brew install awscli

Homebrew Installation

To install the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) on macOS using Homebrew:

1. Check if Homebrew is installed: brew --version
2. If not installed, run: /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
3. Update Homebrew: brew update
4. Install AWS CLI: brew install awscli
5. Verify installation: aws --version
6. Configure AWS CLI: aws configure

Enter your credentials and region information when prompted.

Installing AWS CLI with Homebrew

To install a specific version of AWS CLI using Homebrew:

1. Unlink current version: brew unlink awscli
2. Install desired version (e.g., 1.18.20): brew install awscli@1
3. Link the installed version: brew link awscli@1 --force
4. Verify installation: aws --version

This method ensures compatibility with specific project requirements.

Configuring the AWS CLI

To configure the AWS CLI:

1. Run: aws configure
2. Enter the following when prompted:
   • AWS Access Key ID
   • AWS Secret Access Key
   • Default region name (e.g., us-west-2)
   • Default output format (typically json)

This setup allows efficient management of AWS resources from your command line.

Setting up the AWS CLI on macOS with Homebrew simplifies cloud service management and enables efficient AWS resource interaction from the terminal. It's worth noting that as of February 2024, AWS CLI version 2 is generally available, offering improved functionality and performance¹. However, some workflows may still require version 1, which can be installed using the method described in section 1.

For those new to AWS CLI, it's essential to understand that proper configuration is crucial for security. Never share your AWS Access Key ID and Secret Access Key publicly. These credentials provide access to your AWS resources and should be kept confidential at all times².

1. AWS CLI Version 2 Documentation. Amazon Web Services.
2. AWS Security Best Practices. Amazon Web Services.