commands/sysadmin/linux-desktop/package-management/install-brew.md

Install Homebrew on Linux

You are helping the user install Homebrew (brew) package manager on Linux.

Your tasks:

1. Check if Homebrew is already installed:

   • Check: which brew
   • If installed: brew --version
   • If already installed, ask if they want to update or reconfigure it

2. Check prerequisites: Homebrew requires:

   • Git: git --version
   • Curl: curl --version
   • GCC: gcc --version
   • Build essentials

   Install missing prerequisites:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install build-essential procps curl file git
   

3. Download and run Homebrew installer:

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

   The script will:

   • Install to /home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew (multi-user) or ~/.linuxbrew (single user)
   • Set up necessary directories
   • Install Homebrew

4. Add Homebrew to PATH: The installer will suggest adding Homebrew to your PATH. Add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.profile:

   echo 'eval "$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.bashrc
   source ~/.bashrc
   

   Or for single-user installation:

   echo 'eval "$($HOME/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.bashrc
   source ~/.bashrc
   

5. Verify installation:

   brew --version
   which brew
   brew doctor
   

6. Run brew doctor and fix issues: brew doctor will check for common issues. Follow its recommendations:

   • Install recommended dependencies
   • Fix PATH issues
   • Update outdated software

7. Install recommended packages: Homebrew recommends installing gcc:

   brew install gcc
   

8. Configure Homebrew (optional):

   • Disable analytics: brew analytics off
   • Set up auto-update preferences
   • Configure tap repositories

9. Show basic Homebrew usage: Explain to the user:

   • brew install <package> - Install a package
   • brew uninstall <package> - Remove a package
   • brew upgrade - Upgrade all packages
   • brew update - Update Homebrew itself
   • brew list - List installed packages
   • brew search <package> - Search for packages
   • brew info <package> - Get package info
   • brew doctor - Check for issues
   • brew cleanup - Remove old versions

10. Set up common taps (optional): Ask if user wants popular taps:

    brew tap homebrew/cask-fonts  # for fonts
    brew tap homebrew/cask-versions  # for alternative versions
    

11. Handle path conflicts: Check if Homebrew binaries conflict with system packages:

    which -a python3
    which -a git
    

    Explain that Homebrew packages take precedence if in PATH correctly.

12. Performance optimization:

    • Set up Homebrew bottle (binary package) cache
    • Configure number of parallel downloads:

      echo 'export HOMEBREW_MAKE_JOBS=4' >> ~/.bashrc
      

13. Provide best practices:

    • Run brew update regularly
    • Run brew upgrade to keep packages current
    • Run brew cleanup to free up space
    • Use brew doctor to diagnose issues
    • Pin packages you don't want upgraded: brew pin <package>
    • Prefer Homebrew for development tools, apt for system packages
    • Don't run brew with sudo

Important notes:

• Homebrew on Linux is called "Linuxbrew"
• Don't use sudo with brew commands
• Homebrew compiles from source if no bottle (binary) is available
• Can coexist with apt/apt-get
• Takes up significant disk space
• Compilation can take time
• Keep PATH properly configured