How I Set up a New Mac in 2024

Initial OSX Tweaks

  • Finder:
    • in preferences, show filename extensions
    • show path bar
    • show dot files (Cmd + shift + dot)
  • Hide dock, make smaller, turn on magnification, remove almost all default dock applications
  • Disable hot corners. System Settings -> Desktop & Dock -> Hot Corners…
  • Disable swipe between pages. System Settings -> Trackpad -> More Gestures

Initial Basics

  • Install 1Password
  • Install browser (Arc)
    • make Arc default
  • Log into google, GitHub
  • Install Raycast
  • Obsidian

Terminal

  • install brew
  • install iterm2
    • install solarized theme: “Open iTerm 2, open Preferences, click on the “Profiles” icon in the preferences toolbar, then select the “colors” tab. Click on the “load presets” and select “import…“. Select the Solaris Light or Dark theme file.”
  • install zsh
  • install oh my zsh

Dotfiles

  • clone my repo. I don’t have anything automated so I just manually copy the files over

Set up Python

  • brew install python to install python 3
  • which python3 to make sure it’s using the one from brew
  • install pyenv
    • brew install pyenv
    • Add the following to .zhrc
      • eval "$(pyenv init --path)"
      • eval "$(pyenv init -)"
  • install poetry

Set up Javascript

  • install nvm and use it to install the major node versions

VS Code

  • install
  • run install 'code' command in PATH
  • turn on settings sync

Git/Github

  • brew install gh I don’t ever actually use Github’s CLI but it makes setting up SSH a breeze

Other Tools

  • httpie. Install for terminal: brew install httpie