Stamp

Stamp is a lightweight command-line tool that wraps 14 package managers into a single interface, allowing users to install, search, and remove packages without switching tools. It automatically tracks intentional installations in a portable manifest.toml file and supports one-command restoration of an entire software environment on a new machine. The tool is available for Linux and macOS, with Windows support planned, and can be installed via curl script, Go install, or by building from source.

The tool supports 14 supported package managers including DNF, APT, Brew, Flatpak, Snap, Cargo, Npm, Zypper, Pacman, Paru, MacPorts, Pipx, Uv, and Go through a single CLI. Users can install, search, and remove packages across these managers without needing to learn different commands for each system. This unified approach simplifies package management for developers and system administrators.

Stamp works on Linux and macOS today, with Windows support planned for the future. The tool automatically tracks intentional package installations in a portable manifest.toml file, ensuring only your intentional choices are recorded rather than dependency noise. This feature helps maintain a clean and intentional software environment across different operating systems.

Users can install Stamp using several methods including a curl script, Go install command, or by building from source. The installation process involves downloading the latest release or cloning the repository and building the binary. These flexible installation options cater to different user preferences and environments.

Stamp provides a safety net feature called reconcile that detects packages installed outside the tool and tracks them automatically. This helps ensure that all software on the system is accounted for and managed through the Stamp interface. It prevents drift between the intended environment and the actual installed packages.

The tool allows users to add, remove, and list third-party repositories such as PPAs, taps, and remotes across all supported managers with the same interface. This unified repository management simplifies the process of adding external sources for packages. Users can manage these repositories just as they would native packages.

Stamp includes familiar features like homebrew casks, stamp provides, stamp autoremove, cache cleanup, version pinning, and more, all unified under one interface. These features mirror the native capabilities of individual package managers but are accessible through a single command-line tool. This consistency helps users transition smoothly between different package management systems.

Every stamp command has aliases matching the native syntax of the package manager, such as stamp show for APT/DNF or stamp tap for Brew. This design ensures that users familiar with specific package managers can use Stamp without learning entirely new commands. The aliases make the tool feel intuitive for experienced users.

Stamp includes built-in man pages, shell completions, and auto-generated CLI reference docs to help users understand and use the tool effectively. These self-contained documentation features reduce the need to search external resources for basic usage information. Users can access help directly from the command line.

Users can add notes to any install command using the --note flag to remember why they needed a package six months later. This context preservation feature helps maintain a clear record of installation decisions and their purposes. It is particularly useful for auditing and future reference.

Stamp adheres to UNIX compliance standards including XDG Base Directory, NO_COLOR support, strict stdout/stderr separation, and TTY-aware sudo. These compliance features ensure that the tool integrates seamlessly with standard UNIX environments and tools. The design prioritizes consistency and predictability in behavior.

The tool supports one-command restoration of an entire software environment by dropping the manifest.toml into ~/.config/stamp/ and running stamp restore. This process rebuilds the environment on a new machine in minutes, saving significant setup time. It ensures that the new machine matches the original configuration exactly.

Stamp allows users to update all packages in all managers at once using the stamp update command, or update Stamp itself with stamp self-update. These commands help keep the software environment and the tool itself current without manual intervention. Regular updates ensure security and access to the latest features.

Users can diagnose their system using the stamp doctor command, which checks the status of package managers and other system components. This diagnostic feature helps identify potential issues before they become critical. It provides a quick overview of the system's health and package management status.

Stamp is designed for users who want a unified interface for managing multiple package managers without switching tools. It suits developers, system administrators, and anyone who needs to maintain a consistent software environment across different systems. The tool is particularly useful for those who value automation and consistency in package management.