Homebrew Essentials

The de-facto macOS package manager

Homebrew (brew) installs CLI tools, GUI apps, and fonts on macOS (and Linux). It is the path of least resistance for almost every command-line tool you'll meet — including the modern-tools track's ripgrep, fd, fzf, bat, eza, etc.

Install once

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Then add to ~/.zprofile:

eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"

Daily commands

• brew install jq — install a CLI tool (formula).
• brew install --cask iterm2 — install a GUI app (cask).
• brew uninstall jq
• brew update — refresh formula list.
• brew upgrade — upgrade everything.
• brew list — what's installed.
• brew leaves — top-level installs (no dependent).
• brew info jq — version, deps, caveats.
• brew search ripgrep — find a formula.
• brew doctor — diagnose problems.

Brewfile — reproducible installs

brew bundle dump --file=Brewfile writes a list of every formula and cask installed. brew bundle install --file=Brewfile restores the same set on a new Mac. This is your one-liner Mac-setup tool.

Services

brew services list shows every long-running service brew manages (postgres, redis, etc.). brew services start postgresql wires up a launchd plist. Stop with brew services stop.