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Ask HN: Must have tools for a new MacBook

26 points by nothrowaways 4y ago

Hey HN, What apps should your new Mac have. I will go first: - sublime text - tunnel blick - thunder bird - vlc

uniqueuid 4y ago
- As few additional apps as possible, since any additional software introduces security, maintenance and cognitive burden.
oumua_don17 4y ago
A window manager. I use Moom.
kratom_sandwich 4y ago
Homebrew Package Manager https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebrew_(package_manager) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebrew_(package_manager) Maybe XCode Developer Tools https://mac.install.guide/commandlinetools/index.html https://mac.install.guide/commandlinetools/index.html Also for me: Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Office, Latex
kingkongjaffa 4y ago
Applet to keep your screen awake, owly is what I use: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/owly-prevent-display-sleep/id882812218?mt=12 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/owly-prevent-display-sleep/id8... Magnet for window management Iterm2 for terminal Zsh and oh-my-zsh for nice looking terminal and easy ways to change theming etc. Here’s the list from when I got mine: Things installed on new MacBook: - Spotify - Xcode tools - Vs code - iterm2 - Home-brew - Zsh and ohmyzsh - Emacs (mainly for org mode) - Firefox - Chrome - Node - Steam - Python 3.10 - R language
- JLCarveth 4y ago
  Why do you need a third party tool to keep the screen awake? You can do so from System Preferences. Also zsh is preinstalled.
- cercatrova 4y ago
  Magnet is deprecated, use Rectangle which is open source.
  - michelb 4y ago
    Magnet is not deprecated. It just got updated about a month ago.
kevinherron 4y ago
Just set up a new M1 last week. IntelliJ, git (and Xcode tools), VS Code, Wireshark, KeyStore Explorer, Divvy, Homebrew, fish shell, maven/gradle, Parallels. Usually iTerm2 but trying to give Terminal.app another chance.
- mwint 4y ago
  Why are you trying to go back to Terminal.app?
  - kevinherron 4y ago
    Because I can't answer the question "Why did I start using iTerm instead of Terminal.app?" any more.
speedgoose 4y ago
I wouldn’t use iTerm2 instead of the default terminal because it’s a lot slower.
ZeroGravitas 4y ago
Karabiner for key remapping, and Goku for making it nerdy and text based rather than GUI and XML: https://www.swyx.io/karabiner_lindquist https://www.swyx.io/karabiner_lindquist
raarts 4y ago
I use: Istat, Bartender, AltTab, Paste, 1Password, The Clock, Hammerspoon, Tripmode, DaisyDisk, Charles, TinkerTool.
tra3 4y ago
yabai for keyboard driven window management. https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai
_aavaa_ 4y ago
Better touch tools is a must. My computer feels broken without it. https://folivora.ai/ https://folivora.ai/ The same with Alfred.
maurits 4y ago
My two cents: - Alfred (super charged application launcher) - Dash (API Documentation Browser) - Karabiner (key remapping) - Keyboard Maestro (Automation tool) - SizeUp (window manager) - iTerm2 - 1Password (Password manager) Inspiration: [1] https://works-for-me.github.io/ https://works-for-me.github.io/ [2] https://usesthis.com/ https://usesthis.com/ [3] https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/my-mac-os https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/my-mac-os
- unknownaccount 4y ago
  Karabiner-elements is a good one. There is a script that adds the middle-mousewheel hold to drag scrolling like on Windows.
unknownaccount 4y ago
There’s a simple thing called “Show Desktop.app” which does as the name suggests. I created a shortcut on the desktop in the far right corner with an invisible icon and Unicode whitespace name, so that now I have a “show desktop” button in the bottom right corner of my screen just like windows. Can’t live without it.
- JLCarveth 4y ago
  There is a trackpad gesture for this as well.
  - unknownaccount 4y ago
    The built in gesture/hot corner thingy doesn’t work the same way. The built in method “shows your desktop” but doesn’t minimize all the open windows like Windows does.
swah 4y ago
