My MacOS Configuration

Source

This article outlines my configuration for my Mac. All of my dotfiles, as well as a copy of this guide, are available at https://gitlab.com/lschumm/dotfiles.

OS Installation

  • Erase the main disk, erase and rename as Macintosh HD and format it as plain APFS.
  • Then, choose the Reinstall MacOS option on the new disk.
  • On installation make sure to choose: - "Don't transfer any information now" on the Migration Assistant page - Sign in with Apple ID - Set username to lschumm instead of liamschumm; but do not allow Apple ID to reset this password - Under "Express Set-Up", choose "Customize Settings" - Enable Location Services - Disable analytics - Enable Siri - Do not "store files from Documents and Desktop in iCloud Drive" - Enable FileVault; but do not allow iCloud password to unlock the disk - Choose Light theme

OS Configuration

Install XCode

Go into the App Store and download XCode.

To install the XCode command line tools, run:

xcode-select --install
sudo xcodebuild -license

Install Homebrew

Use the brew default installer.

/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"

Change hostname

Under System Preferences > Sharing, change the hostname to the preferred name of your machine (I use the last names of famous computer scientists):

Shows the Computer Name field of the Sharing preferences pane with the text set to my computer name: :code:`dijkstra`.

Set up Git credentials

To set up your git name and email, run

git config --global --edit

Install Python3

MacOS (as of Mojave) installs Python 2.7.10, which is a reasonable version of Python 2 to have. To install Python 3, I recommend brew:

brew install python3

Install python2-pip

When brew installed python3, it also installed pip3. However, MacOS' default version of Python does not include pip. It does include easy_install, which can be used to install pip:

sudo easy_install pip

Install the latest version of Emacs

MacOS (as of Mojave) installs Emacs 22.1.1, which is ancient. Install emacs26 with brew:

brew install emacs

App Installation

I like installing apps through brew cask because command line stuff is great, and it allows all of my applications to be centrally managed by a utility. Nothing is in the Mac App Store.

brew cask install telegram
brew cask install gimp
brew cask install spotify

Dock Configuration

I personally don't really like the Dock, because it takes up space on my small 11 inch screen. I use Spotlight to open applications, and Command + Tab to switch applications/see what's open. This command will set the Dock autohide delay to 1000 seconds, so you have to hover over the bottom of the screen for 1000 seconds to display the dock.

If you really need your dock, Command + Option + D will manually open it; press it again to hide it.

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 1000; killall Dock

Disabling Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper is that annoying "can't be opened because it is from an unidentified developer" thing. To disaple it, run:

sudo spctl --master-disable

I'm a responsible user and don't download random binaries and execute them; I don't like MacOS second guessing me.

Setting up File Hierarchy

I actually like to remap my home directory to Desktop, so it's visible on my screen. I remap my HOME environment variable to ~/Desktop.

mkdir Desktop/research
mkdir Desktop/blog

Run dotfiles installer

cd Desktop
cd dotfiles
./install

Install wakatime

Install wakatime globally using pip:

sudo pip install wakatime

Then, install the wakatime-mode package in emacs. First run:

M-x package-refresh-contents [RET]

to fetch the latest versions of packages. Then, install the package:

M-x package-install [RET] wakatime-mode [RET]

Make Finder show all file extensions

Not showing file extensions on some files is really needlessly confusing. Disable it in Finder > Preferences. I also like disabling warnings when changing extensions.

Shows the :code:`Finder > Prefences` pane with "Show all filename extensions" selected, and "Show warning before changing an extension" unselected.

Set key repeat rate

I like setting my key repeat rate and key repeat time to very fast settings. You can set this under System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard.

Shows the :code:`System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard` menu with "Key Repeat" set to the "Fast" setting, and "Delay Until Repeat" set to the "Short" setting.

Enable meta key in terminal

To use option as the meta key in Terminal, enable it in Terminal > Preferences > Profiles > Keyboard:

Shows the :code:`Terminal > Preferences > Profiles > Keyboard` pane with "Use Option as Meta key" selected"