Homebrew
⚙️ Dev Tools & IDEsThe missing package manager for macOS. Install anything from the command line. First thing every Mac dev sets up.
Our Take
Homebrew is the package manager that macOS should ship with but doesn't. One command to install Node, Python, PostgreSQL, FFmpeg, or basically any CLI tool you can think of. Casks extend it to GUI apps — install Chrome, VS Code, or Figma from the terminal. It handles updates, dependencies, and cleanup. If you're setting up a Mac for development and don't install Homebrew first, you're making everything harder for yourself.
What we like
- Installs virtually any developer tool with a single command — no hunting for download pages
- Casks handle GUI applications too — one-command installs for Chrome, Slack, VS Code
- Brewfile lets you version-control your entire machine setup for reproducible environments
- Massive community maintains thousands of formulae with regular updates
Where it falls short
- Installs into /opt/homebrew on Apple Silicon which occasionally confuses tools expecting /usr/local
- brew update && brew upgrade can break things if a major version bumps unexpectedly
- Compilation from source for some packages is slow — binary bottles aren't available for everything
Verdict
Homebrew isn't optional — it's a prerequisite for developing on Mac. Install it before anything else on a new machine. The only real question is whether you also want a Brewfile in your dotfiles repo (you do).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Homebrew free?
Yes, Homebrew is completely free to use.
What are the best Homebrew alternatives?
Popular alternatives to Homebrew in the Dev Tools & IDEs category include VS Code, Docker, GitHub, CodeSandbox, GitBook. Each has different strengths depending on your specific needs and budget.
How much does Homebrew cost?
Free and open-source.
Is Homebrew worth it in 2026?
Homebrew isn't optional — it's a prerequisite for developing on Mac. Install it before anything else on a new machine. The only real question is whether you also want a Brewfile in your dotfiles repo (you do).
The Dev Tools & IDEs Landscape
There are 27 tools in the Dev Tools & IDEs category on Fewer Tools. Our top pick is VS Code. The right choice depends on your stage, budget, and specific needs.
The code editor. Extensions for everything, built-in terminal, Git integration. Free, fast, universal.
Containers that work everywhere. Package your app and its dependencies into one portable unit. DevOps essential.
Where code lives. Version control, CI/CD, project management, and the world's largest open source community.
Browser-based dev environment. Share a running app with a link. Perfect for prototyping and collaboration.
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