macOS Setup and Configuration

macOS_Setup.md

This guide was created using macOS Tahoe 26.0.1

Installation:

---

Install Homebrew

Follow the instructions here

Install Homebrew Packages:

brew install git btop ripgrep duf fzf eza lazygit opencode mc neofetch fastfetch

Install Homebrew Cask Packages:

brew install --cask google-chrome firefox sourcetree p4v cyberduck iTerm2 DropBox dotnet-sdk visual-studio-code postman   windows-app transmission evernote vlc 1password powershell brave-browser claude claude-code chatgpt font-hack-nerd-font microsoft-teams shottr starship

Karabiner-Elements will require you to open System Preferences -> Security & Privacy to enable the extension:

brew install --cask karabiner-elements

Download and Install:

• nodejs

Login to the App Store and Install:

• Airmail 5
• BetterSnapTool
• DaisyDisk

Configuration:

DropBox:

• launch dropbox and login
• setup sync

---

System Preferences:

• Appearance:
  • Dark
  • Show scroll bars: always
• Desktop & Dock
  • Default web browser: Google Chrome.app
  • Close windows when quitting an app: false
  • automatically rearrange spaces based on recently used: false
• Keyboard:
  • Keyboard -> Input Sources -> Edit: uncheck correct spelling automatically
• trackpad: 
  • tap to click
• displays:
  • nightshift -> schedule: sunset to sunrise
• General:
  • About: change computer name at top

---

Finder:

• view -> select status bar, tab bar and path bar
• right click on empty folder area -> show view options (configure to taste)
• preferences:
  • General -> New finder windows show: alanstevens (home directory)
  • Sidebar -> uncheck Tags
  • advanced
    • When performing a search: Search the current folder
    • keep folders on top when sorting by name
    • show all filename extensions
    • disable warning before changing extension
• customize finder toolbar (right click):
  • Drag the path and new folder buttons to the toolbar

---

Better Snap Tool:

• preferences -> keyboard shortcuts
  • set hotkeys for left, right and full (cmd+<- etc.)
• preferences -> General Settings ->
  • Start Bettersnaptool every time your mac starts up

---

Karabiner-Elements:

• simple modifications
  • right option -> left option (great for Windows)
  • capslock -> escape (great for vim)

---

iTerm:

• download iterm color schemes:
• unzip and import ir_black.itermcolors into iTerm
  • profiles -> colors -> color presets -> import
  • choose IR_Black in the schemes folder
• set iTerm font to 14pt Hack
  • profiles -> text -> change font
• Preferences -> General -> Confirm Quit iTerm2: false
• Preferences -> General -> Confirm closing multiple sessions: false

---

Terminal:

• download iterm color schemes:
• unzip and import ir_black.terminal into Terminal
  • settings -> Profiles -> circle with ellipses icon at the bottom -> import
  • choose IR_Black in the terminal folder
  • select IR_Black in the list and click Default at the bottom
• set font to 14pt Hack
  • settings -> font -> change

---

Safari:

• View -> Show Status Bar

---

Messages:

• preferences -> general -> Keep messages: Forever

---

Chrome & Firefox:

• log in and sync

---