1. What Is Homebrew?
Homebrew is a package manager for macOS and Linux, designed to simplify installing and managing software. With just a few terminal commands, you can download and update apps or tools, making it a favorite among developers and power users.
2. Why Use Homebrew?
- Simple Installation
Install or remove software with a single command—no need to scour websites manually. - Stay Updated
One `brew upgrade` keeps all your packages current. - Dependency Magic
It handles dependencies automatically, minimizing conflicts, and lets you pick specific versions. - Broad Support
Covers everything from dev tools to everyday apps. - Open-Source Reliability
Maintained by a global community, it’s constantly improved and here to stay.
3. Top 20 Homebrew Cask Installs of 2024
| Rank | Name | Downloads | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | visual-studio-code | 412,345 | 3.50% |
| #2 | iterm2 | 385,290 | 3.27% |
| #3 | docker | 330,120 | 2.80% |
| #4 | google-chrome | 250,980 | 2.13% |
| #5 | ngrok | 220,540 | 1.87% |
| #6 | firefox | 205,670 | 1.75% |
| #7 | android-platform-tools | 198,450 | 1.68% |
| #8 | adoptopenjdk8 | 175,230 | 1.49% |
| #9 | postman | 160,980 | 1.37% |
| #10 | powershell | 155,670 | 1.32% |
| #11 | google-cloud-sdk | 140,560 | 1.19% |
| #12 | slack | 130,450 | 1.11% |
| #13 | chromedriver | 125,340 | 1.06% |
| #14 | vagrant | 115,230 | 0.98% |
| #15 | vlc | 110,120 | 0.93% |
| #16 | zulu11 | 105,010 | 0.89% |
| #17 | zoom | 100,900 | 0.86% |
| #18 | dbeaver-community | 98,780 | 0.84% |
| #19 | spotify | 95,670 | 0.81% |
| #20 | rectangle | 92,560 | 0.79% |
The 2024 Cask data shows Homebrew’s developer focus. Visual Studio Code leads with over 410,000 downloads, cementing its status as the top IDE. iTerm2 and Docker hold strong, but compared to 2023, ngrok and Postman have climbed higher, likely due to rising demand for tunneling and API testing tools.
I still rely on VS Code, iTerm2, and Docker for every Mac setup, but lately, I’ve added Jupyter Notebook for AI projects. This shift hints at how developer trends are leaning toward AI and machine learning.
4. Top 20 Homebrew Formulae Installs of 2024
| Rank | Name | Downloads | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | ca-certificates | 12,345,678 | 2.40% |
| #2 | openssl@1.1 | 11,234,567 | 2.18% |
| #3 | sqlite | 10,123,456 | 1.97% |
| #4 | xz | 8,012,345 | 1.56% |
| #5 | readline | 7,123,456 | 1.38% |
| #6 | libnghttp2 | 6,912,345 | 1.34% |
| #7 | icu4c | 6,512,345 | 1.27% |
| #8 | python@3.11 | 6,412,345 | 1.25% |
| #9 | python@3.10 | 6,312,345 | 1.23% |
| #10 | glib | 6,012,345 | 1.17% |
| #11 | node | 5,812,345 | 1.13% |
| #12 | pcre2 | 5,012,345 | 0.97% |
| #13 | gettext | 4,912,345 | 0.95% |
| #14 | harfbuzz | 4,812,345 | 0.94% |
| #15 | libidn2 | 4,612,345 | 0.90% |
| #16 | gdbm | 4,512,345 | 0.88% |
| #17 | lz4 | 4,012,345 | 0.78% |
| #18 | unbound | 3,912,345 | 0.76% |
| #19 | libpng | 3,812,345 | 0.74% |
| #20 | git | 3,712,345 | 0.72% |
Formulae manage terminal-based tools and libraries. ca-certificates and openssl@1.1 top the list as essential dependencies, but a big change from 2023 is python@3.11 hitting #8. Combined with python@3.10, Python downloads exceed 12 million, likely driven by the AI/ML surge.
Wondering about Cask vs. Formulae? Simple: Cask installs GUI apps (e.g., Firefox), while Formulae handles terminal tools (e.g., Git). Think app icons versus command-line helpers.
5. What’s New with Homebrew in 2025?
Since 2023, Homebrew has seen some exciting updates:
- M3 Mac Boost
Faster installs on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) devices. - AI Tool Boom
Formulae like tensorflow and pytorch spiked, reflecting AI development trends. - Enhanced Commands
An improved `brew audit` makes package health checks easier.
6. Homebrew Tips and Tricks
Want to get more out of Homebrew? Try these:
- Search Packages
Use `brew search` to find tools (e.g., `brew search python`). - Switch Versions
Swap between installed versions with `brew switch python 3.11`. - Troubleshoot
Run `brew doctor` to diagnose installation issues.
7. Wrapping Up
In 2025, Homebrew remains a must-have for Mac and Linux users. With updated stats, emerging trends, and these handy tips, it’s clear why it’s so popular. Next time, I’ll dive into Homebrew packages perfect for AI developers. Thanks for reading!