Package Managers

Last update: 2025-03-17

Winget vs. Homebrew

winget (Windows Package Manager) is similar to Homebrew, but for Windows.

winget search <package>   # Find packages  
winget install <package>  # Install packages  
winget upgrade --all      # Update everything  
winget list               # See installed packages  
winget uninstall <package>  # Remove a package

Similarities

Both allow installing applications with a simple command (winget install <package> vs. brew install <package>).
Both handle dependencies automatically.
Both have repositories (Homebrew uses Formulae & Casks, while winget uses Microsoft’s package repository).
Both allow updating and uninstalling software efficiently.

Differences

Feature	winget (Windows)	Homebrew (macOS/Linux)
Platform	Windows 10/11	macOS, Linux
Default Repository	Microsoft package repository	Homebrew Formulae & Casks
GUI App Support	Yes (e.g., `winget install firefox`)	Yes (`brew install --cask firefox`)
Installation	Comes preinstalled in Windows 11, available for Windows 10	Must be installed manually
Software Sources	Official Microsoft sources, community packages	Brew repository, community taps

Winget vs. Scoop

Scoop is an alternative package manager for Windows that focuses on developer tools and CLI utilities. It’s like Homebrew but designed for Windows users who want a Unix-like package management experience.

Differences

Feature	winget	Scoop
Official support	Microsoft-backed	Community-driven
GUI app support	Yes (e.g., `winget install vlc`)	Mostly CLI apps, but GUI apps via `extras` bucket
Default install location	System-wide (`C:\Program Files`)	User folder (`C:\Users\YourName\scoop`)
Package update speed	Sometimes delayed	Often faster updates
Dependency handling	Limited	Handles dependencies well
Best for	General users, GUI apps	Devs, CLI tools, portable apps

Also 2024-12-10: Homebrew