How to Update Hugo and Outdated Formulae with Homebrew on macOS

Maintaining up-to-date tools is vital for a smooth and secure development workflow. Hugo, the fast and flexible static site generator, regularly releases updates that add features, fix bugs, and keep pace with new versions of its dependencies. If you use Homebrew on macOS, upgrading Hugo and all your developer tools is quick and convenient. Here’s a simple guide to staying current.

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Why Keep Hugo and Homebrew Formulae Updated?

• Security: Updates often patch vulnerabilities.
• New Features: Stay ahead with the latest Hugo options and improvements.
• Compatibility: Ensure your tools work with modern libraries and OS updates.
• Bug Fixes: Avoid quirks and errors fixed in newer releases.

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Step 1: List Outdated Formulae

To see what’s outdated, use:

brew outdated

This command generates a list of all formulae on your machine with available updates. For example, if you see something like:

hugo (v0.147.0) < v0.149.0
git (v2.45.0) < v2.46.1

you’ll know Hugo and Git have newer versions you can install.

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Step 2: Upgrade Everything at Once

To update all outdated Homebrew packages (including Hugo), run:

brew upgrade

This will fetch and install the latest versions of all outdated formulae on your system in one go.

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Step 3: Upgrade Hugo Only

If you prefer to update just one tool, such as Hugo, without updating everything else, use:

brew upgrade hugo

This keeps control over which packages are updated if you need stability in other components.

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Step 4: Clean Up After Upgrading

Homebrew leaves older versions installed by default. Free up disk space with:

brew cleanup

This removes superseded versions and unnecessary files.

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Step 5: Verify the Upgrade Was Successful

After upgrading, check your Hugo version:

hugo version

It should display the new version number. For example:

hugo v0.149.0

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Bonus: Stay Proactive

• Check Themes/Plugins: If you use third-party Hugo themes, review their documentation for compatibility notes before or after upgrading Hugo.
• Backup Your Projects: Especially before major upgrades, back up your site directory to avoid losing customizations if something goes wrong.

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Conclusion

Keeping Hugo and other Homebrew formulae updated is simple yet essential. Using brew outdated and brew upgrade, you can ensure your development environment is current, secure, and ready for new features. For most users, a regular routine, updating every few weeks or before key site deployments, provides the right balance of stability and freshness.