Documentation/Labs/HomebrewCask

This page was created based on the discussion Add Slicer Nightly to Homebrew (macOS)

Definitions

Homebrew

Homebrew is "the missing package manager for macOS". It is designed for installing UNIX tools and other open-source applications. It will quickly download and install them, compiling them from source. It can install stuff like:

• vim
• ffmpeg
• python

Homebrew Cask

Homebrew Cask extends Homebrew with support for installing binary apps — the kind you normally drag to your Applications folder from DMG files. For example:

• 3D Slicer
• Google Chrome

Homebrew Versions

Homebrew Versions lets you install alternate versions of the apps from Homebrew Cask. For example:

• 3D Slicer Nightly
• Google Chrome Canary

Steps to update Slicer cask (for maintainers)

Setup

# Install homebrew
/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"

# Install cask-upgrade
brew tap buo/cask-upgrade

Update

This automatically creates a pull request in homebrew-versions to update the slicer-nightly cask (a Ruby script) with the new version.

cask-repair --cask-version 4.7.0.26273,676538 --fail-on-error --blind-submit slicer-nightly

Steps to upgrade Slicer app (for users)

Setup

# Install homebrew + homebrew-cask
/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"

# Tell brew to look also in homebrew-versions
brew tap caskroom/versions

# Install Slicer.app (nightly)
brew cask install slicer-nightly

Upgrade

# Download and install nightly version of Slicer.app
brew cask upgrade slicer-nightly