# libkrun/libkrun

A dynamic library providing Virtualization-based process isolation capabilities

Repository: https://github.com/libkrun/libkrun
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/libkrun
Language: Rust
License: Apache-2.0
License Family: permissive
Last push: 2026-08-26T09:17:39+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 96/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 91, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2211, "days_push": 7, "days_rel": 61, "gap_med": 14.0, "n_releases_24m": 27}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2627, forks 254 (observed 2026-08-28T04:07:05.249868+00:00)

## What it is
libkrun is a dynamic library that lets programs run processes in partially isolated environments using KVM virtualization on Linux and HVF on macOS/ARM64. It embeds a lightweight VMM with minimal emulated devices behind a simple C API, enabling projects to add VM-based isolation without managing a full hypervisor.

## Use cases
- add virtualization-based isolation to container runtimes like crun
- run GPU-enabled lightweight VMs on macOS
- launch microVMs with GPU acceleration for gaming
- run confidential workloads with AMD SEV or Intel TDX memory encryption
- embed lightweight VM isolation into an application via a C API

## When to choose
- you need lightweight, fast-booting VM-based process isolation embedded in your own tool
- you want confidential computing support with SEV or TDX
- you need GPU-accelerated microVMs on Linux or macOS

## When to avoid
- you need a general-purpose VMM with broad device emulation
- you need full compatibility with all workload types
- you require a stable 2.0 API before its first stable release

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: active
- function: security
- domain: security, developer-tools
- platform: rust, cpp
- tags: kvm, microvm, vmm, process-isolation, confidential-computing, amd-sev, intel-tdx, hvf, virtio, virtualization, sandboxing, containers, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- libkrun/libkrun (main) score 96

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:05.249868+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T02:19:44.961559+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/libkrun/libkrun (fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:05.249868+00:00, sha 05dd61c9d4b5)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.