Homebrew, a popular package manager for
macOS and Linux, simplifies software installation, management, and
removal. It’s known for its ease of use and extensive library of
packages, called “formulae” (core packages and CLI tools) and “casks”
(GUI applications). Here are some of the cool things about Homebrew:
- Easy Installation: With Homebrew, you can install software and
development tools with just one command. No more fussing around!
- Takes Care of Dependencies: Homebrew automatically takes care of all
the software dependencies, so you don’t have to worry about missing any
important libraries.
- Lightweight: Homebrew installs packages to their own directory and
then symlinks their files into
/opt/homebrew (on Apple
Silicon).
- Community-Driven: Thousands of open-source contributors are always
working on Homebrew, making sure that the packages are up-to-date and
super secure.
- Extensible with Casks: Homebrew Cask lets you manage GUI
applications. Just type
brew install —cask firefox and
you’re good to go!
Commands
- Updating Homebrew on macOS
brew update
brew --version
- Upgrading Installed Packages
brew upgrade
brew cleanup
- Listing Installed Packages
brew list