# Essentials **MacOS** comes with `python3`, `ruby`, `git` *preinstalled*.\ We will install other missing essential tools used frequently by *Developers*. ## Tools ### Command-line tools Install [essential](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWMQ-g2QDsI) *command-line tools* * [watch](https://cli.github.com/) — `watch` will run a command repeatedly and then display the output in an `ncurses` friendly manner. * [jq](https://stedolan.github.io/jq/) — `jq` is like `sed` for JSON data * [git](https://git-scm.com/) — `git` is a version control system CLI * [cocogitto](https://github.com/cocogitto/cocogitto) #### Better CLI Alternative Tools * [gh](https://cli.github.com/) — `GitHub CLI` brings GitHub to your terminal. * [bat](https://github.com/sharkdp/bat) — A syntax highlighting clone of `cat` and can stand in for `less` * [delta](https://github.com/dandavison/delta) — A syntax highlighting pager for `diff`-ing * [fd](https://github.com/sharkdp/fd) — A user-friendly version of `find` * [htop](https://htop.dev/) — An interactive replacement for `top` * [procs](https://github.com/dalance/procs) — A modern replacement for `ps` * [eza](https://eza.rocks/) — A modern replacement for `ls` * [ripgrep](https://github.com/BurntSushi/ripgrep) — An improved `grep` * [dust](https://github.com/bootandy/dust) — A more intuitive version of `du` * [duf](https://github.com/muesli/duf) — A better `df` alternative * [prettyping](https://github.com/denilsonsa/prettyping) —A pretty wrapper around `ping` ```shell brew install watch brew install jq brew install git brew install gh # GitHub official command line tool. # for first time use, run `gh auth login` # Better CLI alternative Tools brew install ack brew install tree brew install eza # replacement for LS. https://eza.rocks/ brew install bat # a better `cat` brew install git-delta # a better git `diff` brew install fd # user-friendly alternative to `find` brew install procs # a modern replacement for `ps` brew install dust # a better `du` brew install ripgrep # a better `grep` use: rg brew install htop # a better `top` brew install httpie # a better `curl` brew install cocogitto # monorepo version/release management brew install minio/stable/mc # minio CLI ``` ### Fonts We need developer friendly fonts for **Terminals** (*ghostty, macOS Terminal app*) and **Editors** (*IntelliJ, VSCode, sublime-text*) to enhance visual experience. You can explore various fonts for IDEs at [Programming Fonts](https://www.programmingfonts.org) website. We recommend: * **Editor Font:** *Source Code Pro, Fira Code or* [*Jetbrains Mono*](https://www.jetbrains.com/lp/mono/) * **Terminal Font:** *Meslo LG, FiraCode Nerd Font or Hack Nerd Font* from [nerd-fonts](https://www.nerdfonts.com/font-downloads) ```shell # Terminal Fonts # brew install --cask font--nerd-font brew install --cask font-meslo-lg-nerd-font #brew install --cask font-fira-code-nerd-font #brew install --cask font-hack-nerd-font # Editor Fonts brew install --cask font-source-code-pro #brew install --cask font-fira-code #brew install --cask font-jetbrains-mono ``` ![](/files/hYBlynBIvXaT7oqSvTxF) After installing your choice of font, you have to configure each *Editor* and *Terminal* to use this font, which is covered in [Apps](https://github.com/xmlking/macbooksetup/blob/main/docs/apps/README.md) section. ### Apps Install essential *Apps* via brew cask Since many of us won't have *admin* rights on **Company** issued MacBooks, we will be installing software into **User's** Applications (i.e., `~/Applications`) directory:
> If you have admin privilege, you can skip `--appdir=~/Applications` flag #### Development Tools * [ghostty](https://ghostty.org): macOS Terminal Replacement * [Sublimetext](https://www.sublimetext.com): lightweight text/markdown editor * [VSCode](https://code.visualstudio.com): lightweight code editor * [Jetbrains](https://www.jetbrains.com/toolbox-app/): toolbox to install jetbrains IDEs ```shell brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications ghostty brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications sublime-text brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications visual-studio-code # optional # orbstack/container need to be in system apps brew install --cask container # Apple’s Native Alternative to Docker: MacOS 26 needed # brew install --cask orbstack # alternative to apple native container brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications webstorm brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications pycharm brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications windsurf # VSCode alternative brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications marta ``` Apple’s container [Docs](https://swapnasagarpradhan.medium.com/getting-started-with-apples-container-cli-on-macos-a-native-alternative-to-docker-fc303e08f5cd) Other benefit of installing `Apps` via `Brew` is, it links binaries to `/opt/homebrew/bin` which is added to `$PATH`. ``` 'subl' to '/opt/homebrew/bin/subl' 'code' to '/opt/homebrew/bin/code' ``` So, you can open *projects/directors* from command-line in *VSCode* or *Sublime-text* with: ```shell code ~/Developer/Work/tools/macbooksetup subl ~/Developer/Work/tools/macbooksetup ``` #### Productivity * [Alfred](https://www.alfredapp.com): Spotlight on steroids. ```shell brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications alfred ``` #### Other * Google Chrome * Microsoft Remote Desktop: rdp (optional) * [OBS](https://obsproject.com): Record your screen with audio, mouse highlight and other features. (optional) * [logitech-options](https://www.logitech.com/en-us/software/options.html): logitech driver, install only if you have *MX mouse* (optional) * [slack](https://slack.com/): app for communication (optional) ```shell brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications google-chrome # Logitech Options software - will prompt for password. brew tap "homebrew/cask-drivers" brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications logitech-options # Remote communication (optional) brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications zoom brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications slack brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications discord brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications obs ``` Customize above applications further from: [Apps](https://github.com/xmlking/macbooksetup/blob/main/docs/apps/README.md) docs --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://xmlking.gitbook.io/macos-setup/getting-started/essentials.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.