I’m reviving a 2013 MacBook Pro with a clean install and fresh setup. This is mostly documentation for myself.

System Preferences

Install some apps

LastPass
Dropbox
Chrome
Chrome Sync + Extension Settings (must check each extension and copy from previous settings manually)
Mac App Store Apps

Homebrew

At this point I decided to take the opportunity to learn something new. A coworker had recently taught us about dotfiles at our weekly tech check-in, so I wanted to see if I could install the rest of my apps using Homebrew.

I installed Homebrew and Homebrew Bundle and created a Brewfile based on what I had installed on my work machine. I created a dotfiles folder in my Documents folder and stored the Brewfile in the dotfiles folder. Then I opened that directory in Terminal and ran brew bundle.

Mischief managed!

Last couple of steps to reach basic usability:

• make bash auto-complete case insensitive with echo "set completion-ignore-case On" >> ~/.inputrc
• setup git/ssh keys

At this point it’s been about 1.5 hours since I started.

My Specific App Setup / Persnickety Shit

Add licenses for Alfred, Bartender, BetterTouchTool and HyperDock
Setup/log into Airdroid, Alfred, Bartender, BetterTouchTool, Franz, HyperSwitch, HyperDock, Kindle, ReadKit, Slack, Spillo, Stretchly, Todoist (copy settings for ReadKit and Spillo from previous settings manually)
Add Spillo, ReadKit, Chrome, Slack, Franz to dock
Install SetApp apps
Customize right-click menu
Enable dragging by swiping on trackpad:
System Preferences > Accessibility > Mouse & Trackpad > Trackpad Options > Enable dragging
Enable git colorized output: git config --global color.ui auto
Setup VSCode with Settings Sync extension (Gist)