HACKER Q&A
📣 yesenadam

Should I use Homebrew, Macports or something else?


I'll be upgrading to a "new" Mac today. I've been using Macports a few years, never had any problems at all...except it sometimes takes a long time, installs many different versions of dependencies. I assumed Homebrew would be better, but on reading about it today - it actually sounds worse in many ways, which was a real surprise. Sounds like it sometimes breaks things on your existing system with its upgrades! So am tilting towards staying with Macports. Keeping downloaded packages in a separate place seems sensible.

There's been discussion on HN about the two, but not for a while it seems. How have things changed lately with both? How do the pros and cons stand currently?

And is it possible to use both, or I have to choose one?

Thanks.


  👤 andymoe Accepted Answer ✓
There used to be issues with homebrew but I think many of them have been solved and it’s kinda been the de facto standard for the last several years. Brewfiles are pretty nice too. I can’t tell you about the cons compared to Mac ports because I stopped using it years ago.