Tool Aliases

Use [tool_alias] to give a tool a different backend or name a version request. Put shared aliases in the project's mise.toml; use ~/.config/mise/config.toml for personal defaults. Teammates need the alias definition as well as the tool declaration.

::: warning Renamed configuration key [alias] was renamed to [tool_alias]. The old key still works but is deprecated. For command shortcuts such as alias ll='ls -la', use Shell Aliases. :::

Aliased Backends

A backend alias changes where mise obtains a tool. For example, explicitly choose mise's built-in Node.js backend:

toml

[tool_alias]
node = "core:node"

[tools]
node = "24"

Inspect the result with mise tool node, then run mise install to install the selected version. See backend selection if an installed plugin or environment override selects a different source than expected.

Aliases can also select separate release assets from the same GitHub repository:

toml

[tool_alias]
dhall-json = "github:dhall-lang/dhall-haskell"
dhall-lsp = "github:dhall-lang/dhall-haskell"

[tools]
dhall-json = { version = "v1.42.2", matching = "dhall-json" }
dhall-lsp = { version = "latest", matching = "dhall-lsp-server" }

Each alias has its own version request and GitHub asset filter. This matters for repositories that release several tools independently.

Aliased Versions

A version alias gives a stable name to a version request. Keep a team's Node.js release series in one place:

toml

[tool_alias.node.versions]
project-lts = "24"

[tools]
node = "project-lts"

project-lts resolves as a request for Node.js 24. It is not an exact patch pin; use mise.lock to record the resolved version. Changing the alias changes the request for every declaration that uses it.

The built-in Node.js backend already supplies aliases such as lts and named LTS releases. You don't need to redefine those. Legacy asdf plugin authors can provide their own aliases through bin/list-aliases, with one alias and version per line:

bash

#!/usr/bin/env bash
printf '%s\n' 'recommended 2.0' 'legacy 1.0'

Templates

Alias values support templates. For example, allow an explicit environment override with a default release series:

toml

[tool_alias.node.versions]
project-lts = "{{ env.PROJECT_NODE_VERSION | default(value='24') }}"

Set PROJECT_NODE_VERSION before invoking mise. Avoid computing a tool's version by invoking that same tool from its alias template: version resolution may happen before the tool is available, or re-enter mise through a shim.