explaingit

krausefx/brewfile

Analysis updated 2026-07-05 · repo last pushed 2017-03-09

9RubyAudience · developerComplexity · 1/5DormantSetup · easy

TLDR

A personal list of Mac apps and command-line tools used by the author, shared as a reference for anyone setting up a new Mac.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Lists Mac apps
      Lists command-line tools
      Acts as a reference
    Tech stack
      Ruby
      Homebrew
      macOS
    Use cases
      Discover new apps
      Compare workflows
      Set up new Mac
    Audience
      Mac users
      Developers
      Tool curious people
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Code map

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Browse the list to discover new Mac apps and utilities.

USE CASE 2

Use the list as inspiration when setting up a new Mac.

USE CASE 3

Compare your own tool setup against another developer's preferences.

USE CASE 4

Look up unfamiliar tool names to find utilities that might improve your workflow.

What is it built with?

RubyHomebrew

How does it compare?

krausefx/brewfilemitchellh/minitest-speed100rabhg/railswatch
Stars9811
LanguageRubyRubyRuby
Last pushed2017-03-092011-09-15
MaintenanceDormantDormant
Setup difficultyeasyeasyeasy
Complexity1/52/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Requires Homebrew installed on macOS to actually use the Brewfile to install tools.

No license information is provided, so copyright defaults to the author with no guaranteed permissions.

In plain English

This repository is a personal list of software tools its author uses on a Mac. The project, called brewfile, serves as a public reference for anyone curious about the apps and utilities one developer finds valuable enough to keep installed. At a high level, it works by keeping track of programs installed through Homebrew, which is a popular package manager for macOS. A package manager is simply a tool that lets you install, update, and manage software from the command line instead of hunting down individual download links. The repository contains a list of standard command-line tools, as well as a separate list for full Mac applications. Someone might look at this repository if they are setting up a new Mac and want ideas for useful software. It acts like a colleague recommending their favorite tools. For example, a developer might browse the list to discover a utility that makes navigating files faster or an application for taking screenshots. However, the README does not go into detail about what each tool does, so a visitor would need to look up the individual names to learn about them. The project is notable simply because it is a personal preference list rather than a functional application. It does not run or build anything, it just stores text. While there are only a few stars on GitHub, the concept of sharing a setup like this is common among developers who want to compare workflows. You would treat it as a starting point for finding new tools rather than an authoritative guide.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
I found a developer's Brewfile with a list of Mac apps and CLI tools. Here is the list: [paste list]. For each item, give me a one-sentence description of what it does and why I might want it.
Prompt 2
I want to create my own Brewfile to share my Mac setup. Walk me through how to generate a Brewfile from my currently installed Homebrew packages and Mac App Store apps.
Prompt 3
Help me install everything from this Brewfile on a new Mac. What commands do I run with Homebrew to install both the command-line tools and the cask apps?

Frequently asked questions

What is brewfile?

A personal list of Mac apps and command-line tools used by the author, shared as a reference for anyone setting up a new Mac.

What language is brewfile written in?

Mainly Ruby. The stack also includes Ruby, Homebrew.

Is brewfile actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2017-03-09).

What license does brewfile use?

No license information is provided, so copyright defaults to the author with no guaranteed permissions.

How hard is brewfile to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is brewfile for?

Mainly developer.

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