My 2021 New Mac Setup
Tags: mac, tech
Published: 2021-07-05 21:57:11

---
title: My 2021 New Mac Setup
published: true
description: I set up a new Mac for work today. Here's everything I use on a Mac for fullstack web development.
tags: mac, tech
cover_image: https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/86ug0c6q3akqvp5c9e1b.png
slug: new-mac-setup-2021
canonical_url: https://www.swyx.io/new-mac-setup-2021/
---

I set up a new Mac for work today. Here's everything I use on a Mac for fullstack web development.

Unlike [Mina Markham](https://github.com/minamarkham/formation), I choose not to automate my setup because I only do it about once a year and I want the ability to make conscious changes each time.

> I previously tracked my new mac setup in [an old version of this page from 2018-2020](https://dev.to/swyx/my-new-mac-setup-4ibi).


## 1hr Video Walkthrough

{% youtube qwflfsgU0eg %}

---
## OS/Browser Settings

- **Browser**: Download Chrome, set to default.
- **Log in to**: (this helps with logins for the other services below)
    - Twitter
    - Github (more setup instructions below)
    - Gmail
- **System Settings**:
    - Disable Spotlight search for all miscellaneous crap except apps and system preferences
        - including [stupid Developer option](https://www.howtogeek.com/231829/how-to-disable-developer-search-results-in-spotlight-on-a-mac/) (make sure to add [Xcode.app](http://xcode.app) to /Applications not /user/swyx/Applications)
    - Disable Ask Siri
    - Set to [Big cursor](https://www.lifewire.com/make-mac-mouse-pointer-bigger-2260808) for accessibility during presentation
       - [some reports of memory leaks](https://www.techrepublic.com/article/macos-monterey-has-a-serious-memory-leak-problem-and-the-cause-has-been-found/) when doing this
    - Fix trackpad direction: Trackpad -> Scroll & Zoom - Natural off
    - Disable dictionary lookup: Trackpad -> Point & Click -> Look up & data detectors off
    - (if using windows keyboard) [remap alt and cmd keys](https://superuser.com/questions/158561/how-can-i-remap-windows-and-alt-keys-in-os-x) for ergonomics
- **Finder settings**:
    - Preferences → show filename extensions
    - Enable showing dotfiles (just hold Cmd + Shift + . (dot) in a Finder window)
    - [Show path bar](https://www.tekrevue.com/tip/show-path-finder-title-bar/) in footer for easier navigation
    - Prune the excessive sidebar bookmarks
        - create "Work" folder and pin it
- **Keyboard**:
    - [remap command+Q to literally anything else](https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/78948/how-to-disable-command-q-for-quit) - to prevent accidental close-all
    - Shortcuts: copy picture of selected area to clipboard -> Cmd+E
- **MacOS Dock:**
    - Remove everything from the Dock except: Finder, System Preferences and Trash
    - Turn Dock Auto Hiding on
        - turn this on for MacOS Menu bar as well
- **Chrome extensions**: (tied to Chrome account)
    - Paywall blocker [https://github.com/iamadamdev/bypass-paywalls-chrome/](https://github.com/iamadamdev/bypass-paywalls-chrome/)
    - See Tweets about any page [https://github.com/sw-yx/Twitter-Links-beta](https://github.com/sw-yx/Twitter-Links-beta?organization=sw-yx&organization=sw-yx) ([my blogpost here](https://www.swyx.io/twitter-metacommentary/))
    - [Morpheon Dark theme](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/morpheon-dark/mafbdhjdkjnoafhfelkjpchpaepjknad?hl=en)
    - [Lastpass](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lastpass-free-password-ma/hdokiejnpimakedhajhdlcegeplioahd?hl=en-US)
    - [Display Anchors](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/display-anchors/poahndpaaanbpbeafbkploiobpiiieko/related?hl=en)
    - [React Devtools](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/react-developer-tools/fmkadmapgofadopljbjfkapdkoienihi?hl=en)
    - [Refined Github](https://github.com/sindresorhus/refined-github)
    - [Code Copy](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/codecopy/fkbfebkcoelajmhanocgppanfoojcdmg?hl=en)
    - [Video Speed Controller](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/video-speed-controller/nffaoalbilbmmfgbnbgppjihopabppdk?hl=en) ← VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
    - [Palettab](https://palettab.com/)
    - [Privacy Badger](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/privacy-badger/pkehgijcmpdhfbdbbnkijodmdjhbjlgp?hl=en-US)
    - [RescueTime](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/rescuetime-for-chrome-and/bdakmnplckeopfghnlpocafcepegjeap?hl=en-US)
    - [uBlock Origin](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm?hl=en)
    - [Octolinker](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/octolinker/jlmafbaeoofdegohdhinkhilhclaklkp?hl=en)
    - [async render toolbox](https://github.com/sw-yx/async-render-toolbox) (i made this)

