Registry
In general, the preferred backend to use for new tools is the following:
- aqua - offers the most features and security while not requiring plugins
- ubi - very simple to use
- pipx - only for python tools, requires python to be installed but this generally would always be the case for python tools
- npm - only for node tools, requires node to be installed but this generally would always be the case for node tools
- vfox - only for tools that have unique installation requirements or need to modify env vars
- asdf - only for tools that have unique installation requirements or need to modify env vars, doesn't support windows
- go - only for go tools, requires go to be installed to compile. Because go tools can be distributed as a single binary, aqua/ubi are definitely preferred.
- cargo - only for rust tools, requires rust to be installed to compile. Because rust tools can be distributed as a single binary, aqua/ubi are definitely preferred.
- dotnet - only for dotnet tools, requires dotnet to be installed to compile. Because dotnet tools can be distributed as a single binary, aqua/ubi are definitely preferred.
However, each tool can define its own priority if it has more than 1 backend it supports. You can disable a backend with mise settings disable_backends=asdf. And it will be skipped. See Aliases for a way to set a default backend for a tool.
You can also specify the full name for a tool using mise use aqua:1password/cli if you want to use a specific backend.