---
title: Install Herdr
description: Install, update, and verify Herdr on Linux and macOS.
---

Herdr ships as a single binary for Linux and macOS.

## Install

Run the installer:

```bash
curl -fsSL https://herdr.dev/install.sh | sh
```

The installer downloads the right release binary for your platform and places it on your PATH.

## Install with Homebrew

If you already use Homebrew:

```bash
brew install herdr
```

## Verify

Start Herdr:

```bash
herdr
```

If your shell cannot find `herdr`, restart the terminal or check that the install directory is on your PATH.

## Update

Herdr checks for new releases and notifies you in the app. You can update manually:

```bash
herdr update
```

`herdr update` is for installs managed by Herdr's own installer. Homebrew and Nix installs are updated through those package managers instead.

By default, `herdr update` installs the new binary and leaves compatible running sessions alone, or asks before stopping sessions that must restart. To opt into live server handoff for supported running sessions, run:

```bash
herdr update --handoff
```

Live handoff does not apply to Homebrew or Nix package-manager updates. For those installs, update with the package manager, then restart any running Herdr servers that need the new binary.

## Install with Nix

If you already use Nix, Herdr provides a flake that builds Herdr from source:

```bash
nix run github:herdrdev/herdr/v0.x.y
nix build github:herdrdev/herdr/v0.x.y
nix profile install github:herdrdev/herdr/v0.x.y
```

Replace `v0.x.y` with the latest release tag. You can omit the tag to track `master`, but release tags are recommended for normal installs.

The flake also exposes a development shell:

```bash
nix develop github:herdrdev/herdr
```

Update through the same Nix workflow you used to install Herdr. For a profile install, list your profile entries and upgrade the Herdr entry:

```bash
nix profile list
nix profile upgrade <index-or-name>
```

If Herdr is an input in your own flake, update that input and rebuild your system, Home Manager, or development environment:

```bash
nix flake update herdr
```

## Download manually

You can also download a binary from [GitHub releases](https://github.com/herdrdev/herdr/releases).

Choose the asset that matches your system:

| System | Asset |
| --- | --- |
| Linux x86_64 | `herdr-linux-x86_64` |
| Linux aarch64 | `herdr-linux-aarch64` |
| macOS Intel | `herdr-macos-x86_64` |
| macOS Apple silicon | `herdr-macos-aarch64` |

Make it executable and move it somewhere on your PATH.

```bash
chmod +x herdr-linux-x86_64
mv herdr-linux-x86_64 ~/.local/bin/herdr
```

## Requirements

Herdr supports Linux and macOS. Native Windows support is not available yet; use Herdr inside WSL for now.
