A technical breakdown of Homebrew
I am studying with @UCBerkeleyExt, in this article I cover my knowledge of how to use Homebrew
Currently I am enrolled in the Full Stack bootcamp with UC Berkeley. It is an intensive full time program that lasts for three months. At the time of writing this, I am two months into the program.
🤓 Greetings travelers! I am giving a technical breakdown of Homebrew with UC Berkeley. In this article I will cover my knowledge of how to use Homebrew.
You can subscribe without signing up for a substack account! Just select “None” when subscribing. All the content from my learning journey is free.
The Missing Package Manager for macOS
So this ones a bit personal for me. My device is “so old” (how is 2017 so long ago already??) that there are several applications which require me to use Homebrew to install them.
As they put it…
“Homebrew installs the stuff you need that Apple didn’t.”
So what is it and what does it do?
It is a free and open-source package manager for macOS that makes it easy to install, uninstall, and upgrade software from the command-line [interface]. It’s a popular tool among developers and users alike, and it’s widely considered to be the best way to manage software on macOS. Besides, who doesn’t want to feel like Neo from the Matrix by making changes to their system using a CLI?
What are the benefits to using it?
Ease of use: It has a simple command syntax that is easy to learn
Large community: It has a large community of users who are ready to help
Lots of packages: It supports a wide range of packages, from popular open-source software to niche tools
Stays up-to-date: It keeps your packages up-to-date with the latest security patches and features
Enable automatic updates: It can automatically update your packages for you
How to install and use it
There are lots of instructions on how to install and use Homebrew, especially just going to the official site, linked throughout this article. Just in case, I’ll give you a break down here as well!
Open a terminal window and run the following command:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"Once it’s installed, you can check the version:
brew -vOnce Homebrew is installed, you can install, uninstall, and upgrade.
Here is a synopsis of a some of the most common commands:
Installation Commands:
brew install <package_name>: Installs the specified package.
brew install --cask <app_name>: Installs the specified macOS application.
brew tap <tap_name>: Adds a tap, which is a repository of additional packages.
brew tap-list: Lists all installed taps.
Uninstallation Commands:
brew uninstall <package_name>: Uninstalls the specified package.
brew cask uninstall <app_name>: Uninstalls the specified macOS application.
Update Commands:
brew upgrade: Updates all installed packages to their latest versions.
brew upgrade <package_name>: Updates the specified package to its latest version.
brew services restart: Restarts all installed services.
brew services stop <service_name>: Stops the specified service.
brew services start <service_name>: Starts the specified service.
Search Commands:
brew search <search_term>: Searches for packages matching the specified term.
brew cask search <search_term>: Searches for macOS applications matching the specified term.
Other Useful Commands:
brew info <package_name>: Displays information about the specified package.
brew doctor: Checks the health of your Homebrew installation.
brew cleanup: Removes outdated and unused packages and casks.
brew help: Provides help for all Homebrew commands.
In conclusion, Homebrew is a powerful tool that can make your life easier. If you use macOS, I highly recommend using it to manage your software.
I’m now WAY behind on posts. I hope to find some time to catch up over Thanksgiving. For now, keep following my posts on LinkedIn for a look at new repos I am pushing!
What did you think? Leave me a comment and share!