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 command-line tools

• watch — watch will run a command repeatedly and then display the output in an ncurses friendly manner.

• jq — jq is like sed for JSON data

• git — git is a version control system CLI

• cocogitto

Better CLI Alternative Tools

• gh — GitHub CLI brings GitHub to your terminal.

• bat — A syntax highlighting clone of cat and can stand in for less

• delta — A syntax highlighting pager for diff-ing

• fd — A user-friendly version of find

• htop — An interactive replacement for top

• procs — A modern replacement for ps

• eza — A modern replacement for ls

• ripgrep — An improved grep

• dust — A more intuitive version of du

• duf — A better df alternative

• prettyping —A pretty wrapper around ping

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 vim
brew install subversion # Yes, it is required to install some brew formulas :(
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`
procs --completion-out zsh > $(brew --prefix)/share/zsh/site-functions/_procs
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 go-task/tap/go-task # better then a Makefile
brew install cocogitto # monorepo version/release management 

Fonts

We need developer friendly fonts for Terminals (iterm2, macOS Terminal app) and Editors (IntelliJ, VSCode, sublime-text) to enhance visual experience. You can explore various fonts for IDEs at Programming Fonts website.

We recommend:

• Editor Font: Source Code Pro, Fira Code or Jetbrains Mono

• Terminal Font: Meslo LG, FiraCode Nerd Font or Hack Nerd Font from nerd-fonts

brew tap homebrew/cask-fonts

# Terminal Fonts
# brew install --cask font-<FONT NAME>-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

After installing your choice of font, you have to configure each Editor and Terminal to use this font, which is covered in Apps 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

• iterm2: macOS Terminal Replacement

• Sublimetext: lightweight text/markdown editor

• VSCode: lightweight code editor

• Jetbrains: toolbox to install jetbrains IDEs

brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications iterm2
brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications sublime-text
brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications visual-studio-code
brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications jetbrains-toolbox
# optional
brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications marta

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:

code ~/Developer/Work/tools/macbooksetup
subl ~/Developer/Work/tools/macbooksetup

Productivity

• Alfred: Spotlight on steroids.

brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications alfred

Other

• Google Chrome

• Microsoft Remote Desktop: rdp (optional)

• OBS: Record your screen with audio, mouse highlight and other features. (optional)

• logitech-options: logitech driver, install only if you have MX mouse (optional)

• zoom: app for meetings (optional)

• slack: app for communication (optional)

brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications google-chrome
brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications microsoft-remote-desktop
brew install --cask --appdir=~/Applications obs
# 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

Mac App Store apps

Install apps from Mac App Store with mas

Usage

brew install mas
# search 
mas search Xcode
# install 
mas install <appID>
# list installed apps
mas list
# list all applications with pending updates.
mas outdated
# To install all pending updates run:
mas upgrade

• Magnet: window management (optional)

• Twitter: micro blog for tech news (optional)

# Magnet
mas install 441258766
# Twitter
mas install 409789998

Customize above applications further from: Apps docs