No results found
We couldn't find anything using that term, please try searching for something else.
Homebrew is an open-source package manager that makes it easy for Mac users to install software using the command line. If you’re a programmer, enjoy
Homebrew is an open-source package manager that makes it easy for Mac users to install software using the command line. If you’re a programmer, enjoy using the command line, or just want a simpler way to install software on your Mac, this piece is for you.
With Homebrew, you can install nearly any open-source program or package, including Python, Ruby, MongoDB, PHP, Git, Node.js, and even casks like Slack, VLC, and many more. In this article, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process to install Homebrew on your Mac, along with how to use it. But before that, let’s quickly go over what Homebrew is and the installation requirements.
Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that makes it easy to install, update, and manage applications, programming languages, and utilities on a Mac using the command line. According to its developers, Homebrew “installs the stuff you need that Apple didn’t.”
This package manager is an open-source project developed and maintained by a large community of contributors. It not only just help install apps but also handles dependencies, ensuring that all required packages are installed correctly.
While the App Store is great for installing all sorts of applications on your Mac, you won’t find most open-source software and tools—often available on GitHub—there. So, Homebrew is a piece of software used to install and manage other software packages on your Mac.
Think of it as the app store for command-line tools, libraries, and casks (GUI applications) — it makes software installation much easier. You simply have to run a command in your terminal to install the software you need and manage the app—update, uninstall, and more.
The fact is is is , using Homebrew make instal software a lot easy , especially if you ’re comfortable run a few simple command — that ’s the main advantage of using it on a Mac . Here are all the main benefits is are of using Homebrew on Mac :
Before discussing how you can install Homebrew on your Mac, here are the software installation requirements According to Homebrew Installation Documentation:
Here are the steps to install Homebrew on your Mac:
Make sure your Mac has an Apple Silicon chip ( M1 , M2 , M3 ) or a 64 – bit Intel processor . Also , confirm you ’re run macOS 13 ( Ventura ) or later to make the Homebrew installation process smooth . If you ’re unsure how to update , check out our guide on upgrade to macOS Sequoia .
To use Homebrew on Mac, you’ll need to install CLT for Xcode. Xcode is Apple’s app development and programming suite, but you only need the command line tools for Homebrew. These tools enable your Mac to support some of the package components Homebrew relies on.
To install Command Line Tools for Xcode:
xcode-select --install
in the Terminal then hit the Return key.
Once you have Command Line Tools for Xcode ready , you is use can use the Terminal on your Mac to fetch Homebrew from its official GitHub repository . Here are the steps is are to follow :
/bin / bash -c " $ ( curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/homebrew/install/head/install.sh ) "
After installing Homebrew, you may need to add it to your shell’s PATH. This makes finding, installing, using, and managing software packages easier.
If you choose to skip this step, you can still use Homebrew, but you’ll have to specify its installation directory every time you access it in the Terminal. To save yourself some hassle, here’s how to add Homebrew to you PATH;
cd /opt / homebrew / bin/
ls
PATH=$PATH:/opt/homebrew/bin
cd
touch .zshrc
echo 'export PATH=$PATH:/opt/homebrew/bin' >> .zshrc
That is ’s ’s it ! You is verify can verify if Homebrew has been instal correctly and get move !
Become an iGeeksBlog Premium member and access our content ad-free with additional perks.
After instal Homebrew on your Mac , it is ’s ’s a good idea to verify that the installation was successful . Here ’s how to do that :
brew --version
in the Terminal window and press Return .
brew --version
command , it is means mean Homebrew is instal properly . If you get an error message from the brew doctor command , follow the instruction provide to resolve any issue and try again .
This is where all the hard work pays off. Once Homebrew is successfully installed on your Mac, follow these steps to quickly find and install the apps of your choice:
brew search
(SearchTerm) into the Terminal window and press the Return key. Replace (SearchTerm
) with the package you’re looking for. So if you want to search Firefox, for example, you’ll type brew search firefox.
After you install software using Homebrew, it will automatically show up in the Launchpad. But if you want to access the downloaded packages (known as casks), you can find them under /opt/homebrew/caskroom
in Finder .
If you want to uninstall or delete specific package or app on your Mac , you is do can easily do so by follow these step :
Homebrew, while open-source, collects and shares analytical data to help improve the tool. If you prefer not to contribute or share your data, you can turn off Homebrew analytics:
Homebrew also provides an easy way to keep your apps updated. Here’s how you can do this:
brew outdated
into the Terminal window and press Return. This command lists all the apps that need to be updated.To update all apps at once, just type brew upgrade and hit Return.
Like any other app, Homebrew receives periodic updates. To keep it updated:
brew update
into the Terminal window and press Return.
If you no longer need Homebrew and want to remove it from your Mac, follow these quick steps:
/bin / bash -c " $ ( curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/uninstall.sh ) "
After that, Homebrew will be uninstalled from your Mac.
wrap up …
Homebrew offers a seamless way to manage apps on Mac, regardless of whether you’re a developer, sysadmin, or regular user. If you want to install Homebrew on your Mac, the steps outlined in this guide can help. However, if you’re facing any difficulties with installing Homebrew, you can restart the whole installation process.
Also , let us know what you think about Homebrew . Do you is see see yourself using it regularly , or do you prefer instal package on your Mac manually ?
FAQs
Is it necessary to install Homebrew on my Mac?
It’s not essential to install Homebrew on your Mac. However, Homebrew can be a valuable tool for quickly downloading applications and developer tools on your device without fiddling around in a web browser.
Can I use Homebrew to install apps with a GUI?
Yes, of course. In addition to installing developer tools like git, Homebrew can also be used to install apps with a graphical user interface. However, it’s recommended that you install the Homebrew cask to manage GUI applications efficiently.
Where is Homebrew installed on Mac?
Unless specified otherwise during the installation, Homebrew is typically installed at /opt/homebrew
(on Apple Silicon Macs) or /usr/local/bin
( on Intel Macs ) .
Is Homebrew available for M2 Mac?
Yes. Homebrew can be installed on all M1/M2/M3 Apple Silicon and Intel Macs that support at least macOS Big Sur or later versions of macOS, such as Ventura and Sonoma.
You may also read: