Bootstrapping macOS for development

Written January 7, 2022

Erase all content and settings

I factory reset my computer once a year to

test backup strategies
consider which tools and applications I still enjoy using in my workflow
clear out loose files that accumulate on the system
make the computer feel like new

Since macOS Monterey, Apple made it easier to reset a Mac using the "Erase All Content and Settings" feature. Apple Guide.

Install command line tools

Run the command below to install command line tools such as git, make, etc. under /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin/.

xcode-select --install

Install dotfiles

git clone git@github.com:chariotsofiron/dotfiles.git ~/repos/dotfiles/
bash ~/repos/dotfiles/install.sh

Install Homebrew

Homebrew provides a way of installing, upgrading, and uninstalling command line tools and applications. Visit https://brew.sh for installation instructions.

Install things

Python

brew install python

Rust

brew install rustup
rustup-init
rustup component add rust-analyzer

Command line tools

brew install zellij helix rg fd sd bat tree qsv git-delta gitui just

pip3 install edir # useful tool for renaming files

# LSPs, linters, formatters

brew install pyright ruff # python

brew install marksman mdformat # markdown

Apps

App Store

Wipr

brew install --cask karabiner-elements kitty 1password iina qbittorrent

Change default shell to `fish`

brew install fish
echo /usr/local/bin/fish | sudo tee -a /etc/shells
chsh -s /usr/local/bin/fish

Restart computer.

Secret keys

Github SSH keys

security add-generic-password -a "$USER" -s 'name_of_your_key' -w 'passphrase'

Computer settings

Not worth configuring with defaults.

System preferences

Control center -> battery -> show percentage
Control center -> spotlight -> don't show in menu bar
Desktop and dock -> automatically hide and show dock
Desktop and dock -> don't suggest recent apps
Desktop and dock -> don't automatically rearrange spaces
Siri and spotlight -> disable ask Siri
Siri and spotlight -> Search results -> applications, calculator, conversion, definition
Keyboard -> press globe -> nothing
Keyboard -> Touch Bar -> shows expanded control strip
Keyboard -> shortcuts -> Mission control -> switch to desktop 1-9
Keyboard -> text input -> edit -> disable all
Trackpad -> secondary click -> click in bottom right corner
Trackpad -> tap to click

Safari

General -> remove history items manually
General -> don't open safe files after downloading
Tabs -> Tab layout -> compact
AutoFill -> disable all (use 1password)
Passwords -> disable all
Advanced -> show full website address
Advanced -> show features for web developers

Finder

General -> New finder window shows ~/home
Advanced -> Show all filename extensions
Advanced -> Don't show warning before changing an extensions
Advanced -> Don't show warning before removing from iCloud
Advanced -> Don't show warning before emptying trash
Advanced -> Keep folders on top when sorting by name
Advanced -> When performing a search, search the current folder