How to Effectively Install Homebrew on Your Mac
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Getting Started with Homebrew
Homebrew is an incredibly valuable tool that simplifies the process of installing software packages that may be absent from your Mac or Linux system, which you might require for various projects. It organizes these packages in their respective directories while creating symlinks to the files in /usr/local.
For example, if you wish to install the command-line system monitor tool, htop, which is quite handy, you can simply execute the following command:
$ brew install htop
Now, let's dive into the installation process.
Installation Steps for Homebrew
- Locate the terminal command on the homepage and copy it to your clipboard. Below is the command as of 8/3/22, though it may be updated in the future:
- After executing the command, you’ll see a prompt like this. Press the RETURN or ENTER key to proceed:
==> Checking for sudo access (which may request your password)...
Password:
==> This script will install:
/opt/homebrew/bin/brew
...
Press RETURN/ENTER to continue or any other key to abort:
- Depending on your internet connection speed, the installation may take a little while. Eventually, you should see a message indicating a successful installation:
Warning: /opt/homebrew/bin is not in your PATH.
Instructions on how to configure your shell for Homebrew
can be found in the 'Next steps' section below.
==> Installation successful!
- To ensure Homebrew operates correctly, you need to add it to your PATH. Execute the following commands in your terminal:
echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> /Users/yourname/.zprofile
eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"
- Now you can use brew install seamlessly. If you forget to add it to your PATH, you will encounter an error like this when trying to run brew:
$ brew install something
zsh: command not found: brew
After you have completed these steps, your installation will be complete, and you'll be ready to brew!
Video: How to Install Homebrew on Mac
This video guides you through the process of installing Homebrew on a Mac, ensuring you don't miss any crucial steps.
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