- Rectangle Pro - Alfred or Raycast (both have also awesome clipboard management as bonus) - iTerm or Warp terminal - Chrome - Bitwarden - VSCode - 50 bash scripts on $HOME/bin
MivLives 4y ago
Rectangle (It's a window manager) Chrome Firefox VSCode My extensions for various web browsers Homebrew Other then that it's just what I end up needing in the course of work.
- linepupdesign 4y ago
eddof13 4y ago
just set up a new m1 this week: apple command line tools, emacs for os x, warp, rosetta terminal (for installing intel stuff), homebrew, the silver searcher, keyboard maestro, alfred, rescue time, docker, bartender, paw, tableplus, hopper disassembler, proxyman, textual, dash, nordvpn
- xu3u32 4y ago
  Can you share your usecases for Alfred? I downloaded it but never used it.
  - eddof13 4y ago
    the launcher is huge for me dash integration workflow empty trash I set up a few snippets for terminal commands clipboard history also another workflow for setting my audio input/outputs from headphone/mic to speaker etc
ikeserbestian 4y ago
Here is my list: - Xcode and commandline tools, - iTerm2, - Emacs, - Tiles, - AppCleaner, - VLC, - Firefox plus Dev. Edition, - Vivaldi, - MacPass, - Hush, - Wipr, - The Unarchiver, - Pages, Numbers, Keynote, - GarageBand and iMovie, - Iosevka fonts.
lurker137 4y ago
Flycut as a light weight clipboard manager: https://github.com/TermiT/Flycut https://github.com/TermiT/Flycut Figterm for terminal command autocomplete with interactive drop downs: https://fig.io/ https://fig.io/
torqu3e 4y ago
$ brew list -1 ==> Formulae bash bash-completion bat flyctl kubectx kubernetes-cli mosh ripgrep # way better grep starship # awesome terminal prompt wget ==> Casks aldente # stop your mac from charging beyond a configurable charge level bitwarden brave-browser ears # switch audio source/output quickly kitty # awesome terminal raycast # spotlight/alfred replacement rectangle # window manager (successor to the unmaintained spectacle) shottr # screenshotting app signal spotify stats # hardware stats in the menu bar visual-studio-code vlc zoom https://github.com/jaywcjlove/awesome-mac https://github.com/jaywcjlove/awesome-mac is a list of all the cool stuff you could need on a new mac organized by category.
OsintOtter69 4y ago
Brew was the first thing to go on mine
2143 4y ago
oh-my-zsh https://ohmyz.sh/ https://ohmyz.sh/
ahmaman 4y ago
Some of the apps I download on a fresh mac. ==> Casks 1password anki bartender bitwarden brave-browser calibre cryptomator deepl docker exifcleaner # Cleans images metadata fantastical firefox flux freetube # Privacy respecting youtube client imageoptim karabiner-elements keka knockknock libreoffice little-snitch microsoft-teams obsidian oversight postman protonmail-bridge protonvpn raycast rectangle shottr signal slack spotify tableplus thunderbird tor-browser transmission tresorit vlc vscodium # Microsoft-free VSCode I maintain my mac's configs in a dotfile repo, feel free to check it out for more configurations: https://github.com/mansour-ahmed/dotfiles https://github.com/mansour-ahmed/dotfiles
jpozo 4y ago
These are the ones I use the most -Notion for note taking -TickTick for to-do (though I'm currently developing my own to-do app) -Fig for autocomplete in the terminal -iTerm with zsh and ohmyzsh -f.lux for eye care -Hazel to dim windows other than the current active -Alfred as spotlight replacement -CleanShotX for screenshots and recording -CommandQ to have a timer if you accidentally hit Cmd + Q -1Password as password manager -aText for text shorcuts -Menuwhere to get the menu of the current app with a shortcut -Hookshot for window management -ColorSlurp as color picker -EasyFind to search for files and folder -Calibre to read epub and ebooks and manage books library -Contexts as window switcher (Cmd + Tab replacement) -DaisyDisk as disk space usage calculator -Fork as git client (Tower and GitKraken are pretty good too) -Postman as http client -Rocket for easy emoji access -TinkerTool modify macOS preferences not visible in user preferences -VLC as video player -VOX as music player -VS Code and JetBrains Rider for development
- kspyy 4y ago
  is there any advantage of using f.lux over the native nightshift these days?

26 points by nothrowaways 4y ago

Hey HN, What apps should your new Mac have. I will go first: - sublime text - tunnel blick - thunder bird - vlc

- As few additional apps as possible, since any additional software introduces security, maintenance and cognitive burden.

oumua_don17 4y ago

A window manager. I use Moom.

kratom_sandwich 4y ago

Homebrew Package Manager https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebrew_(package_manager) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebrew_(package_manager) Maybe XCode Developer Tools https://mac.install.guide/commandlinetools/index.html https://mac.install.guide/commandlinetools/index.html Also for me: Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Office, Latex

kingkongjaffa 4y ago

Applet to keep your screen awake, owly is what I use: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/owly-prevent-display-sleep/id882812218?mt=12 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/owly-prevent-display-sleep/id8... Magnet for window management Iterm2 for terminal Zsh and oh-my-zsh for nice looking terminal and easy ways to change theming etc. Here’s the list from when I got mine: Things installed on new MacBook: - Spotify - Xcode tools - Vs code - iterm2 - Home-brew - Zsh and ohmyzsh - Emacs (mainly for org mode) - Firefox - Chrome - Node - Steam - Python 3.10 - R language

JLCarveth 4y ago
Why do you need a third party tool to keep the screen awake? You can do so from System Preferences. Also zsh is preinstalled.
cercatrova 4y ago
Magnet is deprecated, use Rectangle which is open source.
- michelb 4y ago
  Magnet is not deprecated. It just got updated about a month ago.

kevinherron 4y ago

Just set up a new M1 last week. IntelliJ, git (and Xcode tools), VS Code, Wireshark, KeyStore Explorer, Divvy, Homebrew, fish shell, maven/gradle, Parallels. Usually iTerm2 but trying to give Terminal.app another chance.

mwint 4y ago
Why are you trying to go back to Terminal.app?
- kevinherron 4y ago
  Because I can't answer the question "Why did I start using iTerm instead of Terminal.app?" any more.

speedgoose 4y ago

I wouldn’t use iTerm2 instead of the default terminal because it’s a lot slower.

ZeroGravitas 4y ago

Karabiner for key remapping, and Goku for making it nerdy and text based rather than GUI and XML: https://www.swyx.io/karabiner_lindquist https://www.swyx.io/karabiner_lindquist

raarts 4y ago

I use: Istat, Bartender, AltTab, Paste, 1Password, The Clock, Hammerspoon, Tripmode, DaisyDisk, Charles, TinkerTool.

tra3 4y ago

yabai for keyboard driven window management. https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai

_aavaa_ 4y ago

Better touch tools is a must. My computer feels broken without it. https://folivora.ai/ https://folivora.ai/ The same with Alfred.

maurits 4y ago

My two cents: - Alfred (super charged application launcher) - Dash (API Documentation Browser) - Karabiner (key remapping) - Keyboard Maestro (Automation tool) - SizeUp (window manager) - iTerm2 - 1Password (Password manager) Inspiration: [1] https://works-for-me.github.io/ https://works-for-me.github.io/ [2] https://usesthis.com/ https://usesthis.com/ [3] https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/my-mac-os https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/my-mac-os

unknownaccount 4y ago
Karabiner-elements is a good one. There is a script that adds the middle-mousewheel hold to drag scrolling like on Windows.

unknownaccount 4y ago

There’s a simple thing called “Show Desktop.app” which does as the name suggests. I created a shortcut on the desktop in the far right corner with an invisible icon and Unicode whitespace name, so that now I have a “show desktop” button in the bottom right corner of my screen just like windows. Can’t live without it.

