CI and scripts
- The vfox exec command runs commands in a managed SDK environment and is recommended for Docker, CI/CD, and other non-interactive shells.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Compatibility
- It supports existing version-file formats including .node-version, .nvmrc, and .sdkmanrc.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Configuration
- It saves tool version information in a .vfox.toml file that can be shared across projects and teams.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- IDE integration
- The documentation gives an example of using vfox exec in a VS Code task to run a project with a selected SDK version.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Installation
- The quick start documents Windows installation through Scoop, winget, or a setup installer, and Unix-like installation through Homebrew, package repositories, or an install script.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Legacy configuration
- Plugins with support can read legacy version files such as `.nvmrc`, and this capability is enabled by default.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- License and maintainer
- The site says vfox is released under the Apache 2.0 License and identifies Han Li in its copyright notice.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Notable limit
- The configuration guide says vfox currently supports only HTTP(S) proxy protocols.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Plugin registry
- The site describes its listed plugins as community plugins from the registry.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Plugins
- Plugins let vfox manage different tools, and users can add plugins from its official repository or a custom local or remote source.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Security guidance
- For shared SDK storage on Linux and macOS, the guide recommends group permissions and warns that world-writable permissions can let users modify or delete others’ SDK files.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Shared configuration
- Tool versions can be recorded in `.vfox.toml` to share consistent project configuration with a team.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Shell support
- Supported shells include PowerShell, Git Bash, Bash, ZSH, Fish, CMD, Clink, Cmder, and Nushell; CMD supports only global scope and is not recommended.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Shells
- Documented supported shells include PowerShell, Git Bash, Bash, ZSH, Fish, CMD, Clink, Cmder, and Nushell; CMD supports only global scope.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Team use
- The multi-user guide describes sharing installed SDK files while users keep separate configuration and version selections.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
- Version scopes
- It supports project, session, and global version scopes, with automatic switching when entering a project directory.Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
Plans and prices
vfox Free Apache 2.0 licensed Read 4 Oct 2026 · vfox.dev
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Supports Linux, macOS and Windows
- Switches versions automatically when entering project directories
- Shares project version configuration through `.vfox.toml`
- Supports a broad set of documented shells
Limits
- CMD supports global scope only and is not recommended
- Proxy support is limited to HTTP(S)
- Shared SDK directories need careful permissions
Who it suits
vfox suits developers who move between projects requiring different runtime versions or SDKs. Its project configuration and `vfox exec` command may also suit teams and non-interactive workflows.
Verdict
vfox offers project-aware runtime management across three desktop platforms, with plugins and shareable configuration. Note the CMD and proxy limitations, and use care with permissions for shared SDK storage.
Where Specifiction places it
- Development Environment Managers#16 of 508.0
- Development Environment Management Tools#11 of 268.0
