Lima

Linux VMs + Containers.

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Console’s review

· Reviewed by David Mytton

What we like

Quickly launch Linux VMs from the terminal. Designed for running containers inside the VM, it includes tools for filesystem mounts, port forwarding, GPU acceleration, Intel/Arm emulation. Easy config of CPUs, memory, etc via the CLI. Can run in CI. Useful for sandboxing AI agents.

Tradeoffs

Supports most, but not all Linux distros (has some minimum requirements). Windows usage is experimental.

Is Lima a fit?

Based on Console’s review published on 2025-12-04. Summary updated .

Who it’s for

Developers who need to run Linux VMs and containers should consider this tool for sandboxing and testing

Why consider it

This tool allows for quickly launching Linux VMs from the terminal

Keep in mind

It has limited support for certain Linux distributions and experimental Windows usage

Console is a free weekly newsletter with short reviews of developer tools, covering strengths and tradeoffs. This review reflects Console’s assessment at publication on 2025-12-04. Features and limitations may have changed since the review date. Read our selection criteria and learn about Console.

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