The macOS command line interface will be intimidating — however there’s a number of worth inside. Through the use of the command line, you possibly can clear up many duties on Mac by working instructions in Terminal. It helps streamline lots of work, particularly for software program builders.
Bundle managers like Homebrew make the command line interface much more highly effective. On this tutorial, we describe methods to safely set up and uninstall Homebrew on Mac. We additionally recommend a number of instruments much like Homebrew you may benefit from.
What’s Homebrew and the way does it work?
“Homebrew installs the stuff you want that Apple didn’t” — that is how Homebrew creators describe it, and we agree. If you would like a extra informative definition, Homebrew is a free and open-source bundle supervisor for macOS, serving to you put in, replace, uninstall, and handle developer instruments like Python, Ruby, and Node.js in your Mac.
Why do you want it? With Homebrew, you possibly can profit from tons of command line instruments to automate your work. Better of all, they’re all put in, uninstalled, and up to date in a single location in your Mac. Listed below are just some examples of the helpful instruments you will get by Homebrew:
- imagemick to transform pictures to different codecs
- archey to share the localhost together with your group
- hub for a greater expertise with Git
- tldr for sensible examples on methods to use the command line.
To go simple on the coding jargon, we received’t be explaining how Homebrew works below the hood. The principle factor it is best to know as a person is that Homebrew acts by Terminal instructions — you possibly can set up, replace, and uninstall packages by typing a number of phrases. There are some easy default brew instructions for putting in single-file utilities, and extra superior subcommands referred to as casks — you’ll have to make use of these to put in multi-directory utilities.
Necessities to put in Homebrew on Mac
Earlier than you dive into the method, be certain that your macOS meets the next necessities:
- Apple Silicon or 64-bit CPU
- macOS 10.14 or later
- Bourne-compatible shell (bash or zsh syntax)
- Xcode’s command line instruments (we clarify methods to set up the instruments within the following part).
Extra instruments like Homebrew for Mac
If you happen to already really feel confused…That’s regular. Command line is hard. If you would like an easier resolution, we suggest wanting into Setapp. It’s a subscription service that provides you entry to 240+ Mac and iOS instruments for growth, working with media information, design, and so forth. Listed below are just some:
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Gitfox. If you happen to use Homebrew to connect with repositories, you’ll love Gitfox. Not solely is it a greater various to Homebrew’s hub command, Gitfox makes the entire strategy of working with Git smarter. You should use this app to enhance the standard of your code and commit quicker.
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DevUtils offers you entry to an enormous set of dev instruments. From formatting JSON to debugging a JWT token, you are able to do all that domestically in your Mac, with out an web connection.
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Permute is a common media converter that may enable you to change the format of your video, picture, or audio in seconds.
The fantastic thing about Setapp is that you just don’t must know the names of those apps or their full performance — you simply sort your activity in search (for instance, “edit PDF”), and Setapp offers you the apps that may edit PDF. It’s that easy.
Find out how to set up Homebrew on Mac
Transferring to the primary half — ”set up Homebrew Mac” — we must always clarify that the set up technique we describe makes use of curl to obtain the set up script. This technique is the best and it’s beneficial by the Homebrew group. The identical applies to the method of uninstalling Homebrew. Since some individuals don’t need to use curl for safety causes, there are methods to manually obtain and execute the script (however we received’t go into that right here).
Step 1: Set up command line instruments for Xcode
Xcode is Apple’s native IDE, an built-in growth setting that has all of the instruments you want for software program growth on Mac. To put in a number of the Homebrew bundle parts, you could set up Xcode’s command line instruments first (in case you haven’t completed it earlier than).
Right here’s methods to set up command line instruments for Xcode:
- Open Terminal and kind the next command: xcode-select –install
- Within the new dialog window, affirm you need to set up the Xcode instruments
- Conform to a license settlement and anticipate the set up course of to finish. It’d take some time.
Step 2: Set up Homebrew on Mac
Now your Mac is prepared for Homebrew. Right here’s the complete set up course of:
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Open Terminal and kind the next command:
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Sort your admin password (be aware that you just received’t see your keystrokes within the Terminal window — it’s a safety measure) > hit Return
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Wait a couple of minutes till you see the “Set up profitable” message in Terminal.
/bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://uncooked.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/set up/HEAD/set up.sh)”
Step 3: Flip off analytics
This isn’t an compulsory step, however we’d higher warn you that Homebrew can share a few of your knowledge with builders for the reason that instrument is free and open-source. Right here’s what’s usually collected: Homebrew Person Agent, Google Analytics model, Homebrew analytics monitoring ID, Homebrew analytics person ID, and knowledge in regards to the standing of Google Analytics nameless IP setting.
If you happen to don’t need your knowledge to be collected and shared with the Homebrew builders, right here’s the command it is best to run in Terminal to show off analytics: brew analytics off
Step 4: Arrange Homebrew
In Terminal, run brew assist to get began. You’ll see examples of instructions that may enable you to set up completely different software program, configs, and updates by Homebrew. For instance, to put in a bundle, it is best to sort brew set up ‘bundle title’ in Terminal. There are additionally a number of helpful troubleshooting instructions it is best to pay attention to, reminiscent of brew physician to detect set up points.
