home / package-managers / brew

Homebrew

47k

Package manager CLI for installing, upgrading, and querying formulae, casks, taps, and Brewfile dependencies on macOS and Linux.

$/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
Language
Ruby
Stars
46,905
Category
Package Managers
Agent
Ready
Agent Compatibility
JSON Output
Agent Skill
MCP Support
AI Analysis

Homebrew is a package manager CLI for macOS and Linux that installs formulae, casks, taps, and Brewfile-defined dependency sets. It also exposes package metadata, service management, and environment helpers for scripting local machine setup and maintenance.

What It Enables
  • Install, upgrade, pin, uninstall, and clean up command-line tools and GUI apps from formulae and casks on macOS or Linux.
  • Search packages, inspect formula or tap metadata, and check outdated or installed state before changing a machine.
  • Capture machine setup in a Brewfile, enforce it with brew bundle, and manage packaged background services with brew services.
Agent Fit
  • Core commands are scriptable and fit inspect-change-verify loops for local machine bootstrap and maintenance.
  • Structured output is real but partial: brew info, brew outdated, brew tap-info, and brew services ... --json support JSON, while many install and search flows still emit plain text.
  • Built-in brew mcp-server exists for teams that prefer that integration model.
Caveats
  • Install, upgrade, and uninstall commands change the local machine and can fetch or execute third-party build steps, so unattended use needs guardrails.
  • Some flows still prompt or depend on local OS state, permissions, or service managers; unattended installs may need NONINTERACTIVE=1.