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I’m the project leader for Homebrew and have been maintaining it for 12 years. I have no planned dramatic changes for it or expectations I’ll radically improve

I’m the project leader for Homebrew and have been maintaining it for 12 years. I have no planned dramatic changes for it or expectations I’ll radically improve it in any way. I just try to keep all parts of the project ticking along and I still enjoy doing so, despite feeling no real obligation to continue.

shishironline 5y ago
You have done a great job, and helped innumerable developers along the way. Thanks
AussieWog93 5y ago
Possibly dumb question, but have you considered looking for a successor to take over the project? Homebrew has basically reached the point where it's "critical infrastructure" for macOS devs, and it would really be a damn shame to see it slowly fade away just because the creator has moved onto other things.
- Centigonal 5y ago
  I think you may be misunderstanding GP's clarity around the intended scope of the project with a lack of enthusiasm about maintaining the project. Homebrew is critical infrastructure, which is exactly why it shouldn't change dramatically. Now, if GP has lost interest in the project, or doesn't have the time to keep it running satisfactorily, I'd definitely agree with you - but I didn't get that impression from his post.
  - telesilla 5y ago
    If I understand correctly, it's not about losing interest but ensuring there is a successor for when GP wishes to step back or is forced to do so. The community should acknowledge this and fund training and possibly salary for who's next.
    - mikemcquaid 5y ago
      I’ve been working on finding a successor and ensuring the project has a bus factor of more than one for at least. The latter has been solved but the prior won’t until I step down, despite my best efforts otherwise.
- sneak 5y ago
  It's not critical infrastructure. There are better alternatives, even, that are a quick and painless install process away. For example, nixpkgs is competitive with it, and does not include the Google phone-home supercookie tracking spyware that is on by default without consent in every Homebrew installation, and works great on macOS. Homebrew could disappear tomorrow and nothing extremely bad would happen. That can't be said for the power grid or water system. Tossing around the term "critical infrastructure" for things that are important but very sub-critical is hyperbole that waters down the (important) term to meaninglessness.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - hw 5y ago
    I bumped into a lion in the forest the other day that was aghast and somehow offended and told me the same thing when I mentioned that power grids and water systems were critical infrastructure.
- mikemcquaid 5y ago
  Many times. I haven’t found one yet whom I felt would take over everything I do. Given I still enjoy it, it feels like there’s no need to reduce the number of humans working on the project in the hope that it’ll encourage someone else to step up and do more.
sunsetMurk 5y ago
So casual :-) I use Homebrew every day. Thank you for the the incredible work in keeping things ticking along. And congrats on still enjoying it!
arbitrage 5y ago
You do great work. Can I buy you a $DRINK for your dedication?
thecleaner 5y ago
If you don't make money off of it, you really should. I'll definitely try to make my employer pay for it. Homebrew is quite important piece of tooling. Thank you for making it.
zachwill 5y ago
You’ve done an unbelievable job, Mike!
fredley 5y ago
Can you invert a binary tree on a whiteboard though?
- amarshall 5y ago
  For context: https://twitter.com/mxcl/status/608682016205344768 https://twitter.com/mxcl/status/608682016205344768
slinger 5y ago
I've been using homebrew for almost 10 years and I just wanted to say thank you for your amazing work!
sgt 5y ago
Homebrew has made a difference to me and dozens of other developers I personally know, and probably hundreds of thousands world wide. Thanks for your efforts.
Ancalagon 5y ago
Is there a donation link or something for homebrew? I can't believe such a popular tool is not making you guys money.
- johnnypangs 5y ago
  https://github.com/homebrew/brew#donations https://github.com/homebrew/brew#donations
llampx 5y ago
This is like meeting a celebrity. Awesome work on homebrew!
contingencies 5y ago
If there's anyone at Apple reading, pay this guy.
- mikemcquaid 5y ago
  They provide help and CI hardware. I have no desire to be either employed by Apple or work on Homebrew for a living (currently, at least).
  - contingencies 5y ago
    Glad you are being supported in the manner to which you have become accustomed! When you retire maybe ask for a donation. I doubt they'd say no.

shishironline 5y ago

You have done a great job, and helped innumerable developers along the way. Thanks

AussieWog93 5y ago

Possibly dumb question, but have you considered looking for a successor to take over the project? Homebrew has basically reached the point where it's "critical infrastructure" for macOS devs, and it would really be a damn shame to see it slowly fade away just because the creator has moved onto other things.

