Software Alternatives & Reviews

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) VS Homebrew

Compare Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) VS Homebrew and see what are their differences

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) logo Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

Learn more about how the Windows Subsystem for Linux works.

Homebrew logo Homebrew

The missing package manager for macOS
  • Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17
  • Homebrew Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-29

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) videos

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Tutorial & How To

Homebrew videos

Homebrew Review: Coopers Lager - Taste Test

More videos:

  • Review - Homebrew Review | Alchemist Class by Mage Hand Press (featuring Designer Mike Holik)
  • Review - Northern Brewer Cream Ale Homebrew Review Tasting

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Homebrew)
Web And Application Servers
Front End Package Manager
Development Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Windows Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Homebrew. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Homebrew should be more popular than Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). It has been mentiond 879 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) mentions (121)

  • Attempted to setup windows-linux dual boot on my PC and screwed it all up - please help
    Dual boot is ssooo previous decades. Let me introduce you to WSL, Windows Subsystem for Linux, now you can run Linux (including GUI) seamlessly from within windows. No dual boot, no sacrifice to security with legacy boot, no restarting to use apps and tools from the other OS, use windows and Linux truly side by side. Source: 9 months ago
  • Discussion Thread
    You can ease into it by using Windows Subsystem for Linux. It's quite good at this point. Source: 10 months ago
  • Linux or Windows for coding??
    You can probably get by with wsl. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/about. Source: 12 months ago
  • Connecting python to a scanner
    SANE is Linux-only so it will likely only work on Windows inside of the WSL. Source: about 1 year ago
  • How I installed OctoPrint in WSL and Connected to my Ender 6
    To start with installing OctoPrint within WSL, you will need to install or already have WSL installed. If you do not have WSL installed, navigate to the Microsoft Store (If you're not sure where to find this, see https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/about ). Source: about 1 year ago
View more

Homebrew mentions (879)

  • Essential Tools & Technologies for New Developers
    Before we start installing anything, if you are a Mac user, you need to install homebrew, a package manager for Mac that will help you install software quickly and easily from this article. - Source: dev.to / about 13 hours ago
  • How to set up a new project using Yarn
    First, we are going to need Node.js. I use nodenv to manage multiple Node.js installations on my machine. The easiest way to install it on a Mac is to use Homebrew (check their Installation documentation if you’re on a different platform):. - Source: dev.to / about 16 hours ago
  • Top Homebrew Alternative: ServBay Becomes the Go-To for Developers
    Homebrew is a highly popular package manager on macOS and Linux systems, enabling users to easily install, update, and uninstall command-line tools and applications. Its design philosophy focuses on simplifying the software installation process on macOS, eliminating the need for manual downloads and compilations of software packages. - Source: dev.to / 21 days ago
  • Tools for Linux Distro Hoppers
    Hopping from one distro to another with a different package manager might require some time to adapt. Using a package manager that can be installed on most distro is one way to help you get to work faster. Flatpak is one of them; other alternative are Snap, Nix or Homebrew. Flatpak is a good starter, and if you have a bunch of free time, I suggest trying Nix. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • SQLite Schema Diagram Generator
    Are you using SQLite that ships with macOS, or SQLite installed from homebrew? I had a different problem in the past with the SQLite that ships with macOS, and have been using SQLite from homebrew since. So if it’s the one that comes with macOS that gives you this problem that you are having, try using SQLite from homebrew instead. https://brew.sh/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Homebrew, you can also consider the following products

SSH of Windows' Linux subsystem - Installation instructions for the Windows Subsystem for Linux on Windows 10.

Chocolatey - The sane way to manage software on Windows.

Laragon - All in one web server.

iTerm2 - A terminal emulator for macOS that does amazing things.

XAMPP - XAMPP is a free and open-source cross-platform web server that is primarily used when locally developing web applications.

Visual Studio Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft