Does it makes sense to use brew on ubuntu?

I am a macOS user, so I use https://brew.sh/ for everything.

As a Teacher, I have some students on Ubuntu and I want to provide some advices.

• Does it makes sense to use brew with Ubuntu or should I stay with apt-get?
• What are the main differences because I don't get it 😅

Solution 1:

I am a user of both macOS and Ubuntu and use both Homebrew (on macOS) and APT (on Ubuntu).

The purpose of both tools is similar. The difference is that APT¹ is native, required and fully integrated part of Ubuntu while Homebrew is a 3rd party addition.² And the most important difference from a user’s perspective is that they use different command syntax, although the tasks are quite similar.

If you are used to Homebrew, you can install it on your Ubuntu. However, if someone is a pure Ubuntu user, I’d absolutely encourage them to use their native tool – APT.

If you’re going to teach using a package system, you should learn the right syntax with the target tool first. It will be a little more work for you at the beginning³ but you can then teach the appropriate tool for the target system. The students should be able to operate the corresponding tool on their computers anyway. For example, if Ubuntu users try to find advice online, they will be definitely directed at APT. APT is also used to upgrade components of the OS.

And if you don’t know how to translate a particular Homebrew command to the APT syntax, don’t hesitate to ask!

¹apt-get is one of its parts and nowadays you can use just the apt command mostly.

² Homebrew is a 3rd party addition on both macOS and Ubuntu in fact.

³ Not that much if you know the principles of a package manager already.