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Emplace records software installed through supported package managers in a human-readable .emplace file, then helps you mirror that package list on another machine. Its documented workflow uses Git to sync changes, shell integration to prompt after package installs, and emplace install to offer recorded packages on a new machine. The project README says Emplace is no longer actively developed by its maintainer, so treat its integrations as documented capabilities rather than a guarantee that every setup works today.
What Emplace does—and what it does not
Emplace is a command-line utility for keeping a record of installed software across machines. It writes package entries to a readable RON-format file named .emplace. The README describes using Git to push and pull updates to that file, so your package list can travel with a Git-based setup.
Emplace is not a package repository, cloud-sync service, or complete machine-image tool. It records packages and helps invoke their installation through package managers; those managers remain responsible for obtaining and installing the software. The README also documents importing install commands from Bash, Zsh, or Fish history files.
How the documented workflow works
- Install Emplace. The README documents a downloadable binary for your operating system,
cargo install emplace, Scoop on Windows, andnix-env -iA nixos.emplaceon NixOS. Check the project’s instructions for the route applicable to your environment. - Initialize your shell. Add the appropriate
emplace initinvocation to your shell configuration. The README provides initialization instructions for Bash, Zsh, Fish, and Nu. - Choose or create the configuration file. Run
emplace config --newto create a configuration file, oremplace config --pathto locate it, as documented by the project. - Record software as you install it. With shell integration enabled, Emplace prompts you to mirror a package after an installation through a supported package manager. The README’s examples include
sudo apt install meld,pacman -S zsh,brew install wget,choco install neovim,scoop install curl, andcargo install topgrade. These are documentation examples, not independent compatibility tests. - Sync the package list. Use the Git workflow described in the README to push and pull updates to the
.emplacefile. Emplace’s package record is what is synchronized; package files themselves are not copied between machines. - Install recorded packages elsewhere. On the other machine, configure Emplace and run
emplace install. The command presents recorded packages for installation through the relevant package managers.
Which package managers does Emplace support?
The README lists integrations for the package managers below. The list reflects project documentation, not a guarantee that every manager works on every operating system or with every shell. The README associates some managers with particular systems, and support should be checked against the project’s current instructions before relying on a specific combination.
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The documented shells are Bash, Zsh, Fish, and Nu. Shell support and package-manager support are separate considerations: use the initialization guidance for your shell and verify that the managers you rely on are among the project’s documented integrations.
Import an existing package history or exclude software
Import install commands from shell history
If you already installed software before setting up Emplace, the README describes parsing Bash, Zsh, or Fish history files to find installation commands. This can help build a package list from past activity, but the documentation does not establish that every historical command will be recognized or suitable for replay.
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Remove an entry from synchronization without uninstalling it
Use emplace clean to remove selected packages from the synchronized set. According to the README, cleaning an entry does not uninstall the software from the local machine. This distinction is useful when a package is needed on only one computer or should no longer be offered for installation elsewhere.
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The project README says the maintainer is no longer actively developing Emplace but reviews and accepts pull requests. The README does not date that status statement, and the available published package metadata identifies version 1.6.0 without establishing that it is the newest release today. The documented setup and integrations therefore describe the project’s stated capabilities, not independently verified current behavior.
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That status matters most if you depend on reliable support for a particular shell, operating system, or package-manager combination over the long term. Before building a workflow around Emplace, confirm that the installation method and integrations you need are available for your environment, and consider whether you can maintain the setup if an upstream change causes a problem.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When Emplace is a good fit
Emplace is suited to someone who wants a package-oriented record of installed software and a prompt-driven way to reproduce that list on another machine, especially if they already sync configuration through Git. It is less suited to someone who needs a fully declared, reproducible machine configuration or wants software binaries synchronized directly: the documented approach tracks package choices and calls package managers, rather than capturing an entire system state.
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Project documentation: Emplace on GitHub.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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