Step 5: Replace Mac Homebrew
Something you put in through Homebrew must be up to date usually. You also needs to replace the bundle supervisor sometimes to verify it really works correctly and also you’re not lacking some essential new options:
- To replace Homebrew, run brew replace in Terminal
- To seek out out what packages want updating, run brew outdated in Terminal
- To replace a selected bundle, run brew replace bundle title in Terminal.
If you happen to’re new to Homebrew, observe Homebrew’s Neighborhood Dialogue — you’ll discover a number of insights and troubleshooting suggestions from different Mac customers in there.
Do much more with DevUtils! Set up essentially the most important offline developer toolkit and clear up the duties Homebrew cannot clear up.
Find out how to uninstall Homebrew from Mac
If you happen to haven’t discovered a lot worth within the Homebrew Mac instruments, you possibly can simply uninstall the bundle supervisor by Terminal.
Right here’s the command it is best to run to uninstall Homebrew on macOS Large Sur, Mojave, Catalina, and later:
/bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://uncooked.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/set up/HEAD/uninstall.sh)”
Right here’s the command it is best to run to uninstall Homebrew on macOS Excessive Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, and older:
ruby -e “$(curl -fsSL https://uncooked.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/set up/grasp/uninstall)”
You’ll be warned in regards to the Homebrew information that will likely be deleted out of your Mac.
Observe: If you happen to’re anxious you paste the command incorrectly or it doesn’t be just right for you, test the Homebrew web site for detailed directions.
Find out how to uninstall Homebrew packages from Mac
If you happen to don’t need to eliminate the bundle supervisor itself — however somewhat take away particular packages — you are able to do that. Right here’s how:
- Ensure there are not any dependencies between the bundle you need to delete and those which can be in use by working the next command: brew deps bundle title
- If you happen to’ve discovered dependencies and determine to disregard them, sort the next: brew uninstall –ignore-dependencies bundle title
- To uninstall the bundle, run the command brew uninstall bundle title.
Homebrew leaves your Mac cluttered. Right here’s methods to repair it
The commonest downside with Homebrew is that after you begin utilizing it, versatile information and configs begin piling up in your drive. This appears logical as a result of the entire level of utilizing Homebrew is that will help you set up some further stuff in your laptop. However the issue is Homebrew additionally generates lots of muddle you don’t want.
Each time you replace a selected bundle or Homebrew itself, a replica of the previous model is created. These copies don’t go wherever — they only sit there, consuming up your space for storing. You may test how a lot house is occupied by previous copies in the event you run the command brew cleanup -n in Terminal. The worst factor is it’s practically not possible to delete all these leftovers by merely uninstalling Homebrew.
CleanMyMac X is the one app that may take away Homebrew fully, with all of the information, directories, and copies related to it. Simply run a System Junk cleanup > Clear. Earlier than you comply with delete the junk CleanMyMac X has discovered in your Mac, you possibly can click on on Evaluate Particulars to be sure you don’t take away something essential. Spoiler: That received’t occur as a result of CleanMyMac X is sensible sufficient to take away solely the muddle you don’t want.
If you would like a extra thorough cleanup, use the Sensible Scan characteristic. It removes the muddle in addition to detects malware and optimizes your Mac’s pace and general efficiency. Whether or not you’re new to Mac or a professional person, CleanMyMac X provides you with a second of bliss. Think about how a lot effort and time you save by by no means having to unlock storage manually!
Seize all the duty solvers on Setapp
If you happen to’re trying to enhance your productiveness and do extra with a Mac, command-line bundle administration is the fitting course. Homebrew is among the finest free bundle managers that’s comparatively simple to make use of when you’ve got some expertise with Terminal. And if it’s not for you, you possibly can work on boosting your work with instruments like Gitfox and DevUtils.
Gitfox, DevUtils, and CleanMyMac X are paid apps, however you possibly can attempt them at no cost with a Setapp subscription. Setapp is a subscription service for macOS and iOS apps. It introduces a complete new method to utilizing your gadget — as an alternative of trying to find apps, you sort your activity in Setapp and get the app that solves your activity instantly. Strive it for 7 days free, then $9.99/month.
FAQ
Find out how to set up Homebrew on Mac M1?
If you happen to’re questioning whether or not the directions from this text apply to putting in Homebrew on an Apple Silicon Mac, we now have nice information. They do! The one distinction with M1 Macs is that you just’ll must replace the shell configuration after putting in Homebrew.
The place does Homebrew set up on Mac?
On Intel Macs, Homebrew installs to the /usr/native/bin listing, so that you don’t have to take any further steps to set it up. On Apple Silicon Macs, Homebrew installs to the /choose/homebrew folder. Whereas it’s not a part of the default $PATH, you’ll have to create a ~/.zprofile file that has a command for organising Homebrew. You could find detailed directions on methods to do it in Homebrew’s documentation on the official web site.
