Hello all,
I’ve recently gotten a MacBook pro at work. In the past I’ve mainly used Linux, so the switch isn’t super drastic. I’m mainly getting used to the shortcuts. My work mainly involves DevOps related work.
Things I’ve installed so far ( besides standard things like an IDE ):
- neovim
- brew
- rectangle
- jq / uw
- docker desktop
- iterm2
I have some coworkers excited about Alfred, which I have installed, but haven’t really used yet. Looks like an enhanced spotlight?
Any apps/tools you can recommend which makes your life easier on Macs? Hidden productivity gems?
- AdGuard for Safari
- Amphetamine (to keep the Mac from sleeping when you need it, also check out caffeinate which is a CLI tool that comes with the OS to do the same)
- bsdtar from libarchive for a universal (un)archiver (Archive Utility doesn’t unpack nearly enough common archive formats unfortunately and can create even fewer)
- Mac Mouse Fix (if you want to use a button mouse with it)
- Nix instead of docker, it actually bothers with native Mac packages instead of being a glorified VM
- Raycast (this one is also enhanced spotlight)
Some UI settings I’ve changed (these are up to taste obviously but I like them more):
- Mission Control -> Group spaces by application: ON
- Dock -> Minimize windows into application icon: ON
- Keyboard -> Press fn key to: Do Nothing (the default of I think Show Emoji & Symbols was driving me crazy because I kept hitting it by accident)
- Control Center -> Automatically hide and show the menu bar: Never (works especially well with the camera because it leaves blank space otherwise)
- Keyboard Shortcuts -> Function Keys -> Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys: ON
- probably more that I forgot but these should be the major ones
Didn’t see it here, but either VLC or IINA. I used VLC forever, but have recently mostly switched over to IINA.
Also an app uninstaller. I use AppZapper b/c I paid 99¢ for it forever ago (anybody remember maczot?) and it still works.
