Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Nix

The purely functional package manager

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Nix launched in 2016; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Brioche – A new Nix-like package manager▲168

   This is a project I've wanted to write for a long time now. I really love the ideas from Nix and I still have a ton of respect for the project, but Nix-the-language never felt intuitive to me and I wanted something with more approachable tooling (although this was circa 2016, so I'm sure Nix has improved a lot since then too-- that was before Flakes were around!) Anyway, I started on the current iteration of Brioche about 6 months ago, and I finally cut an initial release. I'd still consider this a "technical preview" version (performance especially is pretty painful, so that'll be a focus…

   2024 · brioche.dev · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Bower▲64

   A package manager for the web

   2014 · bower.io · its alternatives →

3. 3
   RancherOS▲59

   A minimalist distribution of Linux

   2015 · rancher.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Developer Ipsum▲110

   Lorem for nerds

   2021 · developer-ipsum.netlify.app · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Stack▲88

   A task manager for Devs & Designers

   2015 · macropod.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Limitless▲90

   A productivity companion for Chrome

   2013 · chromewebstore.google.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Devmag▲133

   A network re-thought for software developers

   2015 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Gradberry▲119

   Curated + code-verified software engineering talent

   2015 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Matterhorn▲163

   Simple and light-weight project management tool

   2015 · matterhorn.io · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Code Mill▲85

    A marketplace for pull requests

    2016 · codemill.io · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Forestry▲187

    A lightweight CMS for Jekyll and Hugo sites

    2016 · tina.io · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Hello Tech Pros: Hacking for Fun and Proft▲66

    But mostly for fun

    2016 · gadgetsprimer.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Hello Tech Pros: Why Great Dev Managers are Like Pirate Ship Captains▲55

    Because they AAAAARRRRRRHHHHHHH

    2016 · gadgetsprimer.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Nix▲12

    The smart-text editor that helps you get things done.

    2015 · nix.attasi.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Fuse▲188

    A UX tool suite for mobile app designers and developers

    2015 · fuse.no · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Programmar▲88

    A place for developers to read and write

    2015 · programmar.io · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Youbeer▲62

    Nullified

    2021 · gist.github.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Nodeterm▲130

    A node-based free open source terminal manager

    Aug 2026 · nodeterm.dev · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Working The Command Line▲110

    Don’t fear the terminal. No, really.

    2017 · abookapart.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    App Developer Atlas▲89

    Helping developers make the right tool choices

    2014 · appdeveloperatlas.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Codecrap▲93

    Where developers go to laugh and cry

    2014 · codecrap.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    SaltStack For DevOps▲66

    Fast and simple IT automation and configuration management

    2016 · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Frankly▲101

    A dashboard of issues and PRs across GitHub repositories.

    2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Eve▲79

    Better tools for thought

    2015 · witheve.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →