Automatically bootstrap a macOS system by installing brew apps with a script (and other tweaks!)

First, before you can even use git to clone this repository, you need to run the following to install git:

xcode-select --install

git clone https://github.com/willquill/bootstrap-macos.sh.git

Then modify the apps and cask_apps lists in bootstrap-macos.sh to specify the exact apps you need.

You can use this page as a reference to create your custom lists: https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/

chmod +x bootstrap-macos.sh

./bootstrap-macos.sh

The following line will upgrade the apps that need to be upgraded.

brew update && brew outdated && brew upgrade

Not all of the script's apps are described here - only some of the more niche ones. I included individual commands for these in case you remove them from the script but want to come back later and install via copy and paste.

Create bootable USB drives

brew install --cask balenaetcher

Handbrake for video encoding

brew install --cask handbrake

Microsoft Remote Desktop, my preferred RDP client

brew install --cask microsoft-remote-desktop

Plex for streaming media locally or remotely

brew install --cask plex

Telegram, my preferred multi-device chat app

brew install --cask telegram-desktop

Signal, my preferred chat app for encrypted conversations

brew install --cask signal

Tor Browser for more anonymous browsing

brew install --cask tor-browser

Pocket Casts, my preferred podcast app

brew install --cask pocket-casts

Transmission for torrents

brew install --cask transmission

Raycast as Spotlight on steroids

brew install --cask raycast

These apps and extensions are not part of the script, but they are recommended:

• Dropover
  • Helps drag 'n drop in Finder
• Honey for Safari
  • Find discounts when shopping
• Amphetamine
  • Keeps laptop awake
• Pocket
  • Save articles for later
• Unsplash Wallpapers
  • Wallpapers
• Swish
  • Window management
• AdGuard or Wipr
  • Block ads - comparison of options here

In terminal, customize to your preference:

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0.15;killall Dock
defaults write com.apple.Dock autohide-delay -float 0; killall Dock

Returning to the defaults:

defaults delete com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier;killall Dock
defaults delete com.apple.Dock autohide-delay; killall Dock

Check out prezto here for a nice all in one ZSH customized profile.