Setup and configure a macOS machine for daily use and software development.
Download and decompress the repository archive:
curl -L -o setup.tar.gz https://github.com/mphstudios/macOS_setup/archive/refs/heads/main.tar.gz
mkdir -p ~/Code/macOS_setup
tar -xvf setup.tar.gz --directory ~/Code/macOS_setup/ --strip-components=1Run the bootstrap:
cd~/Code/macOS_setup
./bootstrap.shThe script bootstraps prerequisites (Xcode Command Line Tools, Homebrew, mise), prompts for machine-specific values on first run, then hands off to the misesetup task.
bootstrap.sh Thin bootstrap (~80 lines)
.env Machine-specific values (git-ignored)
mise.toml Tool versions + task config
brewfiles/ Declarative package lists
base, casks, fonts, mas
defaults/ macOS defaults as YAML (applied by macos-defaults)
general, dock, finder, safari, screen, apps, updates
system/ Files installed onto the machine
bin/ Scripts → ~/.local/bin/
LaunchAgents/ Plists → ~/Library/LaunchAgents/
assets/icons/ Notification icons
lib/output.sh Shared output functions
tasks/
setup.sh Meta-task: orchestrates full setup with logging
preflight.sh Read-only system check (no side effects)
install/
xcode.sh Xcode Command Line Tools
homebrew.sh Homebrew package manager
brew.sh Install packages from a brewfile
launch-agents.sh LaunchAgent lifecycle management
configure/
hostname.sh Set computer name and hostname
defaults.sh macOS system defaults
defaults-export.sh Export current defaults for a domain
dotfiles.sh Clone and setup dotfiles
git.sh Git config + SSH keys
shell.sh Login shells + default shell
Tasks are atomic and idempotent — they are safe to re-run at any time.
| Concern | Owner |
|---|---|
| What's installed | this repository (brewfiles, mise.toml) |
| How tools are configured | dotfiles repository |
| System preferences | this repository (defaults/*.yaml) |
| Machine identity | this repository (.env) |
| LaunchAgents | this repository (system/LaunchAgents/local.*) |
Inspect the system and see what setup would do — no side effects:
mise run preflightmise run configure:git # reconfigure git + SSH keys
mise run configure:defaults # reapply system defaults
mise run configure:shell # configure login shells
mise run install:launch-agents # sync LaunchAgents
mise run install:brew -- brewfiles/base # install a specific brewfile
mise run configure:dotfiles # clone/setup dotfilesList all available tasks:
mise tasks| File | Contents |
|---|---|
brewfiles/base | CLI tools, shells, search utilities |
brewfiles/casks | GUI applications |
brewfiles/fonts | Monospace, programming, and Nerd Fonts |
brewfiles/mas | Mac App Store applications |
To remove packages not listed in the brewfiles:
brew bundle cleanup --file=brewfiles/baseSystem defaults are managed declaratively via YAML files in defaults/, applied by macos-defaults.
Export current defaults for a domain:
mise run configure:defaults-export -- com.apple.dockPreview changes without applying:
macos-defaults apply --dry-run defaults/