Centigonal 5y ago
I think you may be misunderstanding GP's clarity around the intended scope of the project with a lack of enthusiasm about maintaining the project. Homebrew is critical infrastructure, which is exactly why it shouldn't change dramatically. Now, if GP has lost interest in the project, or doesn't have the time to keep it running satisfactorily, I'd definitely agree with you - but I didn't get that impression from his post.
- telesilla 5y ago
  If I understand correctly, it's not about losing interest but ensuring there is a successor for when GP wishes to step back or is forced to do so. The community should acknowledge this and fund training and possibly salary for who's next.
  - mikemcquaid 5y ago
    I’ve been working on finding a successor and ensuring the project has a bus factor of more than one for at least. The latter has been solved but the prior won’t until I step down, despite my best efforts otherwise.
sneak 5y ago
It's not critical infrastructure. There are better alternatives, even, that are a quick and painless install process away. For example, nixpkgs is competitive with it, and does not include the Google phone-home supercookie tracking spyware that is on by default without consent in every Homebrew installation, and works great on macOS. Homebrew could disappear tomorrow and nothing extremely bad would happen. That can't be said for the power grid or water system. Tossing around the term "critical infrastructure" for things that are important but very sub-critical is hyperbole that waters down the (important) term to meaninglessness.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- hw 5y ago
  I bumped into a lion in the forest the other day that was aghast and somehow offended and told me the same thing when I mentioned that power grids and water systems were critical infrastructure.
mikemcquaid 5y ago
Many times. I haven’t found one yet whom I felt would take over everything I do. Given I still enjoy it, it feels like there’s no need to reduce the number of humans working on the project in the hope that it’ll encourage someone else to step up and do more.

sunsetMurk 5y ago

So casual :-) I use Homebrew every day. Thank you for the the incredible work in keeping things ticking along. And congrats on still enjoying it!

arbitrage 5y ago

You do great work. Can I buy you a $DRINK for your dedication?

thecleaner 5y ago

If you don't make money off of it, you really should. I'll definitely try to make my employer pay for it. Homebrew is quite important piece of tooling. Thank you for making it.

zachwill 5y ago

You’ve done an unbelievable job, Mike!

fredley 5y ago

Can you invert a binary tree on a whiteboard though?

amarshall 5y ago
For context: https://twitter.com/mxcl/status/608682016205344768 https://twitter.com/mxcl/status/608682016205344768

slinger 5y ago

I've been using homebrew for almost 10 years and I just wanted to say thank you for your amazing work!

sgt 5y ago

Homebrew has made a difference to me and dozens of other developers I personally know, and probably hundreds of thousands world wide. Thanks for your efforts.

Ancalagon 5y ago

Is there a donation link or something for homebrew? I can't believe such a popular tool is not making you guys money.

johnnypangs 5y ago
https://github.com/homebrew/brew#donations https://github.com/homebrew/brew#donations

llampx 5y ago

This is like meeting a celebrity. Awesome work on homebrew!

contingencies 5y ago

If there's anyone at Apple reading, pay this guy.

mikemcquaid 5y ago
They provide help and CI hardware. I have no desire to be either employed by Apple or work on Homebrew for a living (currently, at least).
- contingencies 5y ago
  Glad you are being supported in the manner to which you have become accustomed! When you retire maybe ask for a donation. I doubt they'd say no.