Macos – May I use application’s auto-update function when having them installed via Homebrew Cask

homebrewmacos

I've just found out about Homebrew Cask and I love it.
Most of my applications are now installed via Cask.

I'm just wondering whether I can still use an application's auto-update function because Cask stores them in a folder like /opt/homebrew-cask/Caskroom/iterm2/2.1.1.

It should work but what if I auto-update an application via the application's auto-update, then call brew update. If the formula of this software isn't up-to-date I will have an old version.

While this likely won't be a big issue it just doesn't feel tidy and clean (same goes with auto-updating via auto-update feature then having the wrong application version in the Caskroom-folder).

Has anyone thought about these things?

Best Answer

Homebrew is great.

I wouldn't recommend using the auto-update of the application, as it could get messy if the application maker wasn't considering an alternate install path like where brew likes to put applications.

BUT: the application may have an update ready before homebrew catches up to it... so if you need that new feature or version right now, well.. You're not left with much of a choice.

Lastly, brew update will only update the homebrew package list and versions. It takes a brew upgrade (after an update) to actually install the new versions of your software.

Related Solutions

MySQL Preference Pane control for MySQL installed via Homebrew

I've had the same issue. After googling my butt off, here's what I was able to find out:

install symlinks to Homebrew's MySQL installation in /usr/local/mysql:
```
mkdir -p /usr/local/mysql; cd /usr/local/mysql
ln -s $(brew --prefix mysql)/* .
```
(this already allows you to stop the MySQL Server using the button in that preference pane – because it simply uses the mysqladmin binary – but not to start it)
The preference pane attempts to start the MySQL server as user mysql or _mysql rather than running it with your user name. They say it's a good idea to have a dedicated UNIX user for the SQL server anyway... Therefore the data directory must be owned by the user called _mysql or mysql as well.

You can find out where your data directory is by looking for the entry datadir= inside /etc/my.cnf, or $HOME/.my.cnf, or $(brew --prefix mysql)/support-files/mysql.server, then chown it accordingly.

Alternatively, you could start with a fresh data directory using mysql_install_db:
```
unset TMPDIR
sudo mysql_install_db --user=_mysql --basedir="$(brew --prefix mysql)" --datadir=/your/data/dir
```
Note that, after installing it like this, you won't be able to start the MySQL server with your username anymore, at least not without sudo -u.

If there's no user and/or group called _mysql on your system, you can create them using the dscl command line utility, as described here.
To start MySQL server automatically on system start, you'll need to install the MySQL Startup Item, then activate the checkbox in the preference pane, and if you followed steps 1 and 2, on next reboot, it should work like a charm!

MacOS Homebrew – Symlink Error When Installing MySQL

Obviously that folder doesn't belong to you. Just try with:

sudo chown -R $(whoami) /usr/local/include

You never have to use brew with sudo. If you do, something is wrong with your installation.

Then, try the link command again.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

MySQL Preference Pane control for MySQL installed via Homebrew

MacOS Homebrew – Symlink Error When Installing MySQL

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