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macOS Set Up Notes

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System Apps

Dock

To remove all apps from the Dock (by writing an empty array to the Dock’s persistent-apps list):

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array

killall Dock

To add small spacers to the Dock to help organize it:

alias add_dock_space='defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '\''{tile-data={}; tile-type=small-spacer-tile;}'\''; killall Dock;'

add_dock_space

Also helpful: Add Desktop folder to the Dock (drag and drop it next to Downloads)

Finder

  • Menu Bar -> View -> Turn on “Show Status Bar” and “Show Path Bar”
  • Choose Finder > Settings, then click Advanced. Select or deselect “Show all filename extensions.”

Terminal

  • Use Cmd + I to quickly open Inspector which allows you to change the profile (theme) of the window. Very helpful for multiple windows, to quickly tell which one is which.
  • Additional themes to download: Rickey_Terminal_Profiles.zip

Caps Lock Behaviour

An annoying caps lock delay exists. The real way is to fix it by running:

hidutil property --set '{"CapsLockDelayOverride":10}'

To run it at log-in every time: Create an Automator app that runs a “Script” with the above content, save it as remove_caps_lock_delay.app, and add it to your log-in items.

Keyboard Shortcuts

For using with a Windows-layout Keyboard

Because the Cmd Key is not vertically aligned with letter key “X”, it feels “weird” to use a normal keyboard for macOS. Therefore, it’s easier to keep some Windows-isms and the muscle memory as they work 80% of the time.

  • In Settings, Modifier Keys, swap Control as Command, and Command as Control (to use Logitech Keyboard)
  • Configure Mission Control to trigger on Control + Tab (which mimicks Windows alt+tab / Win+tab)
  • Prefer to use Logitech software as it gives a more pleasant mouse acceleration profile
  • Alternatively, use Linear Mouse: https://linearmouse.app/

Additional Apps

Window Tiling (Rectangle)

As of macOS 15 Sequoia there is now Window tiling using fn + control + arrow keys, but it still does not maximize window or move it between displays. To remove the gap between Windows: Turn off “Tiled windows have margins” in Settings.

Install Rectangle: https://rectangleapp.com/

Key Management

  • Use Secretive to manage SSH keys via the computer’s built-in Secure Enclave

Chrome Tab Management

Always have too many goddamn Chrome tabs open. Also works for Windows/Linux.

  1. Install Search Bookmarks, History and Tabs Extension
  2. Configure the extension to open with Cmd+Shift+A (so it is the same shortcut as Chrome’s built-in tab search)
  3. For additional options like increase the history span it searches, add a custom config

Clipboard Management

  1. Install https://maccy.app/ so you can keep multiple things in the clipboard and paste things from the past as needed.
  2. Enable “Paste automatically” in Maccy Preferences.

Example use case: Keep a commonly used string or some content readily available for pasting

Developer Tools

  • Docker Desktop seems to work fine, but Podman also exists. No strong feelings but for personal projects just use Docker for better ecosystem/content/support.

Cover Image: Mac OS X Lion Wallpaper. My first functional Hackintosh was Mac OS X Lion on a ThinkPad T420.