my essential homebrew applications (2025)

My favorite package manager for macOS is Homebrew, which allows me to install and manage a wide range of command-line tools, programming languages (and desktop applications) apps. Here’s retracing the key Home Brew packages and casks I use for development, productivity and daily tasks.

1. development tools

bat: A cat clone with syntax highlighting and Git integration.
fzf: Command-line fuzzy finder for fast file and text searching.
go, go-task, goenv, golangci-lint: Go language, task runner, version management, and linter.
hadolint: Dockerfile linter for best practices.
hugo: Static site generator for building fast websites.
node, nvm, pnpm: Node.js, version management, and fast package management.
opentofu, terraform: Infrastructure as Code tools.
python@3.13, pipx: Python and isolated Python package execution.
php, php@8.1: PHP language support.
docker-compose, lima, qemu: Containerization and virtualization tools.

2. utilities & productivity

curl, fx: File transfer and JSON viewing from the terminal.
imagemagick, libsodium, icu4c@76: Image processing, cryptography, and Unicode support.
sevenzip, rar: File archivers for compression and extraction.
tmux: Terminal multiplexer for managing multiple sessions.
subversion: Version control system.
pandoc: Universal document converter.

3. ai & llms

ollama, tabby: Run and manage local large language models and AI coding assistants.

4. desktop applications (casks)

bitwarden: Secure password and login vault.
calibre: E-book management software.
gpt4all, msty, anythingllm, witsy: AI and LLM desktop clients.
grandperspective: Visual disk usage analyzer.
maccy: Clipboard manager.
monitorcontrol: Control external monitor brightness and volume.
ngrok: Secure tunnels to localhost.
podman-desktop: GUI for managing containers and images.
postman: API development and testing platform.
transmission: Open-source BitTorrent client.
utm: Virtual machines UI using QEMU.
vlc: Versatile multimedia player.
yacreader: Comic reader.
zed: Multiplayer code editor.

5. security & networking

lulu: Open-source firewall for outgoing connections.
git-credential-manager: Cross-platform Git credential storage.
localsend: AirDrop alternative for file sharing.

6. miscellaneous

algodoo: Physics simulation tool.
ente-auth: Desktop client for Ente Auth.
jordanbaird-ice, legcord, macfuse, mist, openmtp, raspberry-pi-imager: Various utilities for menu bar management, Discord, file systems, firmware, Android file transfer, and Raspberry Pi imaging.

why use homebrew?

Homebrew streamlines installation and management of both CLI tools and desktop apps, keeping my macOS environment consistent and up to date (whether I’m coding, managing infrastructure or just staying productive), these packages and casks are essential for my workflow.

If you’re implementing a new Mac or want to optimize your development environment, add some of these Homebrew apps to your toolkit!

my homebrewfile

Below is my actual Brewfile for reference:

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# homebrew bundle file
# for more information, see: https://github.com/homebrew/homebrew-bundle

tap "homebrew/bundle"
tap "homebrew/cask"
tap "ddev/ddev"
tap "go-task/tap"
tap "hashicorp/tap"
tap "tabbyml/tabby"

brew "bat"
brew "curl"
brew "docker-compose"
brew "fx"
brew "fzf"
brew "go"
brew "go-task"
brew "goenv"
brew "golangci-lint"
brew "hadolint"
brew "hugo"
brew "icu4c@76", link: true
brew "imagemagick"
brew "libsodium"
brew "lima"
brew "node", link: false
brew "nss"
brew "nvm"
brew "ollama", restart_service: :changed
brew "opentofu"
brew "pandoc"
brew "php"
brew "php@8.1"
brew "python@3.13"
brew "pipx"
brew "pnpm"
brew "qemu"
brew "sevenzip"
brew "subversion"
brew "tmux"
brew "ddev/ddev/ddev"
brew "hashicorp/tap/terraform"
brew "tabbyml/tabby/tabby"

cask "algodoo"
cask "amazon-q"
cask "anythingllm"
cask "bitwarden"
cask "calibre"
cask "ente-auth"
cask "git-credential-manager"
cask "gpt4all"
cask "grandperspective"
cask "jordanbaird-ice"
cask "legcord"
cask "localsend"
cask "lulu"
cask "maccy"
cask "macfuse"
cask "mist"
cask "monitorcontrol"
cask "ngrok"
cask "podman-desktop"
cask "postman"
cask "transmission"
cask "utm"
cask "vlc"
cask "witsy"
cask "yacreader"
cask "zed"

