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@dannysmith
Last active October 17, 2023 08:20
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Sensible defaults for New Mac
#!/usr/bin/env bash
# ~/.osx — http://mths.be/osx
# Ask for the administrator password upfront
sudo -v
# Keep-alive: update existing `sudo` time stamp until `.osx` has finished
while true; do sudo -n true; sleep 60; kill -0 "$$" || exit; done 2>/dev/null &
###############################################################################
# General UI/UX #
###############################################################################
# Disable the sound effects on boot
sudo nvram SystemAudioVolume=" "
# Menu bar: hide the Time Machine, Volume, User, and Bluetooth icons
for domain in ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.systemuiserver.*; do
defaults write "${domain}" dontAutoLoad -array \
"/System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/TimeMachine.menu" \
"/System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/Volume.menu" \
"/System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/User.menu"
done
defaults write com.apple.systemuiserver menuExtras -array \
"/System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/Bluetooth.menu" \
"/System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/AirPort.menu" \
"/System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/Battery.menu" \
"/System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/Clock.menu"
# Increase window resize speed for Cocoa applications
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSWindowResizeTime -float 0.001
# Expand save panel by default
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool true
# Expand print panel by default
defaults write NSGlobalDomain PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool true
# Save to disk (not to iCloud) by default
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSDocumentSaveNewDocumentsToCloud -bool false
# Automatically quit printer app once the print jobs complete
defaults write com.apple.print.PrintingPrefs "Quit When Finished" -bool true
# Disable the “Are you sure you want to open this application?” dialog
defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices LSQuarantine -bool false
# Display ASCII control characters using caret notation in standard text views
# Try e.g. `cd /tmp; unidecode "\x{0000}" > cc.txt; open -e cc.txt`
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSTextShowsControlCharacters -bool true
# Disable automatic termination of inactive apps
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSDisableAutomaticTermination -bool true
# Set Help Viewer windows to non-floating mode
defaults write com.apple.helpviewer DevMode -bool true
# Reveal IP address, hostname, OS version, etc. when clicking the clock
# in the login window
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow AdminHostInfo HostName
# Restart automatically if the computer freezes
systemsetup -setrestartfreeze on
# Check for software updates daily, not just once per week
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate ScheduleFrequency -int 1
###############################################################################
# SSD-specific tweaks #
###############################################################################
# Disable local Time Machine snapshots
sudo tmutil disablelocal
# Disable hibernation (speeds up entering sleep mode)
sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0
# Remove the sleep image file to save disk space
sudo rm /Private/var/vm/sleepimage
# Create a zero-byte file instead…
sudo touch /Private/var/vm/sleepimage
# …and make sure it can’t be rewritten
sudo chflags uchg /Private/var/vm/sleepimage
###############################################################################
# Trackpad, mouse, keyboard, Bluetooth accessories, and input #
###############################################################################
# Increase sound quality for Bluetooth headphones/headsets
defaults write com.apple.BluetoothAudioAgent "Apple Bitpool Min (editable)" -int 40
# Enable full keyboard access for all controls
# (e.g. enable Tab in modal dialogs)
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleKeyboardUIMode -int 3
# Use scroll gesture with the Ctrl (^) modifier key to zoom
defaults write com.apple.universalaccess closeViewScrollWheelToggle -bool true
defaults write com.apple.universalaccess HIDScrollZoomModifierMask -int 262144
# Follow the keyboard focus while zoomed in
defaults write com.apple.universalaccess closeViewZoomFollowsFocus -bool true
# Disable press-and-hold for keys in favor of key repeat
defaults write NSGlobalDomain ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false
# Set a fast keyboard repeat rate
defaults write NSGlobalDomain KeyRepeat -int 0
###############################################################################
# Screen #
###############################################################################
# Save screenshots to the desktop
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location -string "${HOME}/Desktop"
# Save screenshots in PNG format (other options: BMP, GIF, JPG, PDF, TIFF)
defaults write com.apple.screencapture type -string "png"
# Enable subpixel font rendering on non-Apple LCDs
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 2
# Enable HiDPI display modes (requires restart)
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver DisplayResolutionEnabled -bool true
###############################################################################
# Finder #
###############################################################################
# Finder: allow quitting via ⌘ + Q; doing so will also hide desktop icons
defaults write com.apple.finder QuitMenuItem -bool true
# Set Desktop as the default location for new Finder windows
# For other paths, use `PfLo` and `file:///full/path/here/`
defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTarget -string "PfDe"
defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTargetPath -string "file://${HOME}/Desktop/"
# Hide icons for hard drives, servers, and removable media on the desktop
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowExternalHardDrivesOnDesktop -bool false
