binenv
The last binary you'll ever install.
What
binenv will help you download, install and manage the binaries programs
(a.k.a. distributions) you need in you everyday DevOps life (e.g. kubectl,
helm, ...).
Think of it as a tfenv + tgenv + helmenv + ...
Quick start
Linux (bash/zsh)
wget -q https://github.com/devops-works/binenv/releases/latest/download/binenv-linux-amd64
mv binenv-linux-amd64 binenv
chmod +x binenv
./binenv update
./binenv install binenv 0.0.5
rm binenv
if [[ -n $BASH ]]; then ZESHELL=bash; fi
if [[ -n $ZSH_NAME ]]; then ZESHELL=zsh; fi
echo $ZESHELL
echo 'export PATH=~/.binenv:$PATH' >> ~/.${ZESHELL}rc
echo "source <(binenv completion ${ZESHELL})" >> ~/.${ZESHELL}rc
exec $SHELL
MacOS (with bash)
wget -q https://github.com/devops-works/binenv/releases/latest/download/binenv-darwin-amd64
mv binenv-linux-darwin binenv
chmod +x binenv
./binenv update
./binenv install binenv
rm binenv
echo 'export PATH=~/.binenv:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc
echo 'source <(binenv completion bash)' >> ~/.bashrc
exec $SHELL
Windows
TBD
Install
wget -q https://github.com/devops-works/binenv/releases/latest/download/binenv-<OS>-<ARCH>
mv binaryname binenv
chmod +x binenv
./binenv update
- now install
binenv with binenv (so meta)
./binenv install binenv <version>
- you can now remove the downloaded file
rm binenv
- prepend
~/.binenv to your path in your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc or ...
export PATH=~/.binenv:$PATH
- while you're at it, install the completion (replace
bash with your shell)
source <(binenv completion bash)
exec $SHELL
See a walkthough on Asciicasts:

Supported "distributions"
Distributions are installable binaries. We just had to find a name ¯\(ツ)/¯.
Currently supported distributions are:
- awless
- binenv
- cli53
- consul
- docker-compose
- hadolint
- helm
- helmfile
- hugo
- k9s
- krew
- kops
- kube-bench
- kubectl
- kubectx
- kubens
- rancher[^1] (soon #11)
- terraform
- terragrunt
- vault
The always up-to-date list is
here.
Open an issue (or send a PR) if you need one that is not in the list.
[^1]: cli for rancher 1.x
Usage
Updating available binaries
In order to update the list of installable version for distributions, you need
to update the version list (usually located in $XDG_CONFIG/cache.json or
~/.config/binenv/cache.json).
This is done automatically when invoking binenv update.
Without arguments, il will check for available versions for all distributions
(watch out for Github API rate limits).
With a distribution passed as an argument (e.g. binenv update kubectl), it
will only update installable versions for kubectl.
Examples
binenv update: update versions available for all distributions
binenv update kubectl helm: update versions available for kubectl and
helm
Installing new versions
After updating the list, you might want to install a shiny new version. No
problem,binenv install has you covered.
If you want the latest non-prerelease version for something, just run:
binenv install something
If you want a specific version:
binenv install something 1.2.3
Note that completion works, so don't be afraid to use it.
You can also install serveral distribution versions at the same time:
binenv install something 1.2.3 somethingelse 4.5.6
Examples
binenv install kubectl: install latest non-prerelease kubectl version
binenv install kubectl 1.18.8: install kubectl version 1.18.8
binenv install kubectl 1.18.8 helm 3.3.0: install kubectl version 1.18.8
and helm 3.3.0
Listing versions
You can list available, installed and activated distribution versions using
binenv versions.
When invoked without arguments, all version of all distributions will be printed.
With distributions as arguments, only versions for those distributions will be
printed.
In the output, versions having a * next to them are the currenly selected
versions (see Selecting versions below.
Versions having a + next to them are installed.
All other versions are available to be installed.
Examples
$ binenv versions
kubectl:
...
1.19.0-alpha.3
1.19.0-alpha.2
1.18.8* (from default)
1.18.6
1.18.5
1.18.4
1.18.3
1.18.2
1.17.11
1.17.9+
1.17.8
1.17.8-rc.1
1.17.7
1.17.6
1.17.5+
1.16.14
1.16.13
1.16.12
1.16.12-rc.1
terraform:
0.13.0
0.13.0-rc1
0.13.0-beta3
...
Uninstalling versions
If you need to clean up a bit, you can uninstall a specific version, or all
versions for a distribution. In the latter case, a confirmation will be asked.
The command accepts:
- a single argument (remove all versions for distributions)
- an even count of arguments (distribution / version pairs)
Examples
binenv uninstall kubectl 1.18.8 helm 3.3.0: uninstall kubectl version
1.18.8 and helm 3.3.0
binenv uninstall kubectl 1.18.8 kubectl 1.16.15: uninstall kubectl versions
1.18.8 and 1.16.15
binenv uninstall kubectl: removes all kubectl versions
Update available distributions
Distributions are mainained in this
repo.
To benefit from new additions, you need to update the distribution list from
time to time.
This list is usually located in your home directory under
$XDG_CONFIG/distributions.yaml or ~/.config/binenv/distribution.yaml).
Usage is binenv distributions.
Completion
Install completion for your shell. See binenv help completion for in-depth
info.
Selecting versions
To specify which version to use, you have to create a .binenv.lock file in
the directory. Note that only semver is supported.
This file has the follosing structure:
<distributionA><constraintA>
<distributionB><constraintB>
...
For instance:
kubectl=1.18.8
terraform>0.12
terragrunt~>0.23.0
You can then commit the file in your project to ensure everyone in your team is
on the same page.
The constraint operators are:
=: version must match exactly
!=: version must not match
>: version must be strictly higher
<: version must be strictly lower
>=: version must be at least
<=: version must be at most
~>: version must be at least this one in the same but match teh same minor
versions
Version selection process
When you execute a distribution (e.g. you run kubectl), binenv runs it
under the hood. Before running it, it will check which version it should use.
For this, it will check for a .binenv.lock file in the curernt directory.
If none is found, it will check in the parent folder. No lock file ? Check in
parent folder again. this process continues until binenv reaches your home
directory.
If no version requirements are found at this point, binenv will use the last
non-prerelease version available installed.
Removing binenv stuff
binenv stores downloadede binaries in ~/.binenv/binaries, and cache in
~/.config/binenv/ (or whatever your XDG_CONFIG variables points to).
To clean everything up:
rm -rf ~/.binenv ~/.config/binenv/
Status
This is really super alpha and has only be tested on Linux. YMMV on other
platforms.
There are no tests. I will probably go to hell for this.
Contributions
Welcomed !
We will probably need other instalaltion mechanisms (see
https://github.com/devops-works/binenv/tree/master/internal/install) and
Licence
MIT