## Setup Terminal

- Copy my dotfiles (vimrc, zshrc, .gitignore_global): [https://gist.github.com/sw-yx/7fa1009e460ecb818d5e6d9ca4616a05](https://gist.github.com/sw-yx/7fa1009e460ecb818d5e6d9ca4616a05)
- Install [ZSH](https://ohmyz.sh/) (first usage of `git` will prompt you to install git - takes 15 minutes)
    - `git config --global init.defaultBranch main`
    - `git config --global user.name "swyx"`
    - `git config --global user.email shawnthe1@gmail.com`
        - Font - [Inconsolata for Powerline](https://github.com/powerline/fonts/blob/master/Inconsolata/Inconsolata%20for%20Powerline.otf)
        - [autosuggestions](https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions)
        - [syntax highlighting](https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting)
            - may need to [chmod stuff](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/13762280/zsh-compinit-insecure-directories) or warnings show at start of every session

            ```
            $ sudo chmod -R 755 /usr/local/share/zsh
            $ sudo chown -R root:staff /usr/local/share/zsh

            ```

- [Hyper Terminal](https://hyper.is/)
    - settings: [shell: '/bin/zsh'](https://gist.github.com/robertcoopercode/276d7cf66e9b0eea48c117fff1762a17#file-hyper-js-L60)
    - settings: `fontFamily: '"Inconsolata for Powerline", Menlo, "DejaVu Sans Mono", Consolas, "Lucida Console", monospace',`
    - [Fig](https://fig.io/) - context-aware autocomplete for terminal. Waitlisted now, but you can skip the waitlist [here](https://fig.io/invite?code=swyx) (i get nothing from this)
        - More CLI tools recommended by Brendan Faik (founder of Fig) - `bat`, `exa`, `ripgrep`, and other [Rust CLI alternatives](https://zaiste.net/posts/shell-commands-rust/). Also [zsh abbreviations](https://github.com/momo-lab/zsh-abbrev-alias)
        - [More CLI tools from Earthly](https://earthly.dev/blog/command-line-tools/) - [HN here](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27992073)
            - `broot` - a better `tree` 
            - `funky` - simple shell functions
            - `fzf` - fuzzy finder
            - `mcfly` - guesses commands based on your history
            - `zoxide` - a better `cd`
            - `gitupdate` - use file names to create a more meaningful commit message

## Set up apps/environments

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

    i have a bunch more stuff in `brew list` but i'm not sure what i use actively. You can mass install these: `brew install $(cat packages.txt)`

    ```
    bat             gdbm            libuv           python@3.9
    brotli          gh              libyaml         readline
    c-ares          go              mpdecimal       ruby
    deno            gradle          nghttp2         sqlite
    diff-so-fancy   icu4c           node            xz
    fnm             jemalloc        openjdk         yarn
    fzf             libev           openssl@1.1     z
    ```

