Homebrew vs. pkgsrc Comparison


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About The missing package manager for macOS (or Linux). The script explains what it will do and then pauses before it does it. Homebrew installs the stuff you need that Apple (or your Linux system) didn’t. Homebrew installs packages to their own directory and then symlinks their files into /usr/local (on macOS Intel). Homebrew won’t install files outside its prefix and you can place a Homebrew installation wherever you like. Trivially create your own Homebrew packages. It’s all Git and Ruby underneath, so hack away with the knowledge that you can easily revert your modifications and merge upstream updates. Homebrew formulae are simple Ruby scripts. Homebrew complements macOS (or your Linux system). Install your RubyGems with gem and their dependencies with brew. Homebrew Cask installs macOS apps, fonts and plugins and other non-open source software. Making a cask is as simple as creating a formula.	About pkgsrc is a framework for managing third-party software on UNIX-like systems, currently containing over 17,900 packages. It is the default package manager of NetBSD and SmartOS and can be used to enable freely available software to be built easily on a large number of other UNIX-like platforms. The binary packages that are produced by pkgsrc can be used without having to compile anything from the source. It can be easily used to complement the software on an existing system. pkgsrc is very versatile and configurable, supporting building packages for an arbitrary installation prefix, allowing multiple branches to coexist on one machine, a build options framework, and a compiler transformation framework, among other advanced features. Unprivileged use and installation are also supported. NetBSD already contains the necessary tools for using pkgsrc; on other platforms, you need to bootstrap pkgsrc to get the package management tools installed.
Platforms Supported Windows Not Supported Mac Supported Linux Supported Cloud Not Supported On-Premises Not Supported iPhone Not Supported iPad Not Supported Android Not Supported Chromebook Not Supported	Platforms Supported Windows Not Supported Mac Supported Linux Supported Cloud Not Supported On-Premises Not Supported iPhone Not Supported iPad Not Supported Android Not Supported Chromebook Not Supported
Audience Professional users in search of a solution to create and install packages to their own directory	Audience Users interested in a solution for managing third-party software on UNIX-like systems
Support Phone Support Not Supported 24/7 Live Support Not Supported Online Supported	Support Phone Support Not Supported 24/7 Live Support Not Supported Online Supported
API Offers API Supported	API Offers API Not Supported
Screenshots and Videos View more images or videos	Screenshots and Videos View more images or videos
Pricing Free Free Version Supported Free Trial Not Supported	Pricing Free Free Version Supported Free Trial Not Supported
Reviews/Ratings Overall 5.0 / 5 ease 5.0 / 5 features 5.0 / 5 design 4.0 / 5 support 4.0 / 5 Read all reviews	Reviews/Ratings Overall 0.0 / 5 ease 0.0 / 5 features 0.0 / 5 design 0.0 / 5 support 0.0 / 5 This software hasn't been reviewed yet. Be the first to provide a review: Review this Software
Pros & Cons from Real Users Pros Homebrew is a really easy way to install and upgrade various tools and packages on MacOS, for free. Its great for development, to make your mac a bit more like a linux box with common packages, GNU tools, etc. Its frequently updated so has lots of packages and quite recent versions of them. Cons Sometimes upgrading or installing one package triggers a lot of other packages to get upgraded too. Homebrew has its reasons for this, but it can be annoying when it takes a lot longer than you're expecting for just the package your interested in installing.
Training Documentation Supported Webinars Not Supported Live Online Not Supported In Person Not Supported	Training Documentation Supported Webinars Not Supported Live Online Not Supported In Person Not Supported
Company Information Homebrew brew.sh/	Company Information pkgsrc United States www.pkgsrc.org
Alternatives Fink	Alternatives Rudix
Rudix	NetBSD
ServBay	Fink
Homebrew Cask Homebrew	tcpdump
Updatest View All	Homebrew View All
Categories Package Managers Supported Software Deployment Supported	Categories Package Managers Supported

Integrations Caxton Supported Defang Supported Echidna Supported Fortran Package Manager Supported Git Supported Jumpcut Supported Koi Supported Koidex Supported Macsmith Supported NetBSD Not Supported OpenAPI Generator Supported Ruby Supported SOOS Supported Updatest Supported Xdebug Supported ent Supported gitleaks Supported illumos Not Supported { Gisto } Supported Show More Integrations View All 17 Integrations	Integrations Caxton Not Supported Defang Not Supported Echidna Not Supported Fortran Package Manager Not Supported Git Not Supported Jumpcut Not Supported Koi Not Supported Koidex Not Supported Macsmith Not Supported NetBSD Supported OpenAPI Generator Not Supported Ruby Not Supported SOOS Not Supported Updatest Not Supported Xdebug Not Supported ent Not Supported gitleaks Not Supported illumos Supported { Gisto } Not Supported Show More Integrations View All 2 Integrations
Claim Homebrew and update features and information Claim Homebrew and update features and information	Claim pkgsrc and update features and information Claim pkgsrc and update features and information