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Package management on macOS with Homebrew

Homebrew is the popular, missing package manager for macOS that makes installing and managing developer tools and software easy.

Step 1: Install Homebrew​

Open the Terminal app and run:

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

This script will guide you through the setup. You may be prompted to install Apple’s Xcode Command Line Tools if they’re not already installed.

After installation, verify Homebrew is working with:

brew doctor

If everything is correct, you should see:

Your system is ready to brew.

Note for Apple Silicon (M1/M2) users: If Homebrew isn’t recognized after install, you may need to add it to your shell config:

echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.zprofile
eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"

Step 2: Install Developer Essentials​

With Homebrew ready, you can install the most common developer tools in a few commands:

  • Vim (terminal text editor):

    brew install vim

  • Visual Studio Code (graphical editor):

    brew install --cask visual-studio-code

  • Git (version control):

    brew install git

Step 3: Install Other Useful Tools (Optional)​

  • Python:

    brew install python

  • Node.js + npm:

    brew install node

  • wget (file downloader):

    brew install wget

Step 4: Manage and Update Packages​

  • Update Homebrew and package info:

    brew update

  • Upgrade all installed packages:

    brew upgrade

  • Search for a package:

    brew search <package-name>

  • Uninstall a package:

    brew uninstall <package-name>

Step 5: Explore More​

  • List all installed packages:

    brew list

  • Get details about a package:

    brew info <package-name>

  • Disable anonymous analytics:

    brew analytics off

For more documentation visit the official site: https://brew.sh/.