https://github.com/disafronov/colima-system
Run Colima as a headless system daemon on macOS via launchd. Provides a stable /var/run/docker.sock for Docker clients.
https://github.com/disafronov/colima-system
colima docker docker-daemon mac macos
Last synced: 2 months ago
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Run Colima as a headless system daemon on macOS via launchd. Provides a stable /var/run/docker.sock for Docker clients.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/disafronov/colima-system
- Owner: disafronov
- License: apache-2.0
- Created: 2025-10-28T11:36:43.000Z (8 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-03-12T07:50:32.000Z (3 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-04-03T23:52:11.861Z (2 months ago)
- Topics: colima, docker, docker-daemon, mac, macos
- Language: Shell
- Homepage:
- Size: 17.6 KB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# colima-system
Run Colima as a headless system daemon on macOS via launchd. Provides a stable `/var/run/docker.sock` for Docker clients.
## Requirements
- macOS (root required)
- Homebrew installed and configured
- `colima` (installed via Homebrew)
- `envsubst` (installed via Homebrew, from gettext package)
## Install
```bash
# prerequisites
brew install colima gettext
# install (as root)
sudo /bin/sh /path/to/repo/setup.sh
```
## Add user to `docker` group (macOS)
Add your macOS user to the `docker` group so you can use `/var/run/docker.sock` without sudo:
```bash
# add current user to the 'docker' group
sudo dseditgroup -o edit -a "$USER" -t user docker
# verify membership
id -Gn | tr ' ' '\n' | grep -x docker || echo "not a member yet"
# re-login or restart your session for the change to take effect
# (a full log out/in is the most reliable)
```
Notes:
- Group membership applies to new login sessions only.
- Remove a user later with:
```bash
sudo dseditgroup -o edit -d "$USER" -t user docker
```
## Use
```bash
docker ps # should work system-wide
sudo launchctl print system/colima.daemon
sudo launchctl print system/colima.socket.permissions
```
## Uninstall
```bash
sudo launchctl bootout system/colima.socket.permissions || true
sudo launchctl bootout system/colima.daemon || true
sudo rm -f /Library/LaunchDaemons/colima.socket.permissions.plist
sudo rm -f /Library/LaunchDaemons/colima.daemon.plist
sudo rm -f /var/run/docker.sock
```
## Notes
- Creates hidden `colima` user and `docker` group.
- Docker socket is group-writable by `docker`; add users cautiously.
- This setup does not install any Docker client tools. Docker CLI is optional; install it only if you need client commands (e.g. `brew install docker`).