brew/share/doc/homebrew/Interesting-Taps-&-Branches.md

Interesting Taps & Branches

A Tap is homebrew-speak for a git repository containing extra formulae. Homebrew has the capability to add (and remove) multiple taps to your local installation with the brew tap and brew untap command. Type man brew in your Terminal. The main repository https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew often called "Homebrew/homebrew" is always built-in.

Main Taps

• homebrew/science

  • A collection of scientific libraries and tools.

• homebrew/dupes

  • Need GDB or a newer Tk? System duplicates go here.

• homebrew/versions

  • Need e.g. older or newer versions of Python? Newer versions of GCC?

• homebrew/games

  • Game formulae.

• homebrew/apache

  • A tap for Apache modules, extending OS X's built-in Apache. These brews may require unconventional additional setup, as explained in the caveats.

• homebrew/headonly

  • A tap for brews that don't have stable versions.

• homebrew/php

  • Repository for php-related formulae.

• homebrew/python

  • A few Python formulae that do not build well with pip alone.

• homebrew/completions

  • Shell completion formulae.

• homebrew/x11

  • Formulae with hard X11 dependencies.

• homebrew/boneyard

  • Formula are not deleted, they are moved here.

• homebrew/nginx

  • Feature rich Nginx tap for modules

• homebrew/binary

  • Precompiled binary formulae.

brew search looks in these main taps and as well in Homebrew/homebrew. So don't worry about missing stuff. We will add other taps to the search as they become well maintained and popular.

You can be added as a maintainer for one of the Homebrew organization taps and aid the project! If you are interested write to our list: homebrew@librelist.com. We want your help!

Other Interesting Taps

• larsimmisch/avr

  • GNU AVR toolchain (avr-gcc etc. for Arduino hackers).

• titanous/gnuradio

  • GNU Radio and friends running on OS X.

• besport/ocaml

  • A tap for Ocaml libraries, though with caveats, it requires you install its customized ocaml formula. Perhaps a template for more work.

• nolith/embedded

  • Flashing tools for embedded devices and olsrd for mesh network routing.

• anarchivist/forensics

  • Digital forensics-related formulae; mostly head-only, binary-only, or unstable.

• petere/postgresql

  • Allows installing multiple PostgreSQL versions in parallel.

• iMichka/MacVTKITKPythonBottles

  • VTK and ITK binaries with Python wrapping.

• edavis/emacs

  • A tap for Emacs packages.

Interesting Branches (aka forks)

• mistydemeo/tigerbrew

  • Experimental Tiger PowerPC version

• codebutler

  • Preliminary support for GTK+ using the Quartz (native OS X) back-end

• paxan/linux

  • Experimental Linux version

• homebrew/linuxbrew

  • Experimental Linux version

• rmyers/homebrew

  • Experimental Solaris version

• nddrylliog/winbrew

  • Experimental Windows version

• wilmoore/homebrew-home

  • Homebrew install for those that like to Homebrew @ $HOME (i.e. ~/.homebrew).

Technical Details

Your taps are git repositories located at $(brew --prefix)/Library/Taps.