Homebrew 6.0.0: tap trust model, internal JSON API default, Linux build sandboxing

Category: Dev tools
Status: confirmed
Sources: Homebrew blog, GitHub release, HN discussion 625 points
Summary: Homebrew 6.0.0 was released on 2026-06-11. Third-party taps now require explicit trust before their code executes; official taps remain trusted by default. The internal JSON API becomes the default metadata source and combines all metadata into a single download. Build, test, and postinstall phases now run sandboxed on Linux via Bubblewrap. Ask mode becomes the default for developers, showing a dependency summary and requiring confirmation before changes. The release adds preliminary macOS 27 (Golden Gate) support, Apple M5 CPU recognition, and Linux AppImage support. Intel x86_64 macOS moves to Tier 3 support in September 2026 (no CI, no new bottles) and becomes fully unsupported by September 2027.
Why it matters: The tap trust requirement and ask mode default change behavior for scripts and CI jobs that install from third-party taps; the Intel macOS timeline sets a hard migration deadline for remaining x86_64 Mac fleets.
Follow-up: Watch for CI breakage reports from tap trust and ask mode defaults; Intel x86_64 macOS drops to Tier 3 in September 2026.