JLCarveth 4y ago
There is a trackpad gesture for this as well.
- unknownaccount 4y ago
  The built in gesture/hot corner thingy doesn’t work the same way. The built in method “shows your desktop” but doesn’t minimize all the open windows like Windows does.

swah 4y ago

- Rectangle Pro - Alfred or Raycast (both have also awesome clipboard management as bonus) - iTerm or Warp terminal - Chrome - Bitwarden - VSCode - 50 bash scripts on $HOME/bin

MivLives 4y ago

Rectangle (It's a window manager) Chrome Firefox VSCode My extensions for various web browsers Homebrew Other then that it's just what I end up needing in the course of work.

linepupdesign 4y ago

eddof13 4y ago

just set up a new m1 this week: apple command line tools, emacs for os x, warp, rosetta terminal (for installing intel stuff), homebrew, the silver searcher, keyboard maestro, alfred, rescue time, docker, bartender, paw, tableplus, hopper disassembler, proxyman, textual, dash, nordvpn

xu3u32 4y ago
Can you share your usecases for Alfred? I downloaded it but never used it.
- eddof13 4y ago
  the launcher is huge for me dash integration workflow empty trash I set up a few snippets for terminal commands clipboard history also another workflow for setting my audio input/outputs from headphone/mic to speaker etc

ikeserbestian 4y ago

Here is my list: - Xcode and commandline tools, - iTerm2, - Emacs, - Tiles, - AppCleaner, - VLC, - Firefox plus Dev. Edition, - Vivaldi, - MacPass, - Hush, - Wipr, - The Unarchiver, - Pages, Numbers, Keynote, - GarageBand and iMovie, - Iosevka fonts.

lurker137 4y ago

Flycut as a light weight clipboard manager: https://github.com/TermiT/Flycut https://github.com/TermiT/Flycut Figterm for terminal command autocomplete with interactive drop downs: https://fig.io/ https://fig.io/

torqu3e 4y ago

$ brew list -1 ==> Formulae bash bash-completion bat flyctl kubectx kubernetes-cli mosh ripgrep # way better grep starship # awesome terminal prompt wget ==> Casks aldente # stop your mac from charging beyond a configurable charge level bitwarden brave-browser ears # switch audio source/output quickly kitty # awesome terminal raycast # spotlight/alfred replacement rectangle # window manager (successor to the unmaintained spectacle) shottr # screenshotting app signal spotify stats # hardware stats in the menu bar visual-studio-code vlc zoom https://github.com/jaywcjlove/awesome-mac https://github.com/jaywcjlove/awesome-mac is a list of all the cool stuff you could need on a new mac organized by category.

OsintOtter69 4y ago

Brew was the first thing to go on mine

2143 4y ago

oh-my-zsh https://ohmyz.sh/ https://ohmyz.sh/

ahmaman 4y ago

Some of the apps I download on a fresh mac. ==> Casks 1password anki bartender bitwarden brave-browser calibre cryptomator deepl docker exifcleaner # Cleans images metadata fantastical firefox flux freetube # Privacy respecting youtube client imageoptim karabiner-elements keka knockknock libreoffice little-snitch microsoft-teams obsidian oversight postman protonmail-bridge protonvpn raycast rectangle shottr signal slack spotify tableplus thunderbird tor-browser transmission tresorit vlc vscodium # Microsoft-free VSCode I maintain my mac's configs in a dotfile repo, feel free to check it out for more configurations: https://github.com/mansour-ahmed/dotfiles https://github.com/mansour-ahmed/dotfiles

jpozo 4y ago

These are the ones I use the most -Notion for note taking -TickTick for to-do (though I'm currently developing my own to-do app) -Fig for autocomplete in the terminal -iTerm with zsh and ohmyzsh -f.lux for eye care -Hazel to dim windows other than the current active -Alfred as spotlight replacement -CleanShotX for screenshots and recording -CommandQ to have a timer if you accidentally hit Cmd + Q -1Password as password manager -aText for text shorcuts -Menuwhere to get the menu of the current app with a shortcut -Hookshot for window management -ColorSlurp as color picker -EasyFind to search for files and folder -Calibre to read epub and ebooks and manage books library -Contexts as window switcher (Cmd + Tab replacement) -DaisyDisk as disk space usage calculator -Fork as git client (Tower and GitKraken are pretty good too) -Postman as http client -Rocket for easy emoji access -TinkerTool modify macOS preferences not visible in user preferences -VLC as video player -VOX as music player -VS Code and JetBrains Rider for development

kspyy 4y ago
is there any advantage of using f.lux over the native nightshift these days?