# Max Howell > creator of the homebrew open-source package management system **Wikidata**: [Q64850138](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64850138) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/max-howell-q64850138 ## Summary Max Howell is a programmer and software engineer best known as the creator of Homebrew, an open-source package management system. He is recognized within the software development community for this significant contribution to systems software and tooling. ## Biography * **Known for:** Creating the Homebrew open-source package management system * **Field(s):** Software Engineering, Computer Programming * **Sex/Gender:** Male * **Occupation:** Programmer, Software Engineer ## Contributions Max Howell’s primary contribution to the technology sector is the creation of **Homebrew**, an open-source package management system. As a programmer and practitioner of software engineering, Howell developed this tool to address needs within software installation and management. The provided knowledge defines a programmer as a person who writes computer software and a subclass of a software developer. Through Homebrew, Howell fulfilled this role by building a system that simplifies the installation of software on operating systems. While specific version histories and release dates are not detailed in the source text, the project is explicitly classified as his "notable work." Howell maintains a digital presence central to his work as a software engineer. His online footprint includes a personal website (mxcl.dev) and verified accounts across major developer and social platforms, including GitHub, Twitter, and LinkedIn, under the handle "mxcl." His standing in the industry is further indicated by social media metrics showing a following of over 27,000 users on Twitter as of February 2023. ## FAQs ### Q: What is Max Howell best known for? A: Max Howell is best known for creating Homebrew, a widely used open-source package management system. ### Q: What is Max Howell's professional background? A: He is a programmer and software engineer, occupations that involve writing computer software and practicing software engineering. ### Q: What is Max Howell's online handle? A: Max Howell consistently uses the username "mxcl" across platforms including Twitter, GitHub, Instagram, Medium, and LinkedIn. ## Why They Matter Max Howell matters to the field of software engineering due to his specific contribution in creating the Homebrew package management system. In the realm of open-source software, creating a package management system is a critical task that facilitates how developers install, update, and manage software packages. By building this tool, Howell provided a solution that organizes and streamlines software development workflows. His significance is underscored by his classification as a "creator" in the Wikidata description, distinguishing him from general contributors. The longevity of his influence is reflected in his sustained online presence, spanning from the registration of his Twitter account in 2007 to follower counts exceeding 27,000 in 2023. This digital footprint illustrates a lasting connection to the programming community, marking him as a distinct human agent responsible for a notable software engineering artifact. ## Notable For * **Creator of Homebrew:** Identified as the creator of the Homebrew open-source package management system. * **Software Engineering:** Practices as a software engineer and programmer. * **Open Source:** Contributed significantly to the open-source community through package management tools. * **Industry Influence:** Maintains a verified online presence with a substantial following (27,322 followers on Twitter as of Feb 2023). ## Body ### Professional Identity Max Howell is a human male identified as a **programmer** and **software engineer**. According to structured knowledge definitions, this classifies him as a person who writes computer software and a practitioner of software engineering. He is distinctively linked to the "creator" role regarding his major project. ### Notable Work: Homebrew Howell's definitive work is **Homebrew**, described in the source material as an "open-source package management system." This tool serves as his primary notable work in the software domain. ### Digital Presence and Identifiers Max Howell maintains a robust online identity under the username **mxcl**. * **Website:** His official site is listed as `https://mxcl.dev`. * **Social Media:** His Twitter account (`@mxcl`) was created on April 3, 2007. It has tracked significant follower growth: * April 2020: 24,087 followers * January 2021: 26,277 followers * February 2022: 26,803 followers * February 2023: 27,322 followers (preferred rank) * **Developer Profiles:** He is active on GitHub, Medium, Pinterest, and Hacker News with the handle `mxcl`. * **Professional ID:** His LinkedIn profile ID is `mxcl`, and his Google Knowledge Graph ID is `/g/11hz0ws7cy`. * **Creator Support:** He is listed with a Patreon ID (`mxcl`), indicating direct support for his open-source contributions.