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diff --git a/content/blog/2024-01-09-macos-customization.org b/content/blog/2024-01-09-macos-customization.org deleted file mode 100644 index 82e2d0a..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2024-01-09-macos-customization.org +++ /dev/null @@ -1,170 +0,0 @@ -#+title: Customizing macOS -#+date: 2024-01-09 -#+description: Learn how to customize macOS beyond the standard, built-in options provided by Apple. -#+filetags: :apple: - -I have been using macOS more than Linux lately, so I wrote this post to -describe some simple options to customize macOS beyond the normal -built-in settings menu. - -While not all-encompassing, the options below should be a good start for -anyone looking to dive down the rabbit hole. - -* Basics -** Package Management -To install a lot of software on macOS, you will need -[[https://brew.sh/][Homebrew]]. You can use their installation script to -get started. Simply open the =Terminal= application and paste the -following snippet: - -#+begin_src sh -/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)" -#+end_src - -This will allow you to easily install and manage applications and other -software easily through the =brew= command. - -** Terminal -If you're serious about customizing your macOS system, I highly -recommend installing a terminal emulator that you like and if you're not -comfortable on the command line yet, start learning. A lot of -customization options require you to edit hidden files, which is easiest -in a terminal. - -There are options like iTerm2, Kitty, Alacritty, Hyper, Warp, or the -built-in Terminal app. - -I use [[https://iterm2.com/][iTerm2]], which can be installed with -Homebrew: - -#+begin_src sh -brew install iterm2 -#+end_src - -#+caption: iTerm2 -[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240109-macos-customization/iterm2.png]] - -To install color schemes, such as the Dracula scheme shown in the -screenshot above, you visit [[https://iterm2colorschemes.com/][iTerm -Themes]] and follow their installation instructions to install any of -the themes. - -* Desktop -** Window Management -[[https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai][yabai]] is a tiling window -manager for macOS. While other window managers exist, I found that most -of them struggled to create logical layouts and to allow me to easily -move windows around the screen. - -Some advanced settings for yabai are only available if partially disable -System Integrity Protection (SIP). However, I chose not to do this and -it hasn't affected my basic usage of yabai at all. - -Refer to the -[[https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai/wiki/Installing-yabai-(latest-release)][yabai -wiki]] for installation instructions. You will need to ensure that yabai -is allowed to access the accessibility and screen recording APIs. - -You can see a basic three-pane layout atuomatically configured by yabai -for me as I opened the windows below. - -#+caption: yabai window manager -[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240109-macos-customization/yabai.png]] - -** Keyboard Shortcuts -[[https://github.com/koekeishiya/skhd][skhd]] is a simple hotkey daemon -that allows you to define hotkeys in a file for usage on your system. - -Installation is simple: - -#+begin_src sh -brew install koekeishiya/formulae/skhd -skhd --start-service -#+end_src - -After installation, be sure to allow =skhd= access to the accessibility -API in the macOS privacy settings. - -You can configure your hotkeys in the =~/.config/skhd/skhdrc= file: - -#+begin_src sh -nano ~/.config/skhd/skhdrc -#+end_src - -For example, I have hotkeys to open my browser and terminal: - -#+begin_src conf -# Terminal -cmd - return : /Applications/iTerm.app/Contents/MacOS/iTerm2 - -# Browser -cmd + shift - return : /Applications/LibreWolf.app/Contents/MacOS/librewolf -#+end_src - -** Widgets -[[https://github.com/felixhageloh/uebersicht/][uebersicht]] is a handy -desktop-based widget tool with a plethora of community-made widgets -available in the [[https://tracesof.net/uebersicht-widgets/][widgets -gallery]]. You can also write your own widgets with this tool. - -To install, simply download the latest release from the -[[https://tracesof.net/uebersicht/][uebersicht website]] and copy it to -the Applications folder. - -See below for an example of the -[[https://tracesof.net/uebersicht-widgets/#Mond][Mond]] widget in -action. - -#+caption: uebersicht desktop widgets -[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240109-macos-customization/uebersicht.png]] - -** Status Bar -[[https://github.com/FelixKratz/SketchyBar][SketchyBar]] is a -customizable replacement for the macOS status or menu bar. - -You can browse a discussion where various users shared their -[[https://github.com/FelixKratz/SketchyBar/discussions/47?sort=top][configurations]] -for inspiration or to copy their dotfiles. - -See below for a quick (& slightly broken) copy of -[[https://github.com/zer0yu/dotfiles][zer0yu's]] SketchyBar -configuration. - -#+caption: SketchyBar -[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240109-macos-customization/sketchybar.png]] - -** Dock -The easiest way to customize the dock is to install -[[https://ubarapp.com/][uBar]], which uses a Windows-like menu bar as -the default style. - -However, the built-in macOS dock cannot be disabled and can only be set -to "always hidden". This can be annoying as it will pop out any time -your mouse cursor passes closely to the dock edge of the screen. Because -of this, I simply use the built-in dock instead of customizing it with -third-party software. - -Regardless, see below for the default installation style of uBar. - -#+caption: uBar -[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240109-macos-customization/ubar.png]] - -** Application Icons -You can also customize the icon of any application in macOS, which will -show up in Finder, the Dock, Launchpad, search results, etc. I recommend -using [[https://macosicons.com/][macOSicons]] to download icons you -want, and then apply them by following this process. - -1. Open the Finder application. -2. Navigate to the =Applications= folder. -3. Right-click an application of your choice, and select =Get Info=. -4. Drag the image you downloaded on top of the application's icon at the - top of information window (you will see a green "plus" symbol when - you're hovering over it). -5. Release the new icon on top of the old icon and it will update! - -You can see an example of me dragging a new =signal.icns= file onto my -Signal.app information window to update it below: - -#+caption: replace macOS icons -[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240109-macos-customization/replace_icon.png]] |