# Install a formula (CLI tool)
brew install node
brew install python
brew install git
Install a cask (GUI app)
brew install —cask visual-studio-code
brew install —cask firefox
brew install —cask docker
Uninstall
brew uninstall node
brew uninstall —cask firefox
Install specific version
brew install node@20

Formulas = CLI tools. Casks = GUI applications.

# Search
brew search node
brew search --cask chrome
brew search /regex/
Info about a package
brew info node
brew info —cask docker
See what’s installed
brew list
brew list —cask
brew list node          # Files installed by node

# Update Homebrew itself (fetch latest package info)
brew update
See what’s outdated
brew outdated
Upgrade everything
brew upgrade
Upgrade specific package
brew upgrade node
Upgrade casks
brew upgrade —cask
Pin a package (prevent upgrades)
brew pin node
brew unpin node
brew list —pinned

update = refresh the package list. upgrade = install newer versions.

# Remove old versions and cache
brew cleanup
See what would be cleaned (dry run)
brew cleanup -n
Remove packages that were only installed as dependencies
brew autoremove
Check disk usage
brew —cache          # Show cache directory
du -sh $(brew —cache)  # Cache size
Nuclear option: clear entire cache
rm -rf $(brew —cache)

Run brew cleanup periodically — old versions can eat gigabytes.

# List all services
brew services list
Start a service (runs on boot)
brew services start postgresql
brew services start redis
Stop a service
brew services stop postgresql
Restart
brew services restart postgresql
Run once (don’t start on boot)
brew services run postgresql

# Add a tap
brew tap hashicorp/tap
brew install hashicorp/tap/terraform
List taps
brew tap
Remove a tap
brew untap hashicorp/tap
Common taps
brew tap homebrew/cask-fonts    # Nerd Fonts, etc.
brew install —cask font-fira-code-nerd-font

# Check for problems
brew doctor
See where things are installed
brew —prefix           # /opt/homebrew (Apple Silicon) or /usr/local (Intel)
brew —prefix node      # Where node is installed
which node              # Which node is in PATH
Dependency info
brew deps node          # What node depends on
brew uses —installed node  # What depends on node
Reinstall (fix broken install)
brew reinstall node
Link/unlink (manage symlinks)
brew unlink node
brew link node
brew link —overwrite node

# Export everything to a Brewfile
brew bundle dump
Install everything from Brewfile
brew bundle
Check what’s missing
brew bundle check
Example Brewfile
Save as ~/Brewfile or in your dotfiles repo

# Brewfile
tap "homebrew/cask-fonts"

# CLI tools
brew "git"
brew "node"
brew "python"
brew "ripgrep"
brew "jq"
brew "tmux"

# Apps
cask "visual-studio-code"
cask "firefox"
cask "docker"
cask "iterm2"
cask "rectangle"

# Fonts
cask "font-fira-code-nerd-font"

Keep your Brewfile in a dotfiles repo. New Mac? Run brew bundle and you’re done.