macOS Preferences Defaults

macOS-Preferences-Defaults.sh

#!/usr/bin/env zsh

#===========================================================================
#  *                                 INFO
#    
# macOS Preferences Defaults
# By Christopher Allen @ChristopherA https://github.com/christophera/

# My most basic macOS preferences, in this gist to make it easy to load on
# multiple machines and VMs. Ideally runs on all macOS versions since Yosemite,
# but only tested recently with macOS Catalina 10.6 though Monterey 12.4.

## TBD: Initial macOS Sonoma 14.0 testing.
## WARNING: Initial tests with macOS Sonoma 14.0 have a lot of failures, mostly
## with the approaches used request access. If you answer yes to all the
## errors will still occur, but you can run the script multiple times and it
## will eventually set most of them. 

# As a convenience for bootstrapping, you can execute this script remotely,
# which will update your a Mac with all these settings using `curl`, which will
# not leave itself on your system (ideally a newly installed Mac system). Just
# paste the following command into the Terminal  (`⌘␣Terminal`):

# curl -L https://gist.githubusercontent.com/ChristopherA/98628f8cd00c94f11ee6035d53b0d3c6/raw/macOS-Preferences-Defaults.sh | bash

# ! WARNING: Be cautious whenever someone asks you to run a script that has
# ! `curl` command in it, because if the author is malicious they can corrupt
# ! your system or make it vulnerable. In this case the script is run from a
# ! trusted website (`gist.githubusercontent.com/`), and is from my account
# ! (`ChristopherA`). Make sure you look at the script the URL refers to and
# ! confirm the URL is the same as you pasted into the Terminal, before hitting
# ! return!

# Much of this script is inspired by from Mathias Bynens' famous ~/.osx —
# https://mths.be/osx - https://github.com/mathiasbynens/dotfiles

#===========================================================================

#================================================
# *                TEST ENVIROMENT
#================================================

# Mac Hardware Model
osx_hardware_model=$(sysctl -n hw.model)		

# VMware detection. Used to set VMware specific preferences.		
if [ ! -z "$(echo $osx_hardware_model | grep VMware)" ] || [ ! -z "$(echo $osx_hardware_model | grep VirtualMac)" ]; then		
    osx_hardware_model_is_vm = true		
    # else		
    #   printf "This macOS is NOT running in a Virtual Machine. ABORT\n"		
    #   exit 1		
fi		



# Which version and build of macOS are we executing under?		

read osx_product_version osx_vers_major osx_vers_minor osx_vers_patch \		
    <<< $(sw_vers -productVersion | awk -F. '{print $0 " " $1 " " $2 " " $3}')		
osx_build_version="$(sw_vers -buildVersion)"		

printf "Running $osx_distro inside of $osx_hardware_model.\n"		

# What is the human-readable codename for this macOS?		

case "$osx_product_version" in		
"10.4"*) osx_codename="Mac OS X Tiger" ;;		
"10.5"*) osx_codename="Mac OS X Leopard" ;;		
"10.6"*) osx_codename="Mac OS X Snow Leopard" ;;		
"10.7"*) osx_codename="Mac OS X Lion" ;;		
"10.8"*) osx_codename="OS X Mountain Lion" ;;		
"10.9"*) osx_codename="OS X Mavericks" ;;		
"10.10"*) osx_codename="OS X Yosemite" ;;		
"10.11"*) osx_codename="OS X El Capitan" ;;		
"10.12"*) osx_codename="macOS Sierra" ;;		
"10.13"*) osx_codename="macOS High Sierra" ;;		
"10.14"*) osx_codename="macOS Mojave" ;;		
"10.15"*) osx_codename="macOS Catalina" ;;		
"11."*) osx_codename="macOS Big Sur" ;;		
"12."*) osx_codename="macOS Monterey" ;;
"13."*) osx_codename="macOS Ventura" ;;
"14."*) osx_codename="macOS Sonoma" ;;
*) osx_codename="macOS" ;;		
esac		

osx_distro="$osx_codename $osx_product_version ($osx_build_version)"		

printf "Running $osx_distro inside of $osx_hardware_model.\n"		

#================================================		
# *      TEST TERMINAL FOR FULL DISK ACCESS		
#================================================		


# Test if Terminal has Full Disk Access, and if it doesn't, prompt user to set		
# it and start over.		
# ? A number of preferences now require Terminal.app to have Full		
# ? Disk Access, in particular Safari.app.		
# ? https://lapcatsoftware.com/articles/containers.html		
# TODO: Wrap with $osx_product_version tests		

printf "Testing for Full Disk Access:\n\n"		
errstr=$( /bin/ls /Users/admin/Library/Containers/com.apple.Safari 3>&1 1>&2 2>&3 3>&- )		
# ? Full disk access has only been in since Mojave, but which files were protected first?		
# TODO: Research if there is an older file to test. 		

if [[ $errstr == *"Operation not permitted" ]]; then		
   printf "Terminal.app needs Full Disk Access permission\n"		

    # Prompt user to give Terminal Full Disk Access		
    # ! This worked earlier in VMware Montery, but failed on M1 MacBook Pro (14-inch 2021)		
    # TODO: Investigate		

    osascript   -e "tell application \"System Preferences\" to activate " \
                -e "tell application \"System Preferences\" to reveal anchor \"Privacy_AllFiles\" of pane id \"com.apple.preference.security\" " \
                -e "display dialog \"Before continuing:\n\nUnlock and check the box next to Terminal to give it full disk access.\n\nThen quit Terminal and run this script again.\" buttons {\"OK\"} default button 1 with icon caution "
    exit # as we can't proceed until Terminal has been granted full Disk Access
else
   printf "Terminal.app has permission to continue\n"
fi

#================================================
# *           CLOSE SYSTEM PREFERENCES
#================================================

# Close any open System Preferences panes, to prevent them from overriding
# settings we’re about to change
osascript -e 'tell application "System Preferences" to quit'

#================================================
# *                SYSTEMUISERVER
#================================================

# from https://gist.github.com/AndrewWCarson/d4e2e1e601b759c19553fec2310433e2
# for user in $(dscl . list /Users UniqueID | awk '$2 >= 500 {print $1}'); do
#     userHome=$(dscl . read /Users/"$user" NFSHomeDirectory | sed 's/NFSHomeDirectory://' | grep "/" | sed 's/^[ \t]*//')
#     if [ "$(defaults read "${userHome}/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemuiserver.plist" 2> /dev/null | grep -i user.menu)" == "" ]; then
#         touch "${userHome}/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemuiserver.plist"
#         defaults write "${userHome}/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemuiserver.plist" menuExtras -array-add '<string>/System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/User.menu</string>'
#     fi
# done
# defaults write /Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences MultipleSessionEnabled -bool Yes

# Show script menu in menu bar
osascript <<EOT
 tell application "AppleScript Utility"
    set Script menu enabled to true 
    set application scripts position to top -- top or bottom 
    set show Computer scripts to false -- true or false 
end tell
EOT

#================================================
# *                     DOCK
#================================================

if [[ "$osx_hardware_model_is_vm" = true ]] ; then
    ## If running from virtual machine I like to position the Dock on the bottom
    defaults write com.apple.dock orientation bottom #default, my preference for a VM
else
    ## Otherwise I prefer to position the Dock on the right
    defaults write com.apple.dock orientation right #my preference for main machine
fi

## Set the icon size of Dock items to 27 pixels
defaults write com.apple.dock tilesize -int 27
# defaults write com.apple.dock tilesize -int ??


#================================================
# *               FINDER GENERAL
#================================================

# Disable Window animations and Get Info animations (default: false)
defaults write com.apple.finder DisableAllAnimations -bool true

# File extension change warning
# defaults write com.apple.finder FXEnableExtensionChangeWarning -bool false

# Writing of .DS_Store files on network or USB volumes
defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteUSBStores -bool true

# Disk image verification
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages skip-verify        -bool true
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages skip-verify-locked -bool true
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages skip-verify-remote -bool true

# Automatically open a new Finder window when a volume is mounted
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages auto-open-ro-root -bool false
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages auto-open-rw-root -bool false
defaults write com.apple.finder OpenWindowForNewRemovableDisk    -bool false

# AirDrop over Ethernet and on unsupported Macs running Lion
defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser BrowseAllInterfaces -bool true

# Warning before emptying Trash
defaults write com.apple.finder WarnOnEmptyTrash -bool false

# Empty Trash securely
defaults write com.apple.finder EmptