My MacBook Setup

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3 min read· 24 Apr 2026
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Personal reference. Every time i get a new Mac i waste half a day remembering what to install and in what order. This is the log.

0. The Fast Path#

Most of the dev environment — Claude Code, ghostty config, tmux, neovim, statusline, karabiner, skills — is automated via the claude-config installer:

git clone git@github.com:quickcall-dev/claude-config.git
cd claude-config
./install.sh

Pick modules interactively or pass them directly:

./install.sh tmux ghostty claude statusline

Available modules: claude, ghostty, tmux, nvim, karabiner, node, skills, statusline, caveman.

The rest of this log covers what the installer doesn't touch — browsers, productivity apps, system settings.

1. Package Manager#

Homebrew — everything else depends on this, do it first.

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

2. Browser#

Ditch the default browser, this is probably the very first step most of us do.

  • Brave — install manually from brave.com

3. Developer Tools#

brew install --cask zed
brew install --cask ghostty
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash   # Claude Code
brew install zoxide

Speedtest CLI:

brew tap teamookla/speedtest
brew update
brew install speedtest --force

Add zoxide to ~/.zshrc:

eval "$(zoxide init zsh)"

4. Terminal: Ghostty + tmux#

tmux is the actual terminal manager. Ghostty is just the window. Configure Ghostty to auto-attach to tmux on every open:

~/Library/Application Support/com.mitchellh.ghostty/config.ghostty:

command = /opt/homebrew/bin/tmux new-session -A -s main
confirm-close-surface = false
macos-titlebar-style = hidden
macos-titlebar-proxy-icon = hidden
term = xterm-256color
mouse-hide-while-typing = true

tmux config lives in the claude-config repo. Clone it and symlink:

git clone git@github.com:quickcall-dev/claude-config.git
ln -sf ~/path/to/claude-config/tmux/.tmux.conf ~/.tmux.conf

Install TPM plugins: Ctrl+b I inside tmux.

5. Shell#

powerlevel10k:

brew install powerlevel10k
echo "source $(brew --prefix)/share/powerlevel10k/powerlevel10k.zsh-theme" >>~/.zshrc

Restart terminal → follow wizard.

6. Notes & Knowledge#

brew install --cask notion
brew install --cask obsidian

7. Productivity & Window Management#

brew install --cask raycast
brew install --cask rectangle
  • AltTab — windows/linux style app switcher, switches by each open window (not just app). Way better than Cmd+Tab for heavy multitaskers. brew install --cask alt-tab
  • Contexts — https://contexts.co/ (save license file → double-click in Finder to activate)
  • KeepingYouAwake — https://keepingyouawake.app/

8. Display & System#

brew install --cask betterdisplay
brew install --cask aldente        # cap battery at 80%
brew install stats                 # RAM, CPU, GPU, network monitor in menu bar
  • Trackpad: max speed in System Settings
  • Brightness: turn off auto
  • Accessibility → Reduce Motion: on
  • Stop Dock icon bouncing on notifications:
defaults write com.apple.dock no-bouncing -bool true && killall Dock

9. Communication & Media#

brew install --cask spotify
brew install --cask vlc
  • Slack — install manually
Written by Sagar Sarkale