About macSetupTool

A script to automate macOS setup with modern development tools via Homebrew. This tool configures a fresh Mac for development by installing tools, setting up git with SSH keys, configuring system settings, and optionally setting up dotfiles.

Modern Tools (2026)

This setup uses current best-in-class tools optimized for Apple Silicon:

• Raycast: Modern productivity launcher with extensions and AI features
• Ghostty: GPU-accelerated native terminal written in Zig
• Arc: AI-powered Chromium-based browser with vertical tabs
• Colima: Lightweight Docker runtime (90% less memory than Docker Desktop)
• Rectangle: Apple Silicon native window manager (replaces deprecated Spectacle)
• Starship: Fast cross-shell prompt written in Rust
• fnm: Fast Node Manager (20-40x faster than nvm)

Architecture

The tool is organized into four main scripts:

• install.sh: Main orchestration script that runs all setup steps in sequence
• config.sh: Configuration file containing arrays of packages, apps, fonts, and VS Code extensions
• osx-settings.sh: macOS system preferences (Safari, Finder, Dock, trackpad, etc.)
• util.sh: Shared utility functions for colored console output

Files

• install.sh - Main installation script
• config.sh - Package lists (apps, binaries, fonts, VS Code extensions)
• osx-settings.sh - System preferences (Safari, Finder, Dock, etc.)
• util.sh - Colored console output utilities

How to run

git clone https://github.com/benaich/macSetupTool
cd macSetupTool
sh install.sh

You will be prompted for:

• Git username and email - for git configuration
• Dotfile repository URL (optional) - see dotfiles.github.io
• Administrator password - for sudo operations (kept alive during installation)

What Gets Installed

Development Tools

• Languages: Java, Ruby, Go, Node.js (via fnm)
• Tools: Git, Maven, Docker (via Colima), Kubernetes CLI
• Utilities: httpie, jq, fzf, bat, tree, ctop, tldr

Applications

• Editors: VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA
• Browsers: Arc
• Productivity: Raycast, Rectangle, Slack
• Terminal: Ghostty
• DevOps: VirtualBox, Vagrant
• Utilities: The Unarchiver

Shell Setup

• oh-my-zsh with plugins (zsh-autosuggestions)
• Starship prompt
• Powerline fonts for terminal

VS Code Extensions

16 essential extensions including GitLens, Docker, Python, Go, Prettier, and more.

Post-Installation

Colima (Docker)

Already started during installation. Useful commands:

colima start         # Start Docker runtime
colima stop          # Stop Docker runtime
colima status        # Check status
colima restart       # Restart with current settings
docker ps            # Works just like Docker Desktop
docker-compose up    # Multi-container orchestration

To adjust resources:

colima stop
colima start --cpu 8 --memory 16 --disk 200

Starship (Shell Prompt)

Customize your prompt at ~/.config/starship.toml. Example:

# Get editor completions based on the config schema
"$schema" = 'https://starship.rs/config-schema.json'

# Timeout for starship to scan files (in milliseconds)
scan_timeout = 10

# Add a newline before the prompt
add_newline = true

See starship.rs/config for all options.

Ghostty (Terminal)

Configuration at ~/.config/ghostty/config or via dotfiles. Example config:

font-family = "JetBrains Mono"
font-size = 14
theme = "Catppuccin Mocha"
window-padding-x = 10
window-padding-y = 10

fnm (Node Manager)

Manage Node.js versions:

fnm list             # List installed versions
fnm install 20       # Install Node 20
fnm install --lts    # Install latest LTS
fnm use 20           # Switch to Node 20
fnm default 20       # Set Node 20 as default
fnm current          # Show current version

Auto-switching via .node-version or .nvmrc files works automatically with --use-on-cd.

Rectangle (Window Manager)

Keyboard shortcuts (same as Spectacle):

• ⌘ + ⌥ + ←/→ - Left/Right half
• ⌘ + ⌥ + ↑/↓ - Top/Bottom half
• ⌘ + ⌥ + F - Fullscreen
• ⌘ + ⌥ + C - Center

Grant accessibility permissions when prompted on first launch.

Raycast (Productivity Launcher)

• Replace Spotlight with Raycast in System Preferences
• Browse extensions at raycast.com/store
• Use ⌘ + Space to launch (after changing from Spotlight)

Customization

Modifying Installed Packages

Edit arrays in config.sh:

• binaries: Homebrew formulae (CLI tools)
• apps: Homebrew casks (GUI applications)
• fonts: Font packages from homebrew/cask-fonts
• node_packages: Global npm packages
• vscode_extensions: VS Code extension IDs

macOS System Settings

Edit osx-settings.sh to customize:

• Safari preferences (privacy, search, homepage)
• Finder behavior (show hidden files, column view)
• Dock configuration (autohide, indicators)
• Trackpad and keyboard settings (tap to click, repeat rate)
• Screenshot location and format
• Activity Monitor defaults

Dotfiles Integration

If you provide a dotfile repository URL, the script:

1. Clones it to ~/.dotfiles
2. Uses rcup (from thoughtbot/rcm) to create symlinks
3. Your dotfiles can override any default configurations

SSH Key Setup

The script automatically:

1. Generates an ed25519 SSH key with 100 KDF rounds (-a 100)
2. Adds it to the ssh-agent
3. Copies the public key to your clipboard
4. Pauses for you to add it to GitHub

This ensures secure git operations for all subsequent steps.

Troubleshooting

Colima won't start

colima delete          # Remove existing VM
colima start           # Create fresh VM

fnm not found after installation

# Reload shell configuration
source ~/.zshrc
# Or restart your terminal

VS Code extensions fail to install

Ensure VS Code command line tools are installed:

# Open VS Code
# Press Cmd+Shift+P
# Type "shell command"
# Select "Install 'code' command in PATH"

Homebrew permissions issues

sudo chown -R $(whoami) /usr/local/Homebrew

Migration from Old Tools

From nvm to fnm

# Install Node versions you need
fnm install 18
fnm install 20
fnm default 20

# Remove nvm
rm -rf ~/.nvm
# Remove nvm lines from .zshrc

From Docker Desktop to Colima

# Uninstall Docker Desktop (optional)
# Colima uses the same docker CLI commands
colima start
docker ps  # Should work immediately

From iTerm2 to Ghostty

# Export iTerm2 preferences first (optional)
# Ghostty uses a simple text config file
# See ~/.config/ghostty/config

Requirements

• macOS (tested on macOS 13+)
• Administrator access (for sudo operations)
• Active internet connection
• GitHub account (for SSH key setup)

License

Feel free to use and modify for your own setup needs.