Macbook Pro dotfiles and setup at GitLab

This repository contains everything to bootstrap my Macbook Pro (16 inch, 2019). This setup is explained in-depth in dotfiles - Document and automate your Macbook setup.

In addition to the files stored in this repository, the following instructions are needed to fully setup a Macbook Pro.

Preparations

iterm2

Install it manually from the website, start it and add it to the deck.

Initial settings:

• Create a new profile in Preferences > Profile named white
  • Colors > Color presets > Tango Light
  • Session > Status bar enabled and Configure Status Bar. Add git state, CPU utilization, Memory utilization. Click Auto-Rainbow.
• Mark white profile and select Other Actions > Set as default.

Git (XCode)

Install it on the command line first, it will ask for permission.

xcode-select --install

Sudo

Note: I keep this disabled for improved security, though some sessions may require heavy sudo usage.

sudo vim /private/etc/sudoers.d/mfriedrich

#mfriedrich  ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL

Backup

Copy the following files in your home directory:

• SSH Keys
• GPG Keys
• GitHub/GitLab Tokens in .env
• Custom settings for OhMyZSH

cd backup/
cp -r .ssh .gnupg .env .oh-my-zsh $HOME/

Note:

The dotenv plugin is enabled in OhMyZSH which automatically reads the .env tokens from the user's home directory.

Dot files

git clone https://gitlab.com/dnsmichi/dotfiles.git
cd dotfiles

Sync the files.

./bootstrap.sh

Apply macOS settings.

./.macos

Install Homebrew and OhMyZSH.

./brew_once.sh

Install tools and applications with Homebrew bundle.

brew bundle

This makes use of the Brewfile definitions.

Essentials

Tools

These tools are managed without Homebrew on purpose, e.g. for manual updates.

• Workflows: Alfred including my Powerpack license
  • HTTP Status Codes
  • DNS: Dig
  • Colors
  • Emoji
  • Encode/Decode
  • Gmail
  • Gmail filters
  • Sketch
  • Google Translate
  • Python Library

Virtualization and Containers

I only use Docker locally, required VMs run in Hetzner Cloud (private), GCP or AWS. Docker for Mac provides the docker-compose binary required to run demo environments.

VirtualBox needs work with Kernel modules. I highly recommend to get a Parallels license instead.

Preferences

These are manual settings as they require user awareness.

FileVault

Enable Encryption (required for GitLab team members and recommended for everyone). See here for detailed instructions.

CLI:

sudo fdesetup status

sudo fdesetup enable

Keyboard

Shortcuts: Disable Spotlight in preparation for enabling Alfred next.

Alfred

Start Alfred from the Applications folder, and change the hotkey to Cmd+Space. Ensure that Spotlight is disabled in the system preferences.

Finder

Preferences > Sidebar and add

• User home
• System root

Additional Applications

• Google Chrome
• Docker (account required)
• JetBrains Toolbox (license required)
• NTFS for Mac (license required, I own a private license)
• Paw (license required, I own a private license)
• Spotify (account required)
• Telegram (account required)

Handbook

Following the GitLab handbook:

• Loom

Homebrew

• Firefox (in order to reproduce UX bugs)
• VLC
• Wireshark

Additional Hints

More insights can be found in these lists:

• Setting examples
• command overview.

Upgrades

On major version upgrades, binaries might be incompatible or need a local rebuild. You can enforce a reinstall by running the two commands below, the second command only reinstalls all application casks.

brew reinstall $(brew list)

brew reinstall $(brew list --cask)

When Xcode and compilers break, re-install the command line tools.

sudo rm -rf /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools
sudo xcode-select --install