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ZSH: command not found: brew - 2023 Update

ZSH: command not found: brew

If you are a Mac user trying to install Homebrew to install packages, you might have encountered the "ZSH: command not found: brew" error.

This error message indicates that your system cannot find the Homebrew command. In this article, I will explore what this error means and how you can troubleshoot and fix it.

What is the "ZSH: command not found: brew" error?

What do the error message and error code mean?

The "ZSH: command not found: brew" error indicates that your Mac terminal cannot find the Homebrew package manager, which is required for installing various software on Macs. This error message is typically accompanied by the "command not found" error code. The error code means that the shell program you are using, in this case, Zsh, does not recognize the "brew" command you are trying to execute.

What causes the "ZSH: command not found: brew" error?

There can be several causes for the "ZSH: command not found: brew" error:

  • The Homebrew package manager is not installed on your Mac.
  • The Homebrew directory is not included in your "PATH" environment variable.
  • There is a problem with the Zsh configuration file.
  • You are using an outdated version of Homebrew.
  • There could be a corruption issue with the Homebrew installation.

How do I debug this error?

Debugging the "ZSH: command not found: brew" error can involve several steps:

1. The first thing you need to do is to type "brew" in the terminal and hit enter. If Homebrew is not installed, you will see an error message such as "command not found". If Homebrew is already installed and you cannot access it, then you need to troubleshoot the issue.

2. Check if your Mac's PATH environment variable includes Homebrew's directory. You can check this by typing "echo $PATH" in the terminal. If the PATH variable does not include the Homebrew directory, you must add it.

3. Check if the Zsh configuration file is properly set up. The configuration file for Zsh is identified as "zshrc" or "zprofile". Ensure that the Homebrew directory is mentioned in one of these files.

4. Check if you have the latest version of Homebrew installed. You can check this by running the command "brew update" in the terminal.

How to fix the "ZSH: command not found: brew" error?

Check if Homebrew is installed

To check if Homebrew is installed on your Mac, you can use the following command in the terminal:

brew --v

If Homebrew is installed, you should see the version number. If you get a "command not found" error message, then you need to install Homebrew.

Reinstall Homebrew

If you have Homebrew installed and it still isn't working, you may need to reinstall it. To do this, copy and paste the following command into your terminal:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install.sh)"

This command downloads and runs the installation script for Homebrew. Once the installation is complete, you should be able to use Homebrew without any issues.

Set up Homebrew's path in Zshrc file

The Zsh configuration file "zshrc" is a configuration script for Zsh. You can add the path to Homebrew's directory to this file by typing the following command in the terminal:

echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc

If you use bash instead of zsh, use the following command:

echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bash_profile

This command will append the path to Homebrew's directory to the bottom of the Zsh configuration file.

How to install Homebrew on macOS?

What are the system requirements for installing Homebrew on macOS?

To install Homebrew on your Mac, your system should meet the following requirements:

  • Mac operating system with Intel CPU or Apple Silicon CPU (MacOS Big Sur/Monterey and above)
  • Xcode command line tools or Command Line Tools (CLT) for Xcode installed
  • A stable internet connection

The M1 Macs require additional steps discussed below.

How to install Homebrew on macOS?

To install Homebrew on your Mac, copy and paste the following command into your terminal:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

This command downloads and runs the installation script for Homebrew. Follow the prompts that appear on your screen to complete the installation process.

How to verify if Homebrew is installed correctly?

To verify if Homebrew is installed on your Mac, you can use the following command in the terminal:

brew doctor

This command verifies the installation and provides feedback on any potential issues with your installation.

How to fix Homebrew errors on a Mac?

"Warning: You have unlinked kegs in your Cellar" Error

This warning message occurs when Homebrew detects packages that have been unlinked from their formula. To fix this error, use the following command:

brew link {package_name}

"Error: homebrew-core is a shallow clone" Error

This error message is caused when you are trying to update Homebrew and your Homebrew-core repository is not up-to-date. To fix this error, you need to run the following command:

git -C "$(brew --repo homebrew/core)" fetch --unshallow

This command performs a deep clone of the Homebrew-core repository.

"Invalid active developer path" Error

This error message typically appears after you have updated your macOS. To fix this error, you need to install the Xcode command line tools by running the following command:

xcode-select --install

How to use Homebrew commands in Terminal?

How to use the " brew install" command?

