Homebrew Command Practice
Homebrew is the missing package manager for macOS (and Linux). This track tests your muscle memory for managing command-line formulas, tapping third-party repositories, installing GUI applications via casks, and keeping your system healthy with cleanup and doctor commands.
Command Reference
manage
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
brew list | List all installed formulae. |
brew search <text> | Perform a substring search of formulae and casks matching the given text. |
brew uninstall <formula> | Uninstall a previously installed package. |
brew install <formula> | Install a command-line package (formula). |
brew info <formula> | Display detailed information about a formula, including dependencies and installation caveats. |
brew upgrade <formula> | Upgrade only the specified formula to its newest version. |
maintain
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
brew outdated | Show formulae and casks that have an updated version available. |
brew doctor | Check your system for potential problems and output diagnostic warnings. |
brew update | Fetch the newest version of Homebrew and all formulae from GitHub (updates the local package index). |
brew upgrade | Upgrade all outdated and unpinned formulae and casks to their latest versions. |
brew cleanup | Remove older versions of installed formulae and clear old downloads from the cache. |
brew pin <formula> | Prevent the specified formula from being upgraded automatically. |
brew unpin <formula> | Allow the specified formula to be upgraded again. |
cask
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
brew install --cask <cask> | Install a macOS GUI application. |
brew uninstall --cask <cask> | Uninstall a macOS GUI application. |
brew list --cask | List all currently installed casks (GUI applications). |
brew reinstall --cask <cask> | Reinstall the given Cask, useful if an application is corrupted. |
tap
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
brew untap <user/repo> | Remove a given tap from your local repository list. |
brew tap | List all currently tapped third-party repositories. |
brew tap <user/repo> | Tap a formula repository from GitHub. |
brew tap <user/repo> <URL> | Tap a formula repository from a specified non-GitHub URL. |
Key Use Cases
- Install a command-line tool like wget or git using brew install
- Install a GUI application like Google Chrome using brew install --cask
- Understand the critical difference between brew update and brew upgrade
- Diagnose local environment issues and missing dependencies using brew doctor
- Reclaim disk space by removing stale lock files and outdated packages with brew cleanup
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between brew update and brew upgrade?
brew update fetches the newest version of Homebrew and all formulae from GitHub, updating your local package index. brew upgrade actually downloads and installs the newer versions of the packages you already have installed.
What is a Homebrew Cask?
While standard Homebrew formulae deal with command-line software, Homebrew Cask is an extension that allows you to install macOS native GUI applications (like browsers, IDEs, and chat apps) directly from the command line.
What does brew tap do?
brew tap allows you to add third-party repositories to your Homebrew installation. Once tapped, you can install software from those repositories just as you would from the core Homebrew list.
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