vscode "42crunch.vscode-openapi"
vscode "aaron-bond.better-comments"
vscode "actionforge.actionforge"
vscode "adpyke.vscode-sql-formatter"
vscode "alefragnani.bookmarks"
vscode "apollographql.vscode-apollo"
vscode "aswinkumar863.smarty-template-support"
vscode "be5invis.toml"
vscode "bmewburn.vscode-intelephense-client"
vscode "bradlc.vscode-tailwindcss"
vscode "caolin.java-run"
vscode "christian-kohler.npm-intellisense"
vscode "christian-kohler.path-intellisense"
vscode "codezombiech.gitignore"
vscode "continue.continue"
vscode "davidanson.vscode-markdownlint"
vscode "dbaeumer.vscode-eslint"
vscode "docker.docker"
vscode "donjayamanne.githistory"
vscode "dotjoshjohnson.xml"
vscode "eamodio.gitlens"
vscode "editorconfig.editorconfig"
vscode "esbenp.prettier-vscode"
vscode "exiasr.hadolint"
vscode "felipecaputo.git-project-manager"
vscode "firefox-devtools.vscode-firefox-debug"
vscode "formulahendry.code-runner"
vscode "foxundermoon.shell-format"
vscode "gamunu.opentofu"
vscode "georgewfraser.vscode-javac"
vscode "github.codespaces"
vscode "github.copilot"
vscode "github.copilot-chat"
vscode "github.github-vscode-theme"
vscode "github.remotehub"
vscode "github.vscode-github-actions"
vscode "github.vscode-pull-request-github"
vscode "golang.go"
vscode "google.geminicodeassist"
vscode "graphql.vscode-graphql"
vscode "graphql.vscode-graphql-syntax"
vscode "gruntfuggly.todo-tree"
vscode "hashicorp.terraform"
vscode "ibm.output-colorizer"
vscode "infracost.infracost"
vscode "iuyoy.highlight-string-code"
vscode "jasonlhy.hungry-delete"
vscode "johnpapa.vscode-peacock"
vscode "johnstoncode.svn-scm"
vscode "junstyle.php-cs-fixer"
vscode "k--kato.intellij-idea-keybindings"
vscode "kevinrose.vsc-python-indent"
vscode "loyieking.smalise"
vscode "lunuan.kubernetes-templates"
vscode "luongnd.edge"
vscode "mechatroner.rainbow-csv"
vscode "mermade.openapi-lint"
vscode "mhutchie.git-graph"
vscode "mikestead.dotenv"
vscode "mindaro-dev.file-downloader"
vscode "ms-azuretools.vscode-containers"
vscode "ms-azuretools.vscode-docker"
vscode "ms-edgedevtools.vscode-edge-devtools"
vscode "ms-kubernetes-tools.kind-vscode"
vscode "ms-kubernetes-tools.vscode-kubernetes-tools"
vscode "ms-playwright.playwright"
vscode "ms-python.debugpy"
vscode "ms-python.isort"
vscode "ms-python.python"
vscode "ms-python.vscode-pylance"
vscode "ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers"
vscode "ms-vscode.azure-repos"
vscode "ms-vscode.live-server"
vscode "ms-vscode.makefile-tools"
vscode "ms-vscode.remote-repositories"
vscode "ms-vscode.vscode-serial-monitor"
vscode "ms-vscode.vscode-speech"
vscode "ms-windows-ai-studio.windows-ai-studio"
vscode "mtxr.sqltools"
vscode "oderwat.indent-rainbow"
vscode "okteto.kubernetes-context"
vscode "orta.vscode-jest"
vscode "pflannery.vscode-versionlens"
vscode "prisma.prisma"
vscode "quicktype.quicktype"
vscode "rangav.vscode-thunder-client"
vscode "redhat.vscode-yaml"
vscode "redocly.openapi-vs-code"
vscode "ria.elastic"
vscode "saoudrizwan.claude-dev"
vscode "sburg.vscode-javascript-booster"
vscode "sebastianbille.iam-legend"
vscode "shd101wyy.markdown-preview-enhanced"
vscode "slevesque.vscode-multiclip"
vscode "sonarsource.sonarlint-vscode"
vscode "sourcegraph.cody-ai"
vscode "steoates.autoimport"
vscode "streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker"
vscode "streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker-french"
vscode "supermaven.supermaven"
vscode "surendrajat.apklab"
vscode "tabbyml.vscode-tabby"
vscode "tamasfe.even-better-toml"
vscode "tomoki1207.pdf"
vscode "unifiedjs.vscode-mdx"
vscode "usernamehw.errorlens"
vscode "visualstudioexptteam.intellicode-api-usage-examples"
vscode "visualstudioexptteam.vscodeintellicode"
vscode "visualstudioexptteam.vscodeintellicode-completions"
vscode "vscjava.vscode-gradle"
vscode "vscjava.vscode-java-debug"
vscode "vscjava.vscode-java-dependency"
vscode "vscjava.vscode-maven"
vscode "vscodevim.vim"
vscode "wakatime.vscode-wakatime"
vscode "whatwedo.twig"
vscode "wix.vscode-import-cost"
vscode "xdebug.php-debug"
vscode "xyz.local-history"
vscode "yatki.vscode-surround"
vscode "yinfei.luahelper"
vscode "zainchen.json"
vscode "zxh404.vscode-proto3"