The "brew install" command is used to install packages using Homebrew. To use this command, type the following command in your terminal:

brew install {package_name}

This command installs the specified package using Homebrew.

What is the "brew help" command and how to use it?

The "brew help" command lists all the available commands that can be used with Homebrew. To use this command, type the following command in your terminal:

brew help

This command lists all the available Homebrew commands.

How to use the "brew doctor" command?

The "brew doctor" command is used to diagnose any issues with Homebrew. It scans your system to ensure that Homebrew is installed correctly and that all dependencies are satisfied. To use this command, type the following command in your terminal:

brew doctor

This command diagnoses any issues with your Homebrew installation and provides feedback.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to fix the "ZSH: command not found: brew" error and start using Homebrew on your Mac. If you cannot find the answer you're looking for through this tutorial, you can try searching on forums like Github, Stack Overflow, and asking experienced programmers for help.

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FAQs

What is ZSH?

ZSH, short for Z shell, is a Unix shell designed for interactive use.

What is Homebrew?

Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that simplifies the installation of software and tools.

What does 'command not found: brew' mean?

This error message indicates that the system cannot find the Homebrew command-line tool.

How do I fix the 'command not found: brew' error?

You can try reinstalling Homebrew, updating your PATH variable, or checking your system for any conflicts with other package managers.

Why is Homebrew not working on my Mac?

There could be several reasons for this, such as outdated packages, permission issues, or conflicts with other software.

How do I install Homebrew on macOS?

You can install Homebrew by running a command in the terminal. Visit the Homebrew website for more detailed instructions.

Can I use Homebrew on Linux or Windows?

While Homebrew is primarily designed for macOS, there are ways to use it on Linux or Windows through virtualization or other tools.

What are some useful Homebrew packages?

Some popular Homebrew packages include Git, Node.js, Python, and Ruby.

How do I update Homebrew packages?

You can update Homebrew packages by running the 'brew update' and 'brew upgrade' commands in the terminal.

Is Homebrew safe to use?

Homebrew is generally considered safe to use, but like any software, it's important to keep it updated and be cautious when installing new packages from untrusted sources.

What does “ZSH: command not found: brew” mean?

This error message indicates that the system has failed to locate the “brew” command in the specified path.

How can I fix the “ZSH: command not found: brew” error on my Mac?

To fix this error, you can follow these steps:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Type “brew” and press enter.
  • If the error message appears again, try running “echo ’export PATH=”/usr/local/bin:$PATH“’ >> ~/.bash_profile“ command.
  • If you are using ZSH instead of Bash, use the ~/.zshrc file instead of ~/.bash_profile.
  • Restart the terminal and try running “brew” again.

What is the cause of the “ZSH: command not found: brew” error on my Mac?

This error occurs when the system cannot locate the “brew” command in the path specified by the user.

How can I change from ZSH to Bash?

You can switch from ZSH to Bash by running this command “chsh -s /bin/bash”. Then, restart the terminal.

What is causing the “ZSH: command not found: brew” error on my M1 Mac?

The default shell on an M1 Mac is ZSH, and there may be compatibility issues with some commands. You can switch to the Bash shell if you are experiencing issues by following the steps mentioned earlier.

I have installed Homebrew, but I still get the “ZSH: command not found: brew” error message. How do I fix this?

In some cases, installing Homebrew may not update the PATH variable in the ~/.bash_profile file. You can fix this by running the following command: “export PATH=”/usr/local/bin:$PATH““.

How can I uninstall Homebrew?

To uninstall Homebrew, run the following command: "ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/uninstall)"". Note that this will also uninstall any packages you have installed using Homebrew.

How can I add Homebrew to my system?

You can install Homebrew by running this command in the terminal: "/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"".

I am receiving an error on MacOS Catalina when trying to install Homebrew. What can I do?

If you are experiencing issues installing Homebrew on MacOS Catalina, you can try running this command "xcode-select --install". It will install the required xcode package.

What is the difference between /usr/local/bin and /usr/bin on a Mac?

The /usr/local/bin directory is reserved for locally installed software, while /usr/bin is used for default software provided by the operating system.

Can I recover lost data after running the uninstall command for Homebrew without leaving any cache?

No, once you have uninstalled Homebrew without leaving any cache, any data related to Homebrew will be permanently deleted, and it cannot be recovered using conventional methods.

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Ruslan Osipov
Author: Ruslan Osipov