Setting up a new Mac for development can be time-consuming, especially if you’re a developer who needs an efficient and tailored environment. Whether you’re setting up a work machine or a personal computer, having a checklist can save time and effort. Here’s a streamlined guide for getting your MacBook ready for development, optimized for macOS 15 (Sequoia).
Getting Started 🎬
When you turn on your Mac, the setup assistant will guide you through basic configurations like selecting your language, time zone, and Apple ID. Once done, update macOS to ensure you have the latest security patches.
Install Homebrew for App Management ☕️
Homebrew is a must-have package manager for macOS, simplifying the installation of software.
Run the following command to install Homebrew:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
After installation, ensure it’s updated:
brew update
Installing Essential Applications 📲
Here’s a list of CLI tools and GUI applications you’ll likely need:
Command-Line Tools
Install these using Homebrew:
brew install git
Graphical Applications
Install these with the — cask flag:
brew install - cask \
visual-studio-code \
google-chrome \
firefox \
rectangle \
iterm2 \
docker \
discord \
slack \
spotify \
postgres \
obsidian \
todoist
Note : Do not install Node.js via Homebrew. Use nvm for better version control (details below).
Setting Up the Shell
macOS comes with zsh as the default shell. Enhance it with Oh My Zsh :
sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)"
Add Shortcuts
Edit your ~/.zshrc file to include aliases for convenience. For example:
alias x86="env /usr/bin/arch -x86_64 /bin/zsh - login"
alias arm="env /usr/bin/arch -arm64 /bin/zsh - login"
Custom Brew Packages and Zsh Configuration
To further enhance your development environment, you can reference and use custom configurations from my personal repository.
This repository contains my curated list of brew packages , Zsh plugins , and shortcuts to optimize productivity.
Access the Repository
From the repository, you can:
Get a list of Homebrew packages I frequently use.
Import my custom ~/.zshrc settings to streamline your shell experience.
Clone the repository to your local machine:
git clone https://github.com/devangtomar/zsh-settings.git
Navigate to the directory and explore the setup:
cd zsh-settings
Feel free to fork or adapt the configurations to match your workflow!
Configuring Git
Set up your Git global configuration:
touch ~/.gitconfig
Add the following content to customize Git commands:
[user]
name = Your Name
email = your_email@example.com
[github]
user = username
[alias]
a = add
cm = commit -m
s = status
p = push
co = checkout
fp = fetch --prune --all
l = log --oneline --decorate --graph
[push]
autoSetupRemote = true
With the above aliases, I can run git s instead of git status, for example. It will also automatically set up your remote, so you can do git push on a branch without specifying the upstream origin.
Generate SSH Keys
Create an SSH key for authentication, Start ssh-agent and adding the key:
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
ssh-add - apple-use-keychain ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
For easier management, create an SSH config file (~/.ssh/config):
Host *
AddKeysToAgent yes
UseKeychain yes
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
Host myssh
HostName example.com
User user
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/key.pem
Now just run the alias to connect.
ssh myssh
Tuning macOS Settings
To improve productivity, adjust these macOS settings:
Sidebar
To get the Home folder in the finder, press CMD + SHIFT + H and drag the home folder to the sidebar.
General
- Make Google Chrome default browser
Dock
Automatically hide and show Dock
Show indicators for open applications
Keyboard
Key Repeat -> Fast
Delay Until Repeat -> Short
Disable “Correct spelling automatically”
Disable “Capitalize words automatically”
Disable “Add period with double-space”
Disable “Use smart quotes and dashes”
Security and Privacy
Allow apps downloaded from App Store and identified developers
Turn FileVault On (makes sure SSD is securely encrypted)
Sharing
Change computer name
Make sure all file sharing is disabled
Users & Groups
- Add “Rectangle” to Login items
Defaults
A few more commands to change some defaults.
# Show Library folder
chflags nohidden ~/Library
# Show hidden files
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES
# Show path bar
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowPathbar -bool true
# Show status bar
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowStatusBar -bool true
# Prevent left and right swipe through history in Chrome
defaults write com.google.Chrome AppleEnableSwipeNavigateWithScrolls -bool false
Application-Specific Tips
Chrome
Install uBlock Origin
Install React DevTools
Install Redux DevTools
Install Duplicate Tab Shortcut
Settings -> Set theme to “Dark”
Visual Studio Code
Press CMD + SHIFT + P and click "Install code command in PATH".
Now you can use code {file} to open any file in VSCode.
Extensions
Install Diverse Dye
Install GitLens
Install Highlight Matching Tag
Install ESLint
Install Prettier
Rectangle
Full Screen: CMD + SHIFT + ' (prevents messing with other commands)
Left Half: CMD + OPTION + LEFT
Right Half: CMD + OPTION + RIGHT
iTerm2
For some reason, iTerm2 does not let you use ⌥ + ← and → to tab through words in the terminal by default. I found this article to fix it: Use ⌥← and ⌥→ to jump forwards / backwards
Go to Profiles -> Keys:
Change ⌥← via "Send Escape Sequence" with b
Change ⌥→ via "Send Escape Sequence" with f
Conclusion
This guide is designed to provide a quick, repeatable process for setting up a Mac for development. By automating installations and configuring settings upfront, you can focus on coding and productivity rather than setup hassles.
Connect with Me on Social Media
🐦 Follow me on Twitter: devangtomar7
🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn: devangtomar
📷 Check out my Instagram: be_ayushmann
Ⓜ️ Checkout my blogs on Medium: Devang Tomar
#️⃣ Checkout my blogs on Hashnode: devangtomar
🧑💻 Checkout my blogs on Dev.to: devangtomar