How to Install Homebrew

Homebrew is a powerful package manager for macOS that simplifies software installation. Follow these steps to install and configure Homebrew on your Mac.

Step 1: Install Xcode Command Line Tools

Before installing Homebrew, install Xcode Command Line Tools by running:

xcode-select --install

Follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Step 2: Install Homebrew

Once the command line tools are installed, run the following command in Terminal:

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

This will download and run the Homebrew installation script.

Step 3: Enter Your Password

When prompted, enter your administrator password (you won’t see characters while typing for security reasons).

Step 4: Follow Installation Instructions

The installation script will guide you through the process. Follow the on-screen instructions and confirm as needed.

Step 5: Set Up Homebrew Path

After installation, you need to add Homebrew to your PATH. The steps depend on your shell:

For Zsh (default on macOS Catalina and later):

Edit your ~/.zshrc file and add:

export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH

Then, apply the changes:

source ~/.zshrc

For Bash:

Edit your ~/.bash_profile file and add:

export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH

Apply the changes:

source ~/.bash_profile

Step 6: Verify Installation

To confirm that Homebrew is correctly installed, run:

brew doctor

If everything is set up correctly, you should see: Your system is ready to brew.

Step 7: Update Homebrew (Optional)

To keep Homebrew updated, run:

brew update

This ensures you always have the latest package versions.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully installed Homebrew on your Mac! Now, you can install packages using:

brew install package-name

Enjoy efficient package management with Homebrew! 🚀