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowHardDrivesOnDesktop -bool false
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowMountedServersOnDesktop -bool false
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowRemovableMediaOnDesktop -bool false
# Finder: show hidden files by default
# defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true
# Finder: hide path bar
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowPathbar -bool false
# Finder: allow text selection in Quick Look
defaults write com.apple.finder QLEnableTextSelection -bool true
# Display full POSIX path as Finder window title
defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool true
# When performing a search, search the current folder by default
defaults write com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope -string "SCcf"
# Disable the warning when changing a file extension
defaults write com.apple.finder FXEnableExtensionChangeWarning -bool false
# Enable spring loading for directories
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.springing.enabled -bool true
# Remove the spring loading delay for directories
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.springing.delay -float 0
# Avoid creating .DS_Store files on network volumes
defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool true
# Automatically open a new Finder window when a volume is mounted
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages auto-open-ro-root -bool true
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages auto-open-rw-root -bool true
defaults write com.apple.finder OpenWindowForNewRemovableDisk -bool true
# Enable snap-to-grid for icons on the desktop and in other icon views
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:arrangeBy grid" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:arrangeBy grid" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:arrangeBy grid" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
# Use list view in all Finder windows by default
# Four-letter codes for the other view modes: `icnv`, `clmv`, `Flwv`
defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "Nlsv"
# Enable AirDrop over Ethernet and on unsupported Macs running Lion
defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser BrowseAllInterfaces -bool true
# Enable the MacBook Air SuperDrive on any Mac
sudo nvram boot-args="mbasd=1"
# Show the ~/Library folder
chflags nohidden ~/Library
# Expand the following File Info panes:
# “General”, “Open with”, and “Sharing & Permissions”
defaults write com.apple.finder FXInfoPanesExpanded -dict \
General -bool true \
OpenWith -bool true \
Privileges -bool true
###############################################################################
# Dock, Dashboard, and hot corners #
###############################################################################
# Enable highlight hover effect for the grid view of a stack (Dock)
defaults write com.apple.dock mouse-over-hilite-stack -bool true
# Minimize windows into their application’s icon
defaults write com.apple.dock minimize-to-application -bool true
# Enable spring loading for all Dock items
defaults write com.apple.dock enable-spring-load-actions-on-all-items -bool true
# Speed up Mission Control animations
defaults write com.apple.dock expose-animation-duration -float 0.1
# Disable Dashboard
defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -bool true
# Don’t show Dashboard as a Space
defaults write com.apple.dock dashboard-in-overlay -bool true
# Don’t automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use
defaults write com.apple.dock mru-spaces -bool false
# Remove the auto-hiding Dock delay
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 0
# Automatically hide and show the Dock
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide -bool true
# Make Dock icons of hidden applications translucent
defaults write com.apple.dock showhidden -bool true
# Make Dock more transparent
defaults write com.apple.dock hide-mirror -bool true
# Reset Launchpad
find ~/Library/Application\ Support/Dock -name "*.db" -maxdepth 1 -delete
###############################################################################
# Safari & WebKit #
###############################################################################
# Set Safari’s home page to `about:blank` for faster loading
defaults write com.apple.Safari HomePage -string "about:blank"
# Allow hitting the Backspace key to go to the previous page in history
defaults write com.apple.Safari com.apple.Safari.ContentPageGroupIdentifier.WebKit2BackspaceKeyNavigationEnabled -bool true
# Hide Safari’s sidebar in Top Sites
defaults write com.apple.Safari ShowSidebarInTopSites -bool false
# Enable Safari’s debug menu
defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeInternalDebugMenu -bool true
# Make Safari’s search banners default to Contains instead of Starts With
defaults write com.apple.Safari FindOnPageMatchesWordStartsOnly -bool false
# Remove useless icons from Safari’s bookmarks bar
defaults write com.apple.Safari ProxiesInBookmarksBar "()"
# Enable the Develop menu and the Web Inspector in Safari
defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeDevelopMenu -bool true
defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitDeveloperExtrasEnabledPreferenceKey -bool true
defaults write com.apple.Safari com.apple.Safari.ContentPageGroupIdentifier.WebKit2DeveloperExtrasEnabled -bool true
# Add a context menu item for showing the Web Inspector in web views
defaults write NSGlobalDomain WebKitDeveloperExtras -bool true
###############################################################################
# Mail #
###############################################################################
# Copy email addresses as `foo@example.com` instead of `Foo Bar <foo@example.com>` in Mail.app
defaults write com.apple.mail AddressesIncludeNameOnPasteboard -bool false
# Add the keyboard shortcut ⌘ + Enter to send an email in Mail.app
defaults write com.apple.mail NSUserKeyEquivalents -dict-add "Send" -string "@\\U21a9"
# Display emails in threaded mode, sorted by date (oldest at the top)
defaults write com.apple.mail DraftsViewerAttributes -dict-add "DisplayInThreadedMode" -string "yes"
defaults write com.apple.mail DraftsViewerAttributes -dict-add "SortedDescending" -string "yes"
defaults write com.apple.mail DraftsViewerAttributes -dict-add "SortOrder" -string "received-date"
###############################################################################
# Terminal & iTerm 2 #
###############################################################################
# Only use UTF-8 in Terminal.app
defaults write com.apple.terminal StringEncodings -array 4
###############################################################################
# Time Machine #
###############################################################################
# Prevent Time Machine from prompting to use new hard drives as backup volume
defaults write com.apple.TimeMachine DoNotOfferNewDisksForBackup -bool true
# Disable local Time Machine backups
hash tmutil &> /dev/null && sudo tmutil disablelocal
###############################################################################
# Activity Monitor #
###############################################################################
# Show the main window when launching Activity Monitor
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor OpenMainWindow -bool true
# Visualize CPU usage in the Activity Monitor Dock icon
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor IconType -int 5
# Show all processes in Activity Monitor
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor ShowCategory -int 0
# Sort Activity Monitor results by CPU usage
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor SortColumn -string "CPUUsage"
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor SortDirection -int 0
###############################################################################
# Address Book, Dashboard, iCal, TextEdit, and Disk Utility #
###############################################################################
# Enable the debug menu in Address Book
defaults write com.apple.addressbook ABShowDebugMenu -bool true
# Enable Dashboard dev mode (allows keeping widgets on the desktop)
defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode -bool true
# Enable the debug menu in iCal (pre-10.8)
defaults write com.apple.iCal IncludeDebugMenu -bool true
# Use plain text mode for new TextEdit documents
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit RichText -int 0
# Open and save files as UTF-8 in TextEdit
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit PlainTextEncoding -int 4
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit PlainTextEncodingForWrite -int 4
# Enable the debug menu in Disk Utility
defaults write com.apple.DiskUtility DUDebugMenuEnabled -bool true
defaults write com.apple.DiskUtility advanced-image-options -bool true
###############################################################################
# Mac App Store #
###############################################################################
# Enable the WebKit Developer Tools in the Mac App Store
defaults write com.apple.appstore WebKitDeveloperExtras -bool true
# Enable Debug Menu in the Mac App Store
defaults write com.apple.appstore ShowDebugMenu -bool true
###############################################################################
# Messages #
###############################################################################
# Disable smart quotes as it’s annoying for messages that contain code
defaults write com.apple.messageshelper.MessageController SOInputLineSettings -dict-add "automaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled" -bool false
###############################################################################
# Google Chrome & Google Chrome Canary #
###############################################################################
# Allow installing user scripts via GitHub or Userscripts.org
defaults write com.google.Chrome ExtensionInstallSources -array "https://*.github.com/*" "http://userscripts.org/*"
defaults write com.google.Chrome.canary ExtensionInstallSources -array "https://*.github.com/*" "http://userscripts.org/*"
###############################################################################
# Transmission.app #
###############################################################################
# Use `~/Documents/Torrents` to store incomplete downloads
defaults write org.m0k.transmission UseIncompleteDownloadFolder -bool true
defaults write org.m0k.transmission IncompleteDownloadFolder -string "${HOME}/Documents/Torrents"
# Don’t prompt for confirmation before downloading
defaults write org.m0k.transmission DownloadAsk -bool false
# Trash original torrent files
defaults write org.m0k.transmission DeleteOriginalTorrent -bool true
# Hide the donate message
defaults write org.m0k.transmission WarningDonate -bool false
# Hide the legal disclaimer
defaults write org.m0k.transmission WarningLegal -bool false
# Enable the debug menu in Address Book
defaults write com.apple.addressbook ABShowDebugMenu -bool true
###############################################################################
# Twitter.app #
###############################################################################
# Show the app window when clicking the menu bar icon
defaults write com.twitter.twitter-mac MenuItemBehavior -int 1
# Enable the hidden ‘Develop’ menu
defaults write com.twitter.twitter-mac ShowDevelopMenu -bool true
# Open links in the background
defaults write com.twitter.twitter-mac openLinksInBackground -bool true
# Allow closing the ‘new tweet’ window by pressing `Esc`
defaults write com.twitter.twitter-mac ESCClosesComposeWindow -bool true
# Show full names rather than Twitter handles
defaults write com.twitter.twitter-mac ShowFullNames -bool true
# Hide the app in the background if it’s not the front-most window
defaults write com.twitter.twitter-mac HideInBackground -bool true
###############################################################################
# Kill affected applications #
###############################################################################
for app in "Activity Monitor" "Address Book" "Calendar" "Contacts" "cfprefsd" \
"Dock" "Finder" "Mail" "Messages" "Safari" "SizeUp" "SystemUIServer" \
"Terminal" "Transmission" "Twitter" "iCal"; do
killall "${app}" > /dev/null 2>&1
done
echo "Done. Note that some of these changes require a logout/restart to take effect."
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