From 2be43cc479dfd4cfb621f14381330c708291e324 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Christian Cleberg Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2024 19:46:20 -0500 Subject: conversion from Zola to Weblorg --- content/blog/2024-01-09-macos-customization.org | 151 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 151 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/blog/2024-01-09-macos-customization.org (limited to 'content/blog/2024-01-09-macos-customization.org') diff --git a/content/blog/2024-01-09-macos-customization.org b/content/blog/2024-01-09-macos-customization.org new file mode 100644 index 0000000..efa70fd --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2024-01-09-macos-customization.org @@ -0,0 +1,151 @@ +#+date: <2024-01-09> +#+title: Customizing macOS +#+description: + + +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 + +To install color schemes, such as the Dracula scheme, 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. + +** 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. + +** 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. + +** 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. + +** 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! -- cgit v1.2.3-70-g09d2