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webcoredesktop/content/software/asdf.md
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---
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.