declarch

Declarch is a declarative wrapper for multiple package managers.

It can orchestrate many package managers/helpers through configuration. In declarch terminology, we call those integrations backends.

You declare packages in KDL files, then apply with declarch sync.

Installation

Pick one installation path first, then verify CLI + doctor output.

Arch Linux (AUR)

Best path if you are already on Arch and use AUR helpers.

paru -S declarch-bin

Linux/macOS (install script)

Fastest way to get a ready binary from GitHub releases.

curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nixval/declarch/main/install.sh | sh

Windows (PowerShell, experimental alpha)

Windows support is still evolving, but this gives you a quick first install.

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nixval/declarch/main/install.ps1 | iex

Verify installation:

declarch --version
declarch --help
declarch info --doctor -v

First setup

1) Initialize config

This creates the base config structure and default entrypoints.

declarch init

2) Adopt backends for your OS

Backends define how declarch talks to each package manager/helper.

# Arch
declarch init --backend aur,paru,yay,pacman

# Debian/Ubuntu
declarch init --backend apt,nala

# Fedora/RHEL
declarch init --backend dnf5

# SUSE
declarch init --backend zypper

# macOS
declarch init --backend brew

# discover registry options
declarch init --list backends
declarch init --list modules

# any backend you can init freely
decl init --backend pnpm brew bun npm pip soar

Common backend examples you can init:

• System/distro: pacman, aur, paru, yay, apt, nala, dnf, dnf5, zypper, brew
• Universal/app: flatpak, snap, nix, soar
• Dev/language: npm, pnpm, yarn, bun, cargo, pip, gem, go

3) Add packages (declarative-first)

This is the core value: one config can drive multiple ecosystems.

Example ~/.config/declarch/modules/base.kdl:

decl edit base

write the config:

pkg {
    aur { bat fzf ripgrep }
    npm { typescript }
}

Then run:

declarch --dry-run sync
declarch sync

4) Install shortcut (optional)

Use this when you want fast onboarding; it will installed in ./modules/others.kdl

declarch install aur:bat aur:fzf aur:ripgrep
declarch install npm:typescript
# or apply one backend to all packages
declarch install bat fzf ripgrep --backend aur

Configuration examples

If you are unsure where to start, copy one of these and iterate.

A) Minimal portable setup

Good default for a single machine or fresh setup.

~/.config/declarch/declarch.kdl

imports {
    "modules/base.kdl"
}

~/.config/declarch/modules/base.kdl

pkg {
    pacman { git curl }
    flatpak { org.mozilla.firefox }
    npm { pnpm }
}

B) Modular setup by context

Use this when your config starts growing (dev/apps/workstation split).

declarch.kdl

imports {
    "modules/base.kdl"
    "modules/dev.kdl"
    "modules/apps.kdl"
}

you can create that file via cli:

decl edit base
decl edit dev --create
decl edit apps --create

# to edit declarch.kdl
decl edit
# you can change editor you prefer
# eg. editor "nvim"

modules/dev.kdl

pkg {
    aur { neovim tmux }
    npm { typescript eslint prettier }
}

modules/apps.kdl

pkg {
    flatpak { org.telegram.desktop com.spotify.Client }
}

For advanced topics (policy, hooks, profile/host layering, MCP, and deeper syntax), use the docs site.

Most-used commands

These cover most day-to-day workflows without touching advanced features.

declarch sync
declarch --dry-run sync
declarch sync update
declarch sync prune
declarch sync cache
declarch sync upgrade # upgrade all package manager at once
declarch search firefox # search all package manager at once
declarch info --doctor
declarch info --list --scope unmanaged
declarch lint --mode validate
declarch edit mymodule --create

Update policy

Use the update path that matches how you installed declarch.

• If installed via package manager (AUR/Homebrew/etc), update via that package manager.
• If installed via script/manual binary, you can use declarch self-update.

Documentation

• https://nixval.github.io/declarch/

License

MIT - see LICENSE.