# Install defaultbrowser with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix Command-line tool for getting & setting the default browser. Version 1.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:defaultbrowser ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install defaultbrowser ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install defaultbrowser ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/defaultbrowser/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#defaultbrowser ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/de/defaultbrowser/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:defaultbrowser - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.1 - **Source summary:** Command-line tool for getting & setting the default browser - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - defaultbrowser (cli) - defaultbrowser (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.1 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/kerma/defaultbrowser - Upstream latest detected: 1.1 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## 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 Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## 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:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - defaultbrowser: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/de/defaultbrowser/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - MacPorts - defaultbrowser: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/defaultbrowser/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Web development packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/web-dev-tools/) - Matched web development metadata. - [infat](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/infat/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, default-apps, macos, system. - [dark-mode](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dark-mode/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, macos, system. - [devcockpit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/devcockpit/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, macos, system. - [fileicon](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fileicon/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, macos, system. - [launch](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/launch/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, macos, system. - [m-cli](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/m-cli/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, macos, system. - [mas](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mas/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, macos, system. - [mist-cli](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mist-cli/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, macos, system. - [duti](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/duti/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: apps, cli, default, default-apps, macos. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/defaultbrowser.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/defaultbrowser.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph