Apps To Install When Setting Up A New Mac

1Password

My preferred password manager is 1password, I've been using it for years. It's the most secure and easy to use password manager I have found. I don't mind paying the $35 yearly fee for it at as it's well worth the peace of mind.

1Password integrates well with Chrome, Safari as well as their mobile app is excellent.

Authy

For security, I have 2FA auth setup on my accounts. My preferred authenticator app is Authy. SMS based 2FA is vulnerable to attacks, again the peace of mind is well worth it. Authy is totally free. Authy currently requires Rosetta and is not an M1 native app.

I have Authy on iOS installed too.

xCode

For iOS development and command line tools I install xCode. It's a huge multi-gigabyte download but it's the only game in town.

Command Line tools are available to install separately as well from Apple or through Homebrew

Homebrew

As a developer, Homebrew is essential. It's the easiest and most well known package manager for OS X.

Sublime Text

Sublime is my text and code editor of choice. I've been using it for years. Old habits die hard I guess. These days it's easier to install through Homebrew as you get the subl terminal command installed as well.

brew install --cask sublime-text

Chrome

I hate to use it because Google has a horrible privacy record but I'm just too attached to Chrome.

Github Desktop

I much prefer Github Desktop to the command line. Even after years of using Git, the Github Desktop client is so much easier to use. When you first install it, it asks to install Rosetta but then after the app is run, there's a M1 version update you can get. Not sure why they don't let you install the M1 version in the first place.

Magnet

Magnet is my preferred window manager. It's great and so easy to use! I've set up shortcuts that make daily window management effortless with easy to remember hot keys. Magnet is $7.99 and well worth it.

I've setup my Magnet shortcuts with:

• Control + 1 - Maximizes Window
• Control + 2 - Left 50% Width Window
• Control + 3 - Right 50% Width Window

xScope

xScope is a fantastic color dropper and screen measuring tool! I've been using it since version 1 and it's been on version 4 for the last few years. I use the App Store version which is currently $49.99 but I think I bought it years ago for way less than that.

If you are a designer or work with color in anyway, xScope is a must. It's also a gorgeous app by the amazing designers at the Iconfactory.

Spotify

Spotify is my preferred streaming music platform. While I don't think streaming music in the long run is great for artists financially, it's sadly the default these days.

I have friend in bands who have sent me pictures of $0.33 checks after thousands and thousands of plays.

Postgres App

Postgres App is the easiest way to have Postgres running on your machine. I prefer it to the Homebrew version. There might be some configuration you need to do for the ruby PG gem you need to do but it's a one-liner.