Till Studer's Notes

Recent Notes

6 min read

macOS Setup

Backup Files (just in case)

Save the following file locations to an external drive:

  • /Users/till/.*
  • /Users/till/dev
  • /Users/till/Documents
  • /Users/till/Downloads
  • /Users/till/Pictures
  • /Users/till/Music

Automated

Before you do anything, enable iCloud Desktop and Documents syncing

Before running the script, have a look at https://github.com/tillstuder/config and copy the dotfiles from there to ~

macOS Settings

echo "# Boot Settings"
echo "Enabling verbose boot mode"
sudo nvram boot-args="-v"
 
echo "Disable Sound Effects"
sudo nvram StartupMute=%01
 
echo "# Security Settings"
echo "Enabling Firewall"
sudo /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --setglobalstate on
 
echo "Enable Gatekeeper"
sudo spctl --master-enable
 
echo "Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned of immediately"
sudo osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to set require password to wake of security preferences to true'
 
echo "# Sleep Settings"
echo "Put Display to Sleep after 15 Minutes of Inactivity"
sudo pmset displaysleep 15
 
echo "Put Computer to Sleep after 30 Minutes of Inactivity"
sudo pmset sleep 30
 
 
echo "# Dock Settings"
echo "Setting Position"
defaults write com.apple.dock "orientation" -string "bottom"
 
echo "Setting Size"
defaults write com.apple.dock "tilesize" -int "56"
 
echo "Enabling Auto Hide"
defaults write com.apple.dock "autohide" -bool "true"
 
echo "Faster Show/Hide Animation"
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0.15
 
echo "Faster Delay"
defaults write com.apple.dock "autohide-delay" -float "0"
 
echo "Disable Show Recents"
defaults write com.apple.dock "show-recents" -bool "false"
 
echo "Enable dragging a file over an icon to open app"
defaults write com.apple.dock "enable-spring-load-actions-on-all-items" -bool "true"
 
killall Dock
 
 
echo "# Safari Settings"
echo "Enable Show Full URL"
defaults write com.apple.safari "ShowFullURLInSmartSearchField" -bool "true"
 
echo "Disable sending search queries to Apple"
defaults write com.apple.Safari UniversalSearchEnabled -bool false
defaults write com.apple.Safari SuppressSearchSuggestions -bool true
 
echo "Enable the Developer menu and the Web Inspector"
defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeDevelopMenu -bool true
defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitDeveloperExtrasEnabledPreferenceKey -bool true
defaults write com.apple.Safari com.apple.Safari.ContentPageGroupIdentifier.WebKit2DeveloperExtrasEnabled -bool true
 
echo "Warn about fraudulent websites"
defaults write com.apple.Safari WarnAboutFraudulentWebsites -bool true
 
echo "Enable Send DoNotTrack Header"
defaults write com.apple.Safari SendDoNotTrackHTTPHeader -bool true
 
echo "Update extensions automaticall"
defaults write com.apple.Safari InstallExtensionUpdatesAutomatically -bool true
 
killall Safari
 
 
echo "# Finder Settings"
echo "Show extensions"
defaults write NSGlobalDomain "AppleShowAllExtensions" -bool "true"
 
echo "Show Hidden Files"
defaults write com.apple.finder "AppleShowAllFiles" -bool "true"
 
echo "Show Path Bar"
defaults write com.apple.finder "ShowPathbar" -bool "true"
 
echo "Show Status Bar"
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowStatusBar -bool "true"
 
echo "Default to List View"
defaults write com.apple.finder "FXPreferredViewStyle" -string "Nlsv"
 
echo "Show Folders first"
defaults write com.apple.finder "_FXSortFoldersFirst" -bool "true"
 
echo "Setting default search scope to current folder"
defaults write com.apple.finder "FXDefaultSearchScope" -string "SCcf"
 
echo "Disable Auto Emptying of Bin"
defaults write com.apple.finder "FXRemoveOldTrashItems" -bool "false"
 
echo "Set Default Finder Location to Home Folder"
defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTarget -string "PfLo" && \
defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTargetPath -string "file://${HOME}"
 
killall Finder
 
 
echo "# Menu Bar Settings"
echo "Setting Digital Clock Format"
defaults write com.apple.menuextra.clock "DateFormat" -string "\"HH:mm:ss\""
 
killall SystemUIServer
 
 
echo "# TextEdit Settings"
echo "Open new document by default"
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit NSShowAppCentricOpenPanelInsteadOfUntitledFile -bool false
 
echo "Use plain text mode for new documents"
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit RichText -int 0
 
echo "Open and save files as UTF-8"
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit PlainTextEncoding -int 4
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit PlainTextEncodingForWrite -int 4
 
killall TextEdit
 
 
echo "Mac App Store Settings"
echo "Enable the automatic update check"
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticCheckEnabled -bool true
 
echo "Check for software updates daily, not just once per week"
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate ScheduleFrequency -int 1
 
echo "Download newly available updates in background"
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticDownload -int 1
 
echo "Install System data files & security updates"
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CriticalUpdateInstall -int 1
 
echo "Turn on app auto-update"
defaults write com.apple.commerce AutoUpdate -bool true
 
 
echo "# Typing Settings"
echo "Disable automatic capitalization"
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticCapitalizationEnabled -bool false
 
echo "Disable smart dashes"
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticDashSubstitutionEnabled -bool false
 
echo "Disable automatic period substitution"
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticPeriodSubstitutionEnabled -bool false
 
echo "Disable smart quotes"
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled -bool false
 
echo "Disable auto-correct"
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticSpellingCorrectionEnabled -bool false
 
 
echo "# Trackpad Settings"
echo "Enable tap to click"
defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad Clicking -bool true
defaults -currentHost write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.mouse.tapBehavior -int 1
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.mouse.tapBehavior -int 1

1 2 3

Setting up the package manager

echo "Installing xcode as a prerequisite for brew"
sudo xcode-select --install
 
echo "Installing brew"
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install.sh)"
 
echo "Verify the brew installation is healthy"
brew doctor

Installing and configuring ZSH

echo "Installing Z Shell"
brew install zsh
chsh -s $(which zsh)
cd $HOME
git clone [email protected]:tillstuder/dotfiles.git
cd dotfiles
stow .

Installing all other software

echo "Installing Nerd Fonts"
brew install --cask font-jetbrains-mono-nerd-font
 
echo "Installing the CLI tools"
brew install \
    mas \
    tmux \
    vim \
    wget \
    tree \
    nmap \
    ffuf \
    ripgrep \
    rga \
    fzf \
    ffmpeg \
    pandoc \
    poppler \
    tesseract \
    pyenv \
    podman \
    stow \
    git
 
echo "Installing security related tools"
brew install --cask \
    knockknock \
    taskexplorer \
    reikey \
    blockblock \
    little-snitch \
    ransomwhere \
    oversight \
    dhs \
    whatsyoursign \
    lockdown
 
echo "Installing utilities and productivity tools"
brew install --cask \
    iterm2 \
    appcleaner \
    the-unarchiver \
    downie \
    keepingyouawake \
    cheatsheet \
    rectangle \
    betterdisplay \
    bartender \
    shottr \
    alt-tab \
    flux \
    onyx \
    notunes \
    tor-browser \
    tyke \
    balenaetcher \
    adguard \
    wireshark \
    crystalfetch \
    logi-options+ \
    utm \
    calibre \
    languagetool \
    transmission
 
echo "Installing the default apps"
brew install --cask \
    firefox \
    google-chrome \
    microsoft-edge \
    deepl \
    spotify \
    bluos-controller \
    1password \
    zotero \
    obsidian \
    anki \
    visual-studio-code \
    podman-desktop \
    ableton-live-suite \
    discord \
    ollama \
    anythingllm \
    whatsapp
 
echo "Installing Quick Look plugins"
brew install --cask \
    qlcolorcode \
    qlstephen \
    qlmarkdown \
    quicklook-json
sudo xattr -cr ~/Library/QuickLook/*.qlgenerator
qlmanage -r
qlmanage -r cache
 
echo "Installing the Mac App Store apps"
mas install 904280696 # Things
mas install 1529448980 # Reeder
mas install 1568924476 # Mela
mas install 1534275760 # LanguageTool
mas install 1569813296 # 1Password for Safari
mas install 1438243180 # Dark Reader for Safari
mas install 1591303229 # Vinegar
mas install 1573461917 # SponsorBlock
mas install 1637438059 # UnTrap
mas install 1160374471 # PiPifier
mas install 1606897889 # Consent-O-Matic
mas install 1611378436 # Pure Paste
mas install 1475387142 # Tailscale

Manual

The following apps can’t be automatically installed, these you will have to install manually:

Now that all apps are installed, some preferences inside them need to be adapted:

  • Run lockdown.app with your current preferences

Relevant Note(s): Windows Setup

Footnotes

  1. https://macos-defaults.com/ ↩

  2. https://github.com/mathiasbynens/dotfiles/blob/main/.macos ↩

  3. https://git.herrbischoff.com/awesome-macos-command-line/about/ ↩

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