macOS software #
A clean install of macOS needs the following software.
Applications #
The following software needs to be installed manually. Last time I got a new Mac and did a fresh install it took quite a bit of time, but I’m not sure how much it’s worth putting in the effort to automate something that happens maybe once every couple of years.
- 1Password (paid, subscription)
- Alfred 3 (paid, license)
- Bartender 4 (paid, license)
- Beamer (paid, license)
- Docker (free)
- Dropbox (paid, subscription)
- emacs (free, open-source)
- Express VPN (paid, subscription)
- Folx (free)
- f.lux (free)
- iTerm 2 (free)
- Magic Switch (paid)
- mclock (paid, license)
- Rectangle (free, open-source)
- stats (free)
- Sublime Text (free)
- TeXShop (free)
- VLC (free)
- Xcode (free, required to do anything interesting with a Mac)
Safari extensions #
I’ve used Safari to browse for years now, much prefer it to Chrome and on the M1 MacBook Air it’s a no-brainer as Chrome wasn’t optimised for the M1 when I got it. I use a couple of extensions to make things a bit nicer.
- Darker News (free)
- vimari (free)
Packages #
First, install the following.
- brew
- zsh. This requires a config that I like and that I should commit to a dotfiles repository.
For Apple Silicon Macs, at least in 2021, there is a little more configuration to do here. Also, I’m not particularly happy with brew as a package manager and have been noticing Nix get a lot of hype lately; not sure it’s mature enough on the M1 but something to look into. Very interesting: I have read that you can also use it to configure the install of regular macOS Applications.
And then with brew, install the following:
- hugo
- jekyll
- ninja
- pyenv
- python
- ruby
- fzf
Pyenv and Python are not currently playing nicely with emacs on the M1; need to revisit this in the future.
Things to try #
This is a list of things I’ve read or heard about but haven’t had the chance to try yet.
- Hammerspoon, an automation framework which allows you to write custom automation scripts in Lua.