Install Herdr

Herdr publishes stable-channel binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Windows is generally available, with documented platform-specific limitations and ongoing fixes.

Install

On Linux or macOS, run:

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

Terminal window

On Windows, run:

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -c "irm https://herdr.dev/install.ps1 | iex"

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If endpoint security blocks that fileless PowerShell command, open Command Prompt and run:

curl.exe -fsSLo install.cmd https://herdr.dev/install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd

Terminal window

The installer downloads the release binary for your platform and places it on your PATH. New direct installs use the stable update channel. Existing Windows preview installs stay on preview until you switch them with herdr channel set stable. The Windows installer uses versioned install folders and updates a current junction, so updates do not need to overwrite a running herdr.exe.

Install with Homebrew

If you already use Homebrew:

brew install herdr

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Install with mise

If you already use mise:

mise use -g herdr

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If mise reports herdr not found in mise tool registry, update mise and retry. Older mise versions predate the Herdr registry entry; mise use -g github:herdrdev/herdr works as a temporary fallback.

Install with Nix

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

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

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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:

nix develop github:herdrdev/herdr

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Use the same Nix workflow to update Herdr. For a profile install, list your profile entries and upgrade the Herdr entry:

nix profile listnix profile upgrade <index-or-name>

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

nix flake update herdr

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Download manually

You can also download a binary from GitHub releases.

Choose the asset that matches your system:

On Linux or macOS, make it executable and move it somewhere on your PATH.

chmod +x herdr-linux-x86_64mv herdr-linux-x86_64 ~/.local/bin/herdr

Terminal window

Windows archive

Stable releases and preview prereleases both include herdr-windows-x86_64.zip. The archive contains herdr.exe and its app-local ConPTY runtime. Keep the extracted directory together; do not copy only herdr.exe.

Verify

Start Herdr:

herdr

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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:

herdr update

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Use herdr update only for installs managed by Herdr’s own installer. Update Homebrew, mise, and Nix installs through those package managers instead.

Direct installs on Linux, macOS, and Windows use the stable update channel by default. To opt into preview builds from master, set the channel:

herdr channel set preview

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Switch a direct install back to stable the same way:

herdr channel set stable

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For direct installs, changing channels checks the selected channel and installs its latest binary. If that update fails, run herdr update to retry from the configured channel.

Preview builds are regularly published GitHub prereleases from the current development branch. They are useful when you want fixes before the next stable release, but they can regress. Homebrew, mise, and Nix installs do not use the preview channel.

Stable is the recommended channel for normal Windows use. Preview receives fixes sooner but can regress, so opt in only when you want that tradeoff. Existing Windows preview installs remain on preview until you switch them explicitly. If an older preview build rejects herdr channel set stable, run herdr update once on preview, then retry the channel switch.

By default, herdr update installs the new binary and leaves compatible running sessions alone. If an update changes Herdr’s client/server protocol, Herdr asks whether to stop the old server after installing. Stop the old server to use the new version. Stopping the server exits its pane processes. For the default session, run herdr server stop, then run herdr again. For a named session, run herdr session stop <name>, then run herdr session attach <name> again.

To opt into experimental live server handoff for supported running sessions, run:

herdr update --handoff

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Live handoff does not apply to Homebrew, mise, or Nix package-manager updates. For those installs, update with the package manager, then restart that Herdr session when you are ready to use the new server. If a running session still uses the old server, stop it with herdr server stop or herdr session stop <name>, then run Herdr again.

Requirements

Stable-channel binaries are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows x86_64. See Windows support for supported workflows and known limitations. Windows ARM64 runs the x86_64 build under Windows emulation.

Last updated Oct 08, 2026