While older versions of macOS may work, they are not officially supported. You will need a macOS computer running Catalina or higher with administrative access and an internet connection. You’ll install system tools and desktop applications from the command line interface. In this tutorial you’ll install and use Homebrew on your Mac. You’ll use Homebrew to install developer tools like Python, Ruby, Node.js, and more.

Homebrew is a package manager for macOS which lets you install free and open-source software using your terminal. Package managers keep the software they install in a central location and can maintain all software packages on the system in formats that are commonly used. A package manager is a collection of software tools that work to automate software installations, configurations, and upgrades. While the command line interface on macOS has a lot of the functionality you’d find in Linux and other Unix systems, it does not ship with a package manager. The command line, also known as a shell, lets you automate many tasks you do on your computer daily, and is an essential tool for software developers. Instead of clicking buttons with your mouse, you’ll type commands as text and receive text-based feedback. The command line interface is a non-graphical way to interact with your computer.