toolbx
also: toolbox
Toolbx is a tool for creating lightweight, containerized development environments on Linux that run systemd and allow easy package installation without modifying the host system.
Toolbx (short for "toolbox") creates isolated container-based shells that feel like traditional Linux environments. Unlike bare containers, toolbx containers run systemd, support traditional package managers, and integrate seamlessly with the host filesystem and user environment.
It's particularly popular on immutable or minimal Linux distributions like Fedora CoreOS and Silverblue, where the host system is locked down. Instead of installing development tools directly on the host, you spawn a toolbx container:
toolbx create -c mydev
toolbx enter -c mydevInside the container, you can install packages freely using dnf, apt, or other package managers. Your home directory and common directories are bind-mounted from the host, so you can edit files and run commands that affect your actual project files while keeping the host clean.