- `brew update` on m1's have turned out to be super annoying. [this](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/64963370/error-cannot-install-in-homebrew-on-arm-processor-in-intel-default-prefix-usr) helped me: `arch -x86_64 brew install YOUR_PACKAGE`
- `brew install bat`
- [Github CLI](https://github.com/cli/cli): `brew install github/gh/gh`
    - you need to login to git - if you have 2fa enabled, you cant use your normal github password. try pushing to a repo and enter in a [Personal Access Token](https://stackoverflow.com/a/34919582) for password.
    - then run `gh auth login`
    - [add GitHub SSH key](https://docs.github.com/en/github/authenticating-to-github/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent) (not optional)
- `brew install fzf` - fuzzy finder - usage example is [here](https://twitter.com/swyx/status/1048009961723318272)
- `brew install node`
    - [Node.js/NPM](https://nodejs.org/en/download/)
    - `npm login`
    - `npm config set loglevel`
    - `sudo npm install netlify-cli -g`
    - `npm i -g sign-bunny fortune-node parrotsay`
    - `npm install -g undollar` for removing $
    - `sudo npm install -g trash-cli`
- `brew install yarn --ignore-dependencies`  - [yarn](https://yarnpkg.com/en/docs/install#mac-stable) note
- you may need to [work around Mac OS Sierra](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/43780207/installing-node-with-brew-fails-on-mac-os-sierra)
- `brew install z` - [REALLY GOOD TRY IT](https://brewinstall.org/install-z-on-mac-with-brew/)
- Misc
    - `pip3 install --user powerline-status`
    - go to a neutral folder and `git clone <https://github.com/powerline/fonts> && cd fonts && ./install.sh`
    - [fnm](https://github.com/Schniz/fnm) faster alternative to [nvm](https://github.com/creationix/nvm): `curl -fsSL <https://fnm.vercel.app/install> | bash` or `brew install fnm`
    - **[Anaconda](https://www.anaconda.com/download/#macos) Python distro** - be careful they tend to [modify your bash prompt without asking](https://askubuntu.com/questions/1026383/why-does-base-appear-in-front-of-my-terminal-prompt\)
    - [Docker Desktop](https://hub.docker.com/editions/community/docker-ce-desktop-mac/)
    - `brew install` [ffmpeg](https://ffmpeg.org/download.html) and then
    - https://github.com/tombonez/noTunes
    - download [Audacity](https://www.audacityteam.org/download/mac/) - and [install ffmpeg](https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/installing_ffmpeg_for_mac.html)
    - `brew install java` - you could download [Java Development Kit](https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase/javase-jdk8-downloads.html) from Oracle but fuck them for putting it behind signup wall
    - `brew install go` you may need to `export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin`
    - `brew install diff-so-fancy` - then set `git config --global core.pager "diff-so-fancy | less --tabs=4 -RFX"` - makes for much nicer git diff
        - You can also diff with this bash function `dif() { git diff --color --no-index "$1" "$2" | diff-so-fancy; }` or with VSCode `code --diff file1.js file2.js`.
        - You can also try [https://github.com/dandavison/delta](https://github.com/dandavison/delta)

## Setup Apps

- Emojis: [https://matthewpalmer.net/rocket/](https://matthewpalmer.net/rocket/)
- Password Manager: I use 1password for company and lastpass for personal
- Window Manager: [https://www.spectacleapp.com/](https://www.spectacleapp.com/) launch at login
- Clipboard Manager: [https://clipy-app.com/](https://clipy-app.com/) or https://yippy.mattdavo.com/ (untested)
- Loom: [https://www.loom.com/desktop](https://www.loom.com/desktop)
- Zoom: [https://zoom.us/download](https://zoom.us/download)
- Screenshots: [https://cleanshot.com/](https://cleanshot.com/) (previously used [https://zapier.com/zappy](https://zapier.com/zappy)). [Browser extension - Lightshot](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lightshot-screenshot-tool/mbniclmhobmnbdlbpiphghaielnnpgdp)
- Caffeine (Keep Mac awake for talks): [https://intelliscapesolutions.com/apps/caffeine](https://intelliscapesolutions.com/apps/caffeine)
    - used to be [http://lightheadsw.com/caffeine/](http://lightheadsw.com/caffeine/)
    - maintained version: [Amphetamine](https://roaringapps.com/app/amphetamine) (thanks Matt Mischuk!)
- [NoTunes](https://github.com/tombonez/noTunes) - disable itunes/apple music
- Video capture: [https://getkap.co/](https://getkap.co/)
- Dual Screen: [https://www.duetdisplay.com/](https://www.duetdisplay.com/)
- Gifs: [Licecap](https://www.cockos.com/licecap/)
- [Slack](https://slack.com/downloads/osx) or [Discord](https://discord.com/)
- OBS: [https://obsproject.com/](https://obsproject.com/)
- Transcribing: [https://www.descript.com/download/mac](https://www.descript.com/download/mac)
- SkyFonts: [https://www.fonts.com/web-fonts/google](https://www.fonts.com/web-fonts/google)
- Microsoft Todo: [https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1274495053?mt=8](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1274495053?mt=8)
- Stretchly: [https://hovancik.net/stretchly/](https://hovancik.net/stretchly/)
- Disk Space: [Disk Inventory X](http://www.derlien.com/) - you can clean node modules with [this bash command](https://twitter.com/swyx/status/1064672618450579457?s=20) or as a [cronjob](https://gist.github.com/zephraph/9169b9de4568b858f4b0e45fc41218b7)
- Replay: [download](https://replay.io/welcome) - https://www.notion.so/Replay-Docs-56758667f53a4d51b7c6fc7a641adb02
- SimpleNote: [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simplenote/id692867256?ls=1&mt=12](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simplenote/id692867256?ls=1&mt=12)
- [Superhuman for Mac](http://superhuman.com/mac) and [https://mail.superhuman.com](https://mail.superhuman.com/) 
- Notion: [https://www.notion.so/desktop](https://www.notion.so/desktop)
    - [https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/notion-web-clipper/knheggckgoiihginacbkhaalnibhilkk?hl=en](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/notion-web-clipper/knheggckgoiihginacbkhaalnibhilkk?hl=en)
- App Search/Utils: [https://www.alfredapp.com/](https://www.alfredapp.com/)
    - set to Alfred Dark
    - [airdrop to iphone/ipad](https://github.com/swmoon203/CrossShare/blob/master/Alfred%20Workflow/Cross%20Share%20Airdrop.alfredworkflow)
    - [Cupcake Ipsum](http://www.packal.org/workflow/cupcake-ipsum)
- Editor: Download [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/download) (I used to use Insiders but the popups are super annoying). use Settings Sync to sync across machines
    - have to set up powerline fonts "Meslo LG M for Powerline" ([download](https://github.com/powerline/fonts/blob/master/Meslo%20Slashed/Meslo%20LG%20M%20Regular%20for%20Powerline.ttf))
    - auto-close-tag v0.5.6
    - auto-rename-tag v0.0.15
    - Bookmarks v9.1.0
    - code-settings-sync v3.1.2
    - debugger-for-chrome v4.10.2
    - es7-react-js-snippets v1.8.7
    - graphql-for-vscode v1.12.1
    - mdx v0.1.0
    - prettier-vscode v1.6.1
    - python v2018.9.2
    - python v0.2.3
    - rainbow-brackets v0.0.6 - this is now deprecated, use the native [`"editor.bracketPairColorization.enabled": true`](https://code.visualstudio.com/blogs/2021/09/29/bracket-pair-colorization)
    - shades-of-purple v3.17.0
    - vscode-graphql v0.1.5
    - vscode-import-cost v2.9.0
    - vscode-styled-components v0.0.23
    - vscode-wakatime v1.2.3
    - [TabNine](https://www.tabnine.com/) AI completions
    - [GitHub Copilot](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=GitHub.copilot)
    - to try: [File Utils](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=sleistner.vscode-fileutils) - recommended by [Stolinski](https://twitter.com/stolinski/status/1417247358430109697)
    - Here's the full list you can run from command line

