---
title: "asdf"
category: "Languages and runtimes"
tagline: "A plugin-based version manager for languages and tools, driven by .tool-versions files."
source: "AUR"
package: "asdf-vm"
command: "asdf"
website: "https://asdf-vm.com/"
code: "https://github.com/asdf-vm/asdf"
links:
  - name: "Getting started with asdf"
    url: "https://asdf-vm.com/guide/getting-started.html"
---

## What it is

asdf manages several versions of programming languages and tools, such as Node.js, Ruby, Python or Elixir, through plugins. A `.tool-versions` file in a project lists the versions it needs, and asdf uses them whenever you work in that directory.

## Why it's here

- **One manager, many languages.** Plugins cover hundreds of tools.
- **Shared project files.** Many projects already ship a `.tool-versions` file.
- **An alternative to mise.** For teams and scripts that expect asdf.

## On CoreDesktop

asdf is installed from the AUR, but CoreDesktop doesn't add it to your shell: follow asdf's getting started guide to put its shims on your PATH. CoreDesktop manages Ruby with [mise](/software/mise/), which reads `.tool-versions` files too. `update` keeps asdf current with the rest of the AUR packages.