macOS-Setup

A no-nonsense setup kit for a new Mac. It installs the stuff I actually use, the same way every time, with as little clicking as possible.

This repo is built around three things:

• Homebrew packages (Brewfile)
• Fonts (Brewfile.fonts)
• Mac App Store apps (Brewfile.mas) Plus a couple of scripts to make the whole thing painless.

What’s in here

• pre-setup.sh
  One-time prep. Think: prerequisites, sane defaults, and setup checks.

• install.sh
  The main installer. Runs the bundle installs and ties everything together.

• Brewfile
  CLI tools and apps installed via Homebrew.

• Brewfile.fonts
  Fonts installed via Homebrew casks.

• Brewfile.mas
  Mac App Store installs via mas (you need to be signed in).

Before you run anything

1. Update macOS.
2. Make sure you can run Terminal commands.
3. Read the scripts. Seriously. It’s your machine.

Quick start

Clone the repo and run the scripts:

git clone https://github.com/vladimircezar/macOS-Setup.git
cd macOS-Setup

chmod +x pre-setup.sh install.sh

./pre-setup.sh
./install.sh

If you prefer to run installs manually (or debug step-by-step), you can do:

# Base packages
brew bundle --file Brewfile

# Fonts
brew bundle --file Brewfile.fonts

# Mac App Store apps (requires App Store sign-in)
brew bundle --file Brewfile.mas

Mac App Store installs (mas)

Brewfile.mas uses mas under the hood.

Do this first:

1. Open the App Store app
2. Sign in with your Apple ID

Then run:

brew bundle --file Brewfile.mas

If mas complains, it’s almost always because you are not signed in.

Keeping everything up to date

The normal routine:

brew update
brew upgrade
brew upgrade --cask
brew cleanup

# If you use Mac App Store installs
mas upgrade

If you want Homebrew to match the Brewfiles again:

brew bundle --file Brewfile
brew bundle --file Brewfile.fonts
brew bundle --file Brewfile.mas

Adding or removing packages

Edit the Brewfiles and re-run brew bundle.

I like leaving comments so future-me doesn’t hate past-me:

brew "fastfetch" # nice system info header in terminal
cask "iterm2"    # better terminal app than the default

Then apply:

brew bundle --file Brewfile

Uninstalling what this installed

You can tell Homebrew to remove anything not listed in a Brewfile. This can be destructive if you use Homebrew for other stuff on that Mac.

Use with your eyes open:

brew bundle cleanup --file Brewfile --force

Troubleshooting

“brew: command not found”

Install Homebrew, then restart Terminal and try again.

Fonts fail to install

Make sure you have access to casks and try again:

brew update
brew bundle --file Brewfile.fonts

mas fails

Open the App Store and sign in first, then:

brew bundle --file Brewfile.mas

Notes

• This repo is opinionated. That’s the point.
• If you want a “work Mac” vs “personal Mac” split, make separate Brewfiles and keep them small.
• Don’t run scripts as root unless you enjoy pain.

License

MIT