Skill: homebrew

When to Use

• Install software, a tool, an app, or a package on macOS
• Install a programming language, database, or dev tool (e.g. node, python, redis, postgres, go, rust)
• Install a GUI/desktop application via

  brew install --cask

  (e.g. Chrome, Slack, Docker, VS Code)
• Search for available packages or check if something is installable via Homebrew
• List installed packages or check what's currently on the system
• Update Homebrew or upgrade installed packages
• Uninstall / remove a package
• Diagnose or fix Homebrew issues (

  brew doctor

  )
• Tap a new Homebrew repository
• Check info or version of an installed package

Prerequisites

• macOS only — Homebrew is a macOS package manager (also works on Linux but this skill targets Mac)
• Homebrew must be installed. If not, install it first:
  bash

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

Available Tool

brew

install

{"action": "install", "packages": ["node", "redis"]}

install_cask

{"action": "install_cask", "packages": ["google-chrome"]}

uninstall

{"action": "uninstall", "packages": ["node"]}

search

{"action": "search", "query": "python"}

info

{"action": "info", "packages": ["node"]}

list

{"action": "list"}

list_casks

{"action": "list_casks"}

update

{"action": "update"}

upgrade

{"action": "upgrade"}

upgrade

{"action": "upgrade", "packages": ["node"]}

doctor

{"action": "doctor"}

tap

{"action": "tap", "tap_name": "homebrew/cask-fonts"}

outdated

{"action": "outdated"}

Procedure

1. Check Homebrew is available: The

   brew

   tool will automatically verify Homebrew is installed before running any action. If not found, it will return instructions to install it.
2. Determine what to install: Extract the package name(s) from the user's request. If unclear, use

   ask_user

   to clarify.
3. Choose formulae vs cask: CLI tools use

   install

   , GUI apps (Chrome, Slack, Docker Desktop, etc.) use

   install_cask

   .
4. Execute: Call the

   brew

   tool with the appropriate action and parameters.
5. Report results: Confirm what was installed/updated/removed with version info where available.

Common Package Examples

CLI Tools & Languages (formulae)

node

python@3.12

python

php

go

rust

redis

postgresql@16

postgresql

mysql

git

ffmpeg

wget

jq

ripgrep

docker

GUI Apps (casks)

google-chrome

visual-studio-code

slack

docker

spotify

figma

iterm2

rectangle

1password

cursor

Example

install node and redis on my mac
I need ffmpeg installed
install google chrome
what packages do I have installed?
search for a markdown editor
update all my brew packages
is postgres installed?
install docker desktop