Homebrew for Linux - Any good?

Coming from a Mac I’m well acquainted with Homebrew. Now, Homebrew for Linux exists as well. I am a bit hesitated to install it due to the odd install location /home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew

What is people’s experience with Homebrew on Rocky Linux? Are you happy with it? Is it any good? Does it provide the majority of the packages (they call it “formulas”) installable on the Mac?

Thanks for pointers!

Rhetorically, what is Homebrew?

Ideally, somebody else builds applications as “packages” that you package manager (in Apple or Rocky) can trivially install.

Alas, the “somebody else” are finite. Occasionally, there might be application that nobody has built for your platform. You have to get the source code, compile, and put the result somewhere so you can use the application. The Homebrew is toolset that automates that process (for some applications). It is not the only such toolset (for Linux). IIRC, the “package manager” of some distros installs all applications like that.

I said “ideally”. That hints that one should look for applications first from package repositories for Rocky. Then perhaps from “flatpaks”. Something like Homebrew sounds like almost the last resorts.


That does not look like “odd location”. It looks like “good location” to me. Clearly “user data” – separate from system files. With proper user permissions you can brew with your regular account. These “source builds” should never be done with root privileges. You want to contain them to protect the system.

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Generally a good point for sure. But there are tools which are not in Rocky’s repos. Sometimes the tool provides individual rpms, than I use them, but I do think Homebvrew has its place too. Lots of tools are published there!

Makes sense and is super valuable advice! Thanks heaps!

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