The alternative Mac package manager homebrew is an Eldorado for all friends of sophisticated software discovery. The only downside: To use the homebrew interface, you need to be reasonably proficient in using the Mac terminal. The open-source app Applite steps into the breach here: It provides a convenient graphical user interface that makes it easy for you to discover, install, and update homebrew programs.
Homebrew, only prettier
I like homebrew, but tend to need a complete re-learn how to use the command line commands after a few months of not using it. If you feel the same way, Applite is the perfect match. The tool offers a tidy and well thought-out graphical user interface for homebrew use.
You can search the entire homebrew range, use app recommendations in different categories and install and update the apps with just a few clicks and throw them off your Mac if you don't like them - everything is optimized for mouse nudges ;-
Apple is in turn Open Source and can optionally be used by the Program homepage or – of course – installed using the homebrew command. The latter reads:
brew install --cask applite
This is how you use the graphical interface for Homebrew on the Mac
Using Applite is refreshingly easy. When you start it for the first time, the program asks whether you have already installed Homebrew on your Mac. If this is not the case, Applite will guide you through the necessary steps.
You will then land on the homepage. Here the package manager presents you with a number of interesting homebrew apps that you can install immediately. You can click through categories on the left. Of course, the programs shown here are only part of the homebrew experience.
You can browse the entire homebrew catalog using the search function. Installed programs can then be found in the area Installed, available updates that you can also install directly, similarly under Updates.
Applite: hook and eye
Of course, Applite is not completely perfect. For example, there is a lack of detailed descriptions of the available homebrew casks - which in turn is due to the fact that these are simply not part of the homebrew system.
Also, Applite doesn't automatically detect homebrew apps that are already installed. If a program from the homebrew universe is already available on your Mac, its update maintenance is not automatically taken over by homebrew. If you want to change that, you can force the installation. To do this, click on the arrow next to the program icon and select force install.
The tool also does not identify commercial programs that can be installed via homebrew, nor does it provide any price information. If in doubt, use the buttons to visit the developers' websites to check the prices. It should also be mentioned at this point that Applite requires macOS 13 (Ventura); older macOS versions are unfortunately left out.
Top addition for homebrew fans
Despite these limitations, I no longer want to be without Applite on my MacBook. Yes, I know, the command line is absolutely great and all, but for casual homebrew users like me, Applite is a real blessing.
The tool (which I use in the great, by the way Mac Apps Subreddit discovered) is still quite young and may have one or two additional functions in the future.
Would you like more tips and tricks about the Mac and macOS? Do we have! Simply this direction, please :-)
