Learn how to install Jenkins on your MacBook locally using Homebrew. Follow this step-by-step guide to set up Jenkins for your development workflow.
Jenkins is a popular open-source automation server that helps developers build, test, and deploy their code efficiently. If you’re a developer working on macOS and want to run Jenkins locally, this guide is for you.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the process of installing Jenkins on a MacBook using Homebrew.
I’ve personally used Jenkins in both production and local environments, and it has consistently performed flawlessly.
🛠️ Prerequisites
Before you start, make sure you have the following:
- A MacBook running macOS
- Homebrew installed
- Java (JDK 11 or higher)
🔧 Step 1: Install Java (If not already installed)
Jenkins requires Java to run. You can install OpenJDK via Homebrew:
brew install openjdk@17
# Once installed, link it to make it available:
sudo ln -sfn /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@17/libexec/openjdk.jdk /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk-17.jdk
echo 'export PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@17/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zprofile
source ~/.zprofile
Verify the installation:
java -version
📦 Step 2: Install Jenkins Using Homebrew
Install Jenkins with:
brew install jenkins-ltsjenkins-lts stands for the Long-Term Support version, which is stable and recommended.
▶️ Step 3: Start Jenkins
To start Jenkins, run:
brew services start jenkins-ltsJenkins runs on port 8080 by default. You can now access it at:
http://localhost:8080🔑 Step 4: Unlock Jenkins
The first time you open Jenkins, it will ask for an Administrator password. You can find it using this command:
cat /Users/$(whoami)/.jenkins/secrets/initialAdminPassword
Copy and paste the password into the Jenkins setup page.
⚙️ Step 5: Install Suggested Plugins
Once unlocked, Jenkins will prompt you to install plugins. Choose “Install suggested plugins” to get started quickly.
Then, create your first admin user and finish the setup.
🚀 Jenkins is Ready!
Congratulations! 🎉 Jenkins is now running on your MacBook. You can start creating pipelines, automating builds, and integrating your CI/CD workflow.
🧹 How to Stop Jenkins
To stop the Jenkins service:
brew services stop jenkins-lts
If you only want to run it manually next time, use:
jenkins-lts
Running Jenkins locally is a great way to test pipelines or learn how CI/CD works before deploying to a production server. With Homebrew, the setup is straightforward and easy to manage.
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