Homebrew is a [[BSD-2]] licensed secondary [[Package Manager]] written in [[Ruby]]. - [Source](https://github.com/Homebrew/brew) - [Source](https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-core/tree/main/Formula) ("formulae") # Notability Provides generally up-to-date packages that can be installed alongside an existing operating system. There aren't many other [[#Alternatives|options]] in this space. # Philosophy Homebrew has had issues for many years. The founder of the project has dipped their fingers into every scummy thing that's come along. It's really remarkable that Homebrew didn't completely burn down ages ago. ## Origin Originally developed for [[MacOS]] as an alternative to MacPorts. Written in [[Ruby]] and tending to be easier to use and have more up-to-date options than MacPorts it quickly became the defacto package manager on that system. Eventually it was modified to support [[Linux]] systems as well, where it can provide more packages that are more rapidly updated than most distros are able to. ## Cryptocurrency > Led by the creator of Homebrew Max Howell, tea is Homebrew’s spiritual successor. \- official "tea" website[^7] The founder of Homebrew also created "tea".[^6] A fantastically atrocious system that attempts to turn open-source into a popularity game with NFTs and cryptocurrency. It claims - incoherently - to be the replacement for Homebrew. It's website is also covered with tons of the most terrible generative [[Generative AI|Slop]] imagery that I've ever seen. ## Slop Homebrew is all-in on [[Generative AI|Slop]]. Its developers use [[Github Copilot]],[^5] [[Claude Slop]], and [[Cursor Slop]].[^4] ## App Signing Homebrew has decided[^1] to *remove* existing functionality that allows for self-signed apps to be installed via Casks.[^8] This forces all developers with Homebrew casks to pay Apple for the privilege of developing on their platform. Associated pull requests and discussions on the topic are typically quickly closed and/or locked. They're not interested in dissenting opinions.[^2] > I maintain a personal tap with unsigned software myself. \- `p-linnane` Homebrew maintainer admitting[^3] that they work around the issue that the maintainers themselves created ## Funding Homebrew takes in a lot of money in sponsorships and donations. The requirement to be listed in the readme is $100/mo, and there are 7 of those, plus at least 3 with logos which is $1000/mo and ~730 other supporters donating between $1 and $30 a month. Most of their infrastructure is donated or running on free-for-open-source-projects tiers, so presumably this money is going somewhere. # Resources ## Alternatives There aren't many alternatives. On [[MacOS]] you have [[MacPorts]] and on [[Linux]] you have [[Nix]]. # References [^1]: https://github.com/Homebrew/brew/issues/20755 [^2]: https://github.com/orgs/Homebrew/discussions/6482 [^3]: https://github.com/orgs/Homebrew/discussions/6482#discussioncomment-14943224 [^4]: https://github.com/Homebrew/brew/commit/f560d47b4ec37e97f01e180d49d2bbd2d9582f9f [^5]: https://github.com/Homebrew/brew/pull/21054#pullrequestreview-3460804277 [^6]: https://tea.xyz [^7]: https://tea.xyz/resources/about [^8]: https://brew.sh/2025/11/12/homebrew-5.0.0/