Differences between installation methods and missing modules

[geuis]

I'm on MacOS 15.6 and trying to install Redis via homebrew but I'm seeing different results depending on the method.

Using brew install redis

• Installs latest v8.2.1
• Able to manage redis as a service using brew services
• Does NOT install the redisearch.so module.

Using cask method

brew tap redis/redis
brew install --cask redis

• Installs latest v8.2.1
• NOT able to manage redis as a service using brew services
• DOES install the redisearch.so module.

Google search has basically become useless these days. As such I have not had success in finding documentation on the install behavior that I'm seeing.

• Redis-stack has deprecation warnings and that all of those features have been rolled into v8.2.
• Why is there more than one way to install redis via homebrew and why do they provide different results?

As a general critique that maybe will make its way up the feedback pipeline, the current Redis product offerings are not being communicated in a simple, clear way.

[adobrzhansky]

Hi @geuis,
The difference comes down to who maintains each version:
brew install redis (formula)

• Maintained by the Homebrew core team
• Does not include modules like RediSearch
• Integrates with brew services for service management

brew install --cask redis (cask from redis/redis tap)

• Maintained by the Redis team directly
• Includes additional modules (redisearch.so, etc.)
• Uses its own service management approach (not brew services)

There is a plan to work with the Homebrew team to consolidate these installation methods, but I don't have a specific timeline for when that will happen.