install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install defaultbrowser

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install defaultbrowser

MacPorts ports tree · sysutils/defaultbrowser/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#defaultbrowser

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/de/defaultbrowser/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Command-line tool for getting & setting the default browser

Project links

Commands and aliases

defaultbrowser

history

Project history and usage

defaultbrowser is a small macOS command-line utility for listing and changing the system default web browser, specifically the HTTP handler.

Project history

The README presents defaultbrowser as a macOS X tool built around the macOS Launch Services API. Its scope is intentionally narrow: run without arguments to list browser handlers and run with a browser identifier to set the default.

The repository has tagged commits for v1.0 in 2017 and 1.1 in 2018, matching the tool's stable, low-churn nature.

Adoption history

defaultbrowser is packaged by Homebrew, which fits its audience: Mac users and automation scripts that need a terminal-friendly way to change a desktop preference normally managed through system settings.

How it is used

The common usage is direct and scriptable: `defaultbrowser` shows available HTTP handlers and the current default, while commands such as `defaultbrowser chrome` set the default browser.

Why package nerds care

defaultbrowser is a classic package-manager utility because it wraps a platform preference in one tiny CLI. It is useful in dotfiles, setup scripts, and fleet/bootstrap workflows where opening a GUI preferences pane would be the wrong interface.

Timeline

2017: v1.0 tagged commit.
2018: 1.1 tagged commit.
2026: Homebrew continues to publish the formula.

Related projects

The README points to the macOS Launch Services API as the underlying platform facility and to a separate bash-completion project for shell integration.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 11 platform targets.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`defaultbrowser`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-08

manager version1.1

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detected1.1

https://github.com/kerma/defaultbrowser

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:defaultbrowser
Version	1.1
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/defaultbrowser
Homepage	https://github.com/kerma/defaultbrowser
Repository	https://github.com/kerma/defaultbrowser
Upstream docs	https://github.com/kerma/defaultbrowser#readme
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/kerma/defaultbrowser/archive/refs/tags/1.1.tar.gz
Bottle	available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	defaultbrowser
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Requirements	macos
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Nix95%

defaultbrowser

nix profile install nixpkgs#defaultbrowser

normalized package name match
Matched by: Defaultbrowser

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/de/defaultbrowser/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

MacPorts95%

defaultbrowser

sudo port install defaultbrowser

normalized package name match
Matched by: Defaultbrowser

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/defaultbrowser/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/defaultbrowser.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install defaultbrowser with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix