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brew update && brew outdated && brew upgrade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.