Homebrew Commands Cheat Sheet: 25 Essential Commands

homebrew commands cheat sheet

Homebrew — or simply brew — is the most popular package manager for macOS developers. This homebrew commands cheat sheet will help you install, update, and manage tools easily.

Whether you’re setting up a new Mac or maintaining your dev environment, this guide covers everything you need.

Homebrew Basics (Keep It Updated)

brew --version
brew update
brew upgrade
brew upgrade <package>

💡 Pro Tip:

alias brewup='brew update && brew upgrade && brew autoremove && brew cleanup'

Search & Info Commands

brew search <keyword>
brew search /^go/
brew info <package>
brew list --versions <package>

Install & Uninstall Packages

brew install <package>
brew install <package>@<version>
brew reinstall <package>
brew uninstall <package>
brew uninstall --force <package>

Manage Multiple Versions

brew install node@20
brew link node@20
brew unlink node@20
brew switch node 20.11.1

List & Dependencies

brew list
brew list --formulae
brew list --cask
brew leaves
brew deps --installed --tree
brew autoremove

Manage Services

brew services list
brew services start postgresql
brew services stop postgresql
brew services restart redis
brew services cleanup

Cleanup & Fix Issues

brew cleanup
brew cleanup -n
brew autoremove
brew doctor

Install GUI Apps (Casks)

brew install --cask visual-studio-code
brew install --cask docker
brew install --cask warp
brew upgrade --cask

Popular Developer Tools

  • VS Code
  • Docker / OrbStack
  • Warp Terminal
  • Raycast
  • Postman
  • iTerm2

Taps (Extra Repositories)

brew tap homebrew/cask-versions
brew tap homebrew/cask-fonts
brew untap <tap-name>

Quick Commands

brew update && brew upgrade && brew autoremove && brew cleanupbrew install git node python jq yq tree wget htop

Internal Links (IMPORTANT for SEO)

https://theeasymaster.com/virtual-host-macos-homebrew/
Build Project Using Docker: A Step-by-Step Guide


External Resources

Brew sh
Docs Brew sh


Conclusion

This homebrew commands cheat sheet is a must-have for developers. It helps you manage your macOS environment efficiently and saves time.