    ```jsx
    code --install-extension 2gua.rainbow-brackets
    code --install-extension ahmadawais.shades-of-purple
    code --install-extension austenc.tailwind-docs
    code --install-extension bradlc.vscode-tailwindcss
    code --install-extension cpylua.language-postcss
    code --install-extension dbaeumer.vscode-eslint
    code --install-extension dsznajder.es7-react-js-snippets
    code --install-extension esbenp.prettier-vscode
    code --install-extension formulahendry.auto-close-tag
    code --install-extension formulahendry.auto-rename-tag
    code --install-extension GabrielNordeborn.vscode-graphiql-explorer
    code --install-extension GitHub.copilot
    code --install-extension golang.go
    code --install-extension heybourn.headwind
    code --install-extension jpoissonnier.vscode-styled-components
    code --install-extension kgscott.retreon
    code --install-extension kumar-harsh.graphql-for-vscode
    code --install-extension luyizhi.vscode-graphql
    code --install-extension ms-python.python
    code --install-extension ms-python.vscode-pylance
    code --install-extension ms-toolsai.jupyter
    code --install-extension msjsdiag.debugger-for-chrome
    code --install-extension NickScialli.svelte-dark
    code --install-extension octref.vetur
    code --install-extension oderwat.indent-rainbow
    code --install-extension sdras.night-owl
    code --install-extension silvenon.mdx
    code --install-extension svelte.svelte-vscode
    code --install-extension TabNine.tabnine-vscode
    code --install-extension ThreadHeap.serverless-ide-vscode
    code --install-extension tht13.python
    code --install-extension WakaTime.vscode-wakatime
    code --install-extension Wattenberger.footsteps
    code --install-extension wix.vscode-import-cost
    ```

---

## Other good "new laptop setup" lists:

- [Tania Rascia's setup](https://www.taniarascia.com/setting-up-a-brand-new-mac-for-development/?ck_subscriber_id=591519942)
- [Nick Nisi's dotfiles](https://github.com/nicknisi/dotfiles)
- [Mathias Bynens macos defaults](https://github.com/mathiasbynens/dotfiles/blob/master/.macos)
- [Jamon's MacOS maintenance tips](https://twitter.com/jamonholmgren/status/1175077165848653824)
- Vendasta: https://github.com/vendasta/setup-new-computer-script
- You can [automate dotfiles/homebrew setup with Sheldon Hull's tool](https://www.sheldonhull.com/docs/shell/#installing-brew-packages)
- Physical equipment setups from prominent people: https://setups.co/
- please send me yours!