Distrobox
Application container for Linux
Distrobox is an open source application container for Linux used to run software packaged for certain Linux distribution on another distribution. The application relies on container managers such as Docker, Podman, and Lilipod and act as wrapper for them. Distrobox is written in POSIX shell.
Software installed inside the container can be exported into the host machine for easier access. Distrobox can be used to run graphical software.
01History
The first public release of Distrobox was released in 2021.
Version 1.1.0 of Distrobox was released in December 2021, adding features and improvements such as ability to export containerised software into the host machine and better POSIX compatibility.
Version 1.3.0 of Distrobox was released in May 2022, adding more supported distributions and better integration with the host machine.
Version 1.8.2.0 of Distrobox was released in October 2025, adding enhancements for Bash completion.
02Design and security
Distrobox is designed for tight integration with the host machine, with isolation and sandbox being non-goals for the project. Proposed addition of sandboxed mode was discussed but Luca Di Maio decided against it.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Distrobox”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Distrobox running Chimera Linux screenshot.webp by Software: Distrobox community Screenshot: VulcanSphere, GPLv3
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