This playbook installs and configures most of the software I use on my machines. Some things are slightly difficult to automate, so I still have a few manual installation steps, but they're all documented here.

• Install macOS, set up a primary user account, and log in with your Apple ID

• Allow third-party kernel extensions to be installed

  • Shut down then press and hold the power button to enter recovery mode
  • Go to Options -> [User Account] -> Utilities -> Startup Security Utility
  • Select Macintosh HD -> Security Policy
  • Check Reduced Security and Allow user management of kernel extensions
  • Restart your computer and log in

• Update the system

sudo softwareupdate -ia

• Install command line tools

xcode-select --install

• Enable remote login

  • Go to System Settings > General > Sharing
  • Turn on Remote Login and click the (i)
  • Turn on Allow full disk access for remote users
  • Click Done and close the system settings

• Install SSH key

mkdir -p "${HOME}/.ssh"; grep -qsF " dave" "${HOME}/.ssh/authorized_keys" || curl -sS "https://github.com/dkrutsko.keys" | head -n 1 | sed "s/$/ dave\n/" >> "${HOME}/.ssh/authorized_keys"

• From this point, switch to computer running Ansible

• Test the connection to your Mac

  • Update the ./inventory file to point to Mac

   [mac_ip] ansible_user=[mac_user]
  

  • Run the ping command to test the connectivity

   ansible -m ping "[host]" --user "[mac_username]"

• Install required Ansible roles

ansible-galaxy install -r "./requirements.yml"

• Run desired Ansible playbook

ansible-playbook "./playbooks/[playbook].yml" -K --user "[mac_username]"

• Remember to use --tags and `--skip-tags" for testing

  • Common tags include: homebrew, mas, and dock

   ansible-playbook ... --tags "tag1,tag2"
   ansible-playbook ... --skip-tags "tag3"

• Ansible might start to hang after installing Xcode

  • Run this command on your Mac and try rerunning playbook

   sudo xcodebuild -license accept

  • If issue persists try running playbook in debug mode

   ANSIBLE_DEBUG=1 ansible ... -vvvv

• From this point, finish off these steps manually

• Install the following applications

  • MacUpdater
  • XtraFinder
    • If XtraFinder stops working, consider these alternatives
    • QSpace
    • TotalFinder
  • TinkerTool
  • [Mercury] Adobe CC
  • [Mercury] Office 365
  • [Apollo] VoiceMod

• Activate licenses for the following

  • Sublime Text
  • Audio Hijack, Loopback, and Fission
    • Also install their kernel extension

• Log into Keybase and register it