MacOS Setup Guide

This guide covers the basics of setting up a development environment on a new Mac.

Apple

We will need to make sure our data and Apple Store applications are synchronized. The synchronization can take a few minutes depending on how much information needs to be synchronized. Log in here:

• https://appleid.apple.com/account/manage

Adobe

We will access all of apps and services at this link. This will download the Creative Cloud app manager:

• https://account.adobe.com/

Homebrew

Homebrew will automate most of our tasks, so let's get it started. But first, to install Homebrew, we need to install Command Line Tools for Xcode in the terminal:

sudo xcode-select --install

Now we can install Homebrew in the terminal:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

MacOS comes preinstalled with zsh, so we will need to make sure our path is set up correctly.

sudo echo 'PATH="/opt/homebrew/bin/:/usr/local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc

Start a new terminal session so that we can use use brew. Then make sure everything works by running:

brew doctor

If everything works, it will say: Ready to brew!

Terminal

We will want to set up our Command Line Interface (CLI) to enhance the Devloper Experience (DX) of the following steps:

brew install --no-quarantine --cask \
    visual-studio-code \
    warp

We need to install some fonts to get the best out of our CLI:

brew tap homebrew/cask-fonts
brew install --no-quarantine --cask \
    font-fira-code \
    font-hack-nerd-font \
    font-inter \
    font-source-code-pro

Useful Terminal Software

brew install --no-quarantine \
    eza \
    git \
    gotop \
    java \
    macchina \
    python \
    starship \
    wget \
    wp-cli

For the system Java wrappers to find this JDK, symlink it with:

sudo ln -sfn /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk/libexec/openjdk.jdk /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk.jdk

For compilers to find openjdk you may need to set:

export CPPFLAGS="-I/opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk/include"

Double check that you .zshrc file has the following towards the end of the file:

eval "$(starship init zsh)"
bash -c 'macchina'

Let's upgrade Pythons setup tools and install some common packages:

python3 -m pip install --upgrade setuptools
python3 -m pip install numpy scipy matplotlib pandas

Quick Look Plugins

These plugins add support for quick look in the finder; press Space Bar on a file in the finder)

brew install --no-quarantine --cask \
    betterzip \
    jupyter-notebook-viewer \
    qlcolorcode \
    qlmarkdown \
    quicklook-csv \
    quicklook-json \
    webpquicklook \
    syntax-highlight

Getting the quicklook plugins installed correctly can be tricky. Make sure you follow the instructions in the following link:

• https://github.com/sbarex/SourceCodeSyntaxHighlight

App Suggestions

Common desktop applications. brew install --cask rectangle

brew install --no-quarantine --cask \
    calibre \
    chatgpt \
    clipy \
    discord \
    dropbox \
    google-chrome \
    firefox \
    flux \
    rectangle \
    shottr \
    spotify \
    vlc \
    zoom

Clipy is built for Intel macOS and so requires Rosetta 2 to be installed. You can install Rosetta 2 with:

softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license

Chrome Extensions

Search the google store for the following extensions:

• Dark Mode Dark Reader for Chrome
• Grepper
• iCloud Passwords
• LastPass
• ResearchQ
• uBlock Origin
• Unpaywall
• Wikiwand

Git setup

git config --global user.name name
git config --global user.email [email protected]

VS Code Plugin Setup

Theoretically, you can sync all your plugins by following these instructions:

• https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/settings-sync

Local

We are going to install Local for our WordPress development. You will need to download from the following:

• https://localwp.com/

Raycast

We are going to install Raycast to replace the default Spotlight Search. You will need to download from the following:

• https://www.raycast.com/pricing

Mojo

We are going to install Mojo, the Python superset. You will need to login to receive your specific authorization code to put in the CLI:

• https://developer.modular.com/download

Google Drive

You will install Google Drive by downloading it from the following location:

• https://www.google.com/drive/download/

Signal

You will install Signal by downloading it from the following location:

• https://signal.org/download/

Docker

To install Docker you will need to go to the following site to download for your specific machine:

• https://hub.docker.com/

Calibre

We will need to import the data from Calibre in the old computer:

• https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq.html#how-do-i-move-my-calibre-data-from-one-computer-to-another

OS Customization

We're going to need to make some changes to the OS to improve our Mac experience. First, let's increase the speed with which the Dock opens:

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0.00;killall Dock

Congrations!

If you've reached this point it's time to pop some champagne.