Shelly ALPM 3.1.7 has been released by Seafoam Labs, featuring RLPM, a native Zig reimplementation of Arch's libalpm that allows for parallel package operations with the original library. This ambitious project, led by engineer Zoey Bauer, is designed to enhance performance and control while handling the full ALPM workflow, although the developers acknowledge that complete compatibility is not yet finished. The introduction of RLPM has gained traction, especially after CachyOS adopted Shelly as its default GUI package manager in April 2026, expanding its user base significantly. The release also includes safety features and configuration options, while the team remains transparent about the project's limitations, indicating that users should proceed with caution as Shelly is still considered a third-party tool

Shelly ALPM 3.1.7 Ships RLPM, a Native Zig Rewrite of Arch's libalpm

Shelly ALPM 3.1.7, released today by Seafoam Labs, introduces RLPM, a native Zig reimplementation of Arch's libalpm that can dispatch package operations alongside the original library. Written under lead engineer Zoey Bauer, RLPM handles the full ALPM workflow while still letting users fall back to libalpm, though the authors openly admit complete compatibility remains unfinished. The project reached well beyond early adopters after CachyOS made Shelly its default GUI package manager in April 2026, amplifying RLPM's impact across a large out-of-the-box user base. With safety features like sealed memfd archives, Landlock/seccomp sandboxing, and openat2 path confinement, Shelly pairs an aggressive rewrite arc with surprisingly honest calls about its own limits.

Shelly ALPM 3.1.7 Ships RLPM, a Native Zig Rewrite of Arch's libalpm @ Linux Compatible