diff --git a/doc/sphinx/install.rst b/doc/sphinx/install.rst
index 10b2e5288..449419734 100644
--- a/doc/sphinx/install.rst
+++ b/doc/sphinx/install.rst
@@ -157,88 +157,121 @@ version of Cantera and builds the Python 2.7 module.
Homebrew
---------
These instructions have been tested on Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) with Xcode 5.1
-and Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) with Xcode 6.1.
+and Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) with Xcode 6.1. If you've used Homebrew before,
+you can skip any steps which have already been completed.
-Prerequisites
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+1. **Install Xcode and Homebrew**
-If you've used Homebrew before, you may have already completed some of these
-steps and can skip them.
+ - Install Xcode from the App Store
-- Install Xcode from the App store
+ - From a Terminal, run::
-- From a Terminal, run::
+ sudo xcode-select --install
+ sudo xcodebuild -license
- sudo xcode-select --install
+ and agree to the Xcode license agreement.
- and agree to the Xcode license agreement
+ - Install `Homebrew `_ by running the following command in a
+ Terminal::
-- Install `Homebrew `_
+ ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"
-- Run the following commands::
+2. **Set up the compilation environment**
- brew tap homebrew/science
- brew update
- brew install python scons sundials
+ - Run the following commands::
-- Put ``/usr/local/bin`` at the front of your path, e.g. add the following to
- ``~/.bash_profile`` (creating this file if it doesn't already exist)::
+ brew tap homebrew/science
+ brew update
+ brew install python scons sundials
- export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH
+ - Verify that your path is set up to use Homebrew's version of Python by
+ running::
-- Run::
+ which python
- source ~/.bash_profile
+ If this command does not print ``/usr/local/bin/python``, add the following
+ to ``~/.bash_profile`` (creating this file if it doesn't already exist; you
+ can use the command line editor ``nano`` to edit this file)::
-- If you want to build the Cantera Python 2 module, run::
+ export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH
- pip install cython numpy
+ and then run::
-- If you want to build the Cantera Python 3 module, run::
+ source ~/.bash_profile
- brew install python3
- pip3 install numpy cython
+ - Install Python packages required to compile Cantera by running::
-Installing Cantera
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ pip install cython numpy
-The installation command for Cantera supports several options:
+ Note that these packages are required even if you do not plan on using the
+ Cantera Python 2 module.
-- To install Cantera with additional patches that will be included in the next
- maintenance release, use the flag: ``--devel``
+ - If you want to build the Cantera Python 3 module, run::
-- To Install the current development version of Cantera, use the flag:
- ``--HEAD``
+ brew install python3
+ pip3 install numpy cython
-- To install the Matlab toolbox, use the flag
- ``--with-matlab=/Applications/MATLAB_R2014a.app/`` (with the version modified
- to match your installed Matlab version)
+3. **Compile and install Cantera**
-Install Cantera by adding the desired options to the ``brew install`` command,
-e.g.::
+ * To compile and install Cantera using the default configuration, run::
- brew install cantera --devel --with-matlab=/Applications/MATLAB_R2014a.app/
+ brew install cantera
-The Matlab toolbox, if enabled, will be installed in::
+ * The following options are supported:
- /usr/local/lib/cantera/matlab
+ ``--devel``
+ Installs Cantera with additional patches that will be included in the
+ next maintenance release.
-To use the Cantera Matlab toolbox, run the following commands in Matlab (each
-time you start Matlab), or add them to a ``startup.m`` file located in
-``/Users/$USER/Documents/MATLAB``, where ``$USER`` is your username::
+ ``--HEAD``
+ Installs the current development version of Cantera.
- addpath(genpath('/usr/local/lib/cantera/matlab'))
- setenv('PYTHON_CMD', '/usr/local/bin/python')
+ ``--with-matlab=/Applications/MATLAB_R2014a.app/``
+ Installs the Matlab toolbox (with the path modified to match your
+ installed Matlab version)
-The Matlab examples will be installed in::
+ * These options are specified as additional arguments to the ``brew install``
+ command, e.g.::
- /usr/local/share/cantera/samples/matlab
+ brew install cantera --devel --with-matlab=/Applications/MATLAB_R2014a.app/
-The Python examples will be installed in::
+4. **Test Cantera Installation (Python)**
- /usr/local/lib/pythonX.Y/site-packages/cantera/examples/
+ * The Python examples will be installed in::
-where ``X.Y`` is your Python version, e.g. ``2.7``.
+ /usr/local/lib/pythonX.Y/site-packages/cantera/examples/
+
+ where ``X.Y`` is your Python version, e.g. ``2.7``.
+
+ * You may find it convenient to copy the examples to your Desktop::
+
+ cp -r /usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/cantera/examples ~/Desktop/cantera_examples
+
+ * To run an example::
+
+ cd cantera_examples/reactors
+ python reactor1.py
+
+5. **Test Cantera Installation (Matlab)**
+
+ * The Matlab toolbox, if enabled, will be installed in::
+
+ /usr/local/lib/cantera/matlab
+
+ * To use the Cantera Matlab toolbox, run the following commands in Matlab
+ (each time you start Matlab), or add them to a ``startup.m`` file located
+ in ``/Users/$USER/Documents/MATLAB``, where ``$USER`` is your username::
+
+ addpath(genpath('/usr/local/lib/cantera/matlab'))
+ setenv('PYTHON_CMD', '/usr/local/bin/python')
+
+ * The Matlab examples will be installed in::
+
+ /usr/local/share/cantera/samples/matlab
+
+ * You may find it convenient to copy the examples to your user directory::
+
+ cp -r /usr/local/share/cantera/samples/matlab ~/Documents/MATLAB/cantera_examples
MacPorts
--------