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.TH "DISTROBOX\-HOST\-EXEC" "1" "Mar 2026" "Distrobox" "User Manual"
.SH NAME
.IP
.EX
distrobox\-host\-exec
.EE
.SH DESCRIPTION
distrobox\-host\-exec lets one execute command on the host, while inside
of a container.
.PP
Under the hood, distrobox\-host\-exec uses \f[CR]host\-spawn\f[R] a
project that lets us execute commands back on the host.
If the tool is not found the user will be prompted to install it.
.SH SYNOPSIS
Just pass to \[lq]distrobox\-host\-exec\[rq] any command and all its
arguments, if any.
.IP
.EX
\-\-help/\-h:      show this message
\-\-verbose/\-v:       show more verbosity
\-\-version/\-V:       show version
\-\-yes/\-Y:       Automatically answer yes to prompt:
                            host\-spawn will be installed on the guest system
                            if host\-spawn is not detected.
                            This behaviour is default when running in a non\-interactive shell.
.EE
.PP
If no command is provided, it will execute \[lq]$SHELL\[rq].
.PP
Alternatively, you can symlink a command name to
\f[CR]distrobox\-host\-exec\f[R] and then call that command by its name
on the host, while inside of a container.
.SH EXAMPLES
.SS Run individual commands
.IP
.EX
distrobox\-host\-exec ls
distrobox\-host\-exec bash \-l
distrobox\-host\-exec flatpak run org.mozilla.firefox
distrobox\-host\-exec podman ps \-a
.EE
.SS Drop into host shell
.IP
.EX
\[ti]$: distrobox\-host\-exec # No command, executes \[dq]$SHELL\[dq] on the host
\[ti]$: distrobox\-host\-exec # This command now runs on the host
You must run  distrobox\-host\-exec inside a container!
.EE
.SS Symlinking host commands
Use the host command name to create a symlink to
\f[CR]distrobox\-host\-exec\f[R].
You can then call the host command from within the container.
.IP
.EX
\[ti]$: git # We do not have git in the container
bash: git: command not found
\[ti]$: sudo ln \-s /usr/bin/distrobox\-host\-exec /usr/local/bin/git
\[ti]$: git version
git version 2.51.1
.EE
.PP
You can control podman on the host from within the container as follows:
.IP
.EX
\[ti]$: ln \-s /usr/bin/distrobox\-host\-exec /usr/local/bin/podman
\[ti]$: ls \-l /usr/local/bin/podman
lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 51 Jul 11 19:26 /usr/local/bin/podman \-> /usr/bin/distrobox\-host\-exec
\[ti]$: podman version
\&...this is executed on host...
.EE