Skill: homebrew
When to Use
Use this skill when the user asks to:
- 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
Available Tool
The brew tool is registered as a core tool. Use it directly:
| Action |
Tool Input |
Description |
install |
{"action": "install", "packages": ["node", "redis"]} |
Install one or more formulae |
install_cask |
{"action": "install_cask", "packages": ["google-chrome"]} |
Install GUI apps via cask |
uninstall |
{"action": "uninstall", "packages": ["node"]} |
Remove installed packages |
search |
{"action": "search", "query": "python"} |
Search for available packages |
info |
{"action": "info", "packages": ["node"]} |
Get detailed info about a package |
list |
{"action": "list"} |
List all installed formulae |
list_casks |
{"action": "list_casks"} |
List all installed cask apps |
update |
{"action": "update"} |
Update Homebrew itself |
upgrade |
{"action": "upgrade"} |
Upgrade all outdated packages |
upgrade |
{"action": "upgrade", "packages": ["node"]} |
Upgrade specific packages |
doctor |
{"action": "doctor"} |
Diagnose Homebrew issues |
tap |
{"action": "tap", "tap_name": "homebrew/cask-fonts"} |
Add a third-party repo |
outdated |
{"action": "outdated"} |
Show packages with updates available |
Procedure
- 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.
- Determine what to install: Extract the package name(s) from the user's request. If unclear, use
ask_user to clarify.
- Choose formulae vs cask: CLI tools use
install, GUI apps (Chrome, Slack, Docker Desktop, etc.) use install_cask.
- Execute: Call the
brew tool with the appropriate action and parameters.
- Report results: Confirm what was installed/updated/removed with version info where available.
Common Package Examples
CLI Tools & Languages (formulae)
| Request |
Package Name |
| "install node" |
node |
| "install Python" |
python@3.12 or python |
| "install PHP" |
php |
| "install Go" |
go |
| "install Rust" |
rust |
| "install Redis" |
redis |
| "install PostgreSQL" |
postgresql@16 or postgresql |
| "install MySQL" |
mysql |
| "install Git" |
git |
| "install FFmpeg" |
ffmpeg |
| "install wget" |
wget |
| "install jq" |
jq |
| "install ripgrep" |
ripgrep |
| "install Docker CLI" |
docker |
GUI Apps (casks)
| Request |
Cask Name |
| "install Chrome" |
google-chrome |
| "install VS Code" |
visual-studio-code |
| "install Slack" |
slack |
| "install Docker Desktop" |
docker (cask) |
| "install Spotify" |
spotify |
| "install Figma" |
figma |
| "install iTerm" |
iterm2 |
| "install Rectangle" |
rectangle |
| "install 1Password" |
1password |
| "install Cursor" |
cursor |
Example
Example requests that trigger this skill:
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
1---2name: homebrew3description: Install, manage, and search for software packages on macOS using Homebrew. Use this skill when the user asks to install software, apps, CLI tools, developer utilities, programming languages, databases, or any package on a Mac. Supports formulae (CLI tools) and casks (GUI apps). Can also search, update, upgrade, uninstall, and diagnose Homebrew issues.4---56# Skill: homebrew78## When to Use910Use this skill when the user asks to:1112- Install software, a tool, an app, or a package on macOS13- Install a programming language, database, or dev tool (e.g. node, python, redis, postgres, go, rust)14- Install a GUI/desktop application via `brew install --cask` (e.g. Chrome, Slack, Docker, VS Code)15- Search for available packages or check if something is installable via Homebrew16- List installed packages or check what's currently on the system17- Update Homebrew or upgrade installed packages18- Uninstall / remove a package19- Diagnose or fix Homebrew issues (`brew doctor`)20- Tap a new Homebrew repository21- Check info or version of an installed package2223## Prerequisites2425- **macOS only** — Homebrew is a macOS package manager (also works on Linux but this skill targets Mac)26- Homebrew must be installed. If not, install it first:27 ```bash28 /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"29 ```3031## Available Tool3233The `brew` tool is registered as a core tool. Use it directly:3435| Action | Tool Input | Description |36| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ |37| `install` | `{"action": "install", "packages": ["node", "redis"]}` | Install one or more formulae |38| `install_cask` | `{"action": "install_cask", "packages": ["google-chrome"]}` | Install GUI apps via cask |39| `uninstall` | `{"action": "uninstall", "packages": ["node"]}` | Remove installed packages |40| `search` | `{"action": "search", "query": "python"}` | Search for available packages |41| `info` | `{"action": "info", "packages": ["node"]}` | Get detailed info about a package |42| `list` | `{"action": "list"}` | List all installed formulae |43| `list_casks` | `{"action": "list_casks"}` | List all installed cask apps |44| `update` | `{"action": "update"}` | Update Homebrew itself |45| `upgrade` | `{"action": "upgrade"}` | Upgrade all outdated packages |46| `upgrade` | `{"action": "upgrade", "packages": ["node"]}` | Upgrade specific packages |47| `doctor` | `{"action": "doctor"}` | Diagnose Homebrew issues |48| `tap` | `{"action": "tap", "tap_name": "homebrew/cask-fonts"}` | Add a third-party repo |49| `outdated` | `{"action": "outdated"}` | Show packages with updates available |5051## Procedure52531. **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.542. **Determine what to install**: Extract the package name(s) from the user's request. If unclear, use `ask_user` to clarify.553. **Choose formulae vs cask**: CLI tools use `install`, GUI apps (Chrome, Slack, Docker Desktop, etc.) use `install_cask`.564. **Execute**: Call the `brew` tool with the appropriate action and parameters.575. **Report results**: Confirm what was installed/updated/removed with version info where available.5859## Common Package Examples6061### CLI Tools & Languages (formulae)6263| Request | Package Name |64| -------------------- | ------------------------------- |65| "install node" | `node` |66| "install Python" | `python@3.12` or `python` |67| "install PHP" | `php` |68| "install Go" | `go` |69| "install Rust" | `rust` |70| "install Redis" | `redis` |71| "install PostgreSQL" | `postgresql@16` or `postgresql` |72| "install MySQL" | `mysql` |73| "install Git" | `git` |74| "install FFmpeg" | `ffmpeg` |75| "install wget" | `wget` |76| "install jq" | `jq` |77| "install ripgrep" | `ripgrep` |78| "install Docker CLI" | `docker` |7980### GUI Apps (casks)8182| Request | Cask Name |83| ------------------------ | -------------------- |84| "install Chrome" | `google-chrome` |85| "install VS Code" | `visual-studio-code` |86| "install Slack" | `slack` |87| "install Docker Desktop" | `docker` (cask) |88| "install Spotify" | `spotify` |89| "install Figma" | `figma` |90| "install iTerm" | `iterm2` |91| "install Rectangle" | `rectangle` |92| "install 1Password" | `1password` |93| "install Cursor" | `cursor` |9495## Example9697Example requests that trigger this skill:9899```100install node and redis on my mac101I need ffmpeg installed102install google chrome103what packages do I have installed?104search for a markdown editor105update all my brew packages106is postgres installed?107install docker desktop108```
dalehurley