# Homebrew

The package manager that turned installing command-line tools on macOS into a single command.

HTML: https://softbests.com/software/homebrew
Markdown: https://softbests.com/software/homebrew.md
Website: https://brew.sh

- Category: [Terminal](https://softbests.com/category/terminal)
- Pricing: Open source
- Platforms: macOS, Linux, CLI

## Best for

Mac and Linux users who want reproducible CLI installs without chasing binaries and DMGs.

## Why it deserves attention

Homebrew installs command-line tools as formulae and GUI apps as casks, keeping everything under its own prefix with no sudo and tracking upgrades so you can update or roll back cleanly. A Brewfile plus brew bundle makes a new machine reproducible in minutes, and brew services manages background daemons such as databases and caches. It is MIT-licensed, community-maintained, and works on both macOS and Linux. The trade-off is speed: large formulae compile or download slowly on first install, and the project's own diagnostics occasionally need attention after major OS upgrades.

## Can replace

- MacPorts

## Related and alternatives

- [iTerm2](https://softbests.com/software/iterm2)
- [Ghostty](https://softbests.com/software/ghostty)