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add-homebrew-tap

Creates Homebrew cask and formula templates with release automation for prebuilt CLI binaries.

10|1|Updated Jul 7, 2026
Search Tags:#release automation#homebrew#formula#cask#tap#github releases#cli distribution
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/catalystctl/catcode --skill add-homebrew-tap-catalystctl
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: add-homebrew-tap
Source: https://github.com/catalystctl/catcode/tree/main/.catalyst-code/skills/add-homebrew-tap
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/catalystctl/catcode --skill add-homebrew-tap-catalystctl

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Distributing a prebuilt CLI binary through Homebrew requires correctly structured cask and formula files, SHA256 handling per architecture, and a tap repository that stays in sync with GitHub Releases. Doing this by hand is error-prone, especially when release workflows misname versioned assets. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Cask and Formula Templates: Generates placeholder-based Ruby templates (@@VERSION@@, @@SHA256_ARM@@, @@SHA256_INTEL@@) for both brew install and brew install --cask distribution. - Render Script and Release Workflow: Produces a render.sh script plus a GitHub Actions workflow gated to v* tags that downloads release assets, computes hashes, and pushes to a homebrew-<tool> tap repo. - Version Consistency Fix: Detects and fixes release workflows that name assets with commit SHAs instead of semver on version tags, which breaks both install.sh and Homebrew. - Use Case: A project ships per-arch macOS binaries and a .dmg on GitHub Releases; this Skill wires up the full tap so a v* tag release auto-publishes both the cask and formula. ## Quick Start Set up Homebrew distribution with both a cask and a formula for my CLI that publishes prebuilt binaries to GitHub Releases.

Frequently Asked Questions about add-homebrew-tap

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I distribute a CLI binary via Homebrew?▼

Create a homebrew-<tool> tap repository containing a formula that downloads your prebuilt binary from GitHub Releases with per-arch URLs and SHA256 hashes. A release workflow can automate rendering and pushing the formula on each version tag.

Should I use a Homebrew cask or formula for a CLI tool?▼

A CLI binary without a .app bundle is idiomatic as a formula, but a cask also works in a personal tap via the binary stanza. Shipping both in one tap has no name conflict since unqualified brew install resolves to the formula.

Can a web service or app with a background service be a Homebrew cask?▼

No. Web frontends requiring a runtime, background service, and configuration cannot be packaged as a cask or formula. Instead, point users to a one-line installer script through the caveats block in the cask or formula.

Why does brew upgrade not work with my tap releases?▼

This happens when release assets are named with commit SHAs instead of semver versions, since SHA versions are not monotonic and brew cannot rank them. Gate the tap workflow to v* tags and ensure assets use semver names derived from GITHUB_REF_NAME.

What manual setup is required before the Homebrew tap automation works?▼

Create an empty public homebrew-<tool> repository and add a HOMEBREW_TAP_TOKEN personal access token with contents-write permission as a repository secret. After that, publishing a v* tag release automatically populates the tap.

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