Ask HN: What should I do after getting my first new MacBook?

#1

Post by mraza007 » Fri, Apr 15, 2022, 1:59 AM UTC

I finally bought a new MacBook Pro 14” M1 Pro a few days ago.

I come from Linux background and have been using mostly Arch Linux with i3. Any tips on how setting up my macbook as a developer machine would be appreciated.

Right now I’ve installed Home-brew and iTerm2 so you might be pretty sure that I’m going into that UNIX side of Apple, but I’m still eager to discover wonders of that “creative” or even “regular day to day usage” parts.

Any recommendations on software or even sharing dotfiles as examples would be highly appreciated :)

Re: Ask HN: What should I do after getting my first new MacBook?

#2

Post by teovall » Fri, Apr 15, 2022, 2:15 AM UTC

Give doing things the Mac way a chance before resorting to tweaks and hacks to make things like what you're used to. After the initial annoyance, you may end up finding you like the Mac way better.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do after getting my first new MacBook?

#3

Post by 7174n6 » Fri, Apr 15, 2022, 2:33 AM UTC

Install Alfred, pay for the powerpack, and learn how to really use it. Plenty of videos on Youtube to help you.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do after getting my first new MacBook?

#4

Post by yuppie_scum » Fri, Apr 15, 2022, 3:00 AM UTC

7174n6 wrote: post #3

Install Alfred, pay for the powerpack, and learn how to really use it. Plenty of videos on Youtube to help you.

Alfred is actually pretty dope. I have a lot of completion shortcuts in there.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do after getting my first new MacBook?

#5

Post by yuppie_scum » Fri, Apr 15, 2022, 3:01 AM UTC

Magnet is a great app for snapping and rearranging windows.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do after getting my first new MacBook?

#6

Post by maxharris » Fri, Apr 15, 2022, 3:08 AM UTC

Accidentally drop a latte into it like I did. Then try to get it repaired at an independent shop, which won’t have access to any replacement parts.

The thing that failed was the screen. It wicked up some coffee and now it only boots without the internal screen plugged in.

I am done giving Apple my money. I switched to paper and pen a month ago and I have never been happier.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do after getting my first new MacBook?

#7

Post by oandhjakk » Fri, Apr 15, 2022, 7:58 AM UTC

yuppie_scum wrote: post #5

Magnet is a great app for snapping and rearranging windows.

Rectangle is a free and similar app.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do after getting my first new MacBook?

#8

Post by oandhjakk » Fri, Apr 15, 2022, 8:08 AM UTC

My MacOS productivity tools include: alfred (as someone already said), rectangle, bartender (essential for me since getting a notched MacBook), xbar (if you want easy access to custom info/bash scripts in the menu bar), itsycal, menumeters, cheatsheet (to help you learn all of the hotkeys), obsidian (which I have set to auto sync to iCloud across devices).

Each of these can be installed via 'brew install'.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do after getting my first new MacBook?

#9

Post by oandhjakk » Fri, Apr 15, 2022, 8:11 AM UTC

maxharris wrote: post #6

Accidentally drop a latte into it like I did. Then try to get it repaired at an independent shop, which won’t have access to any replacement parts. The thing that failed was the screen . It wicked up some coffee and now it only boots without the internal screen plugged in. I am done giving Apple my money. I switched to paper and pen a month ago and I have never been happier.

Only the real hackers post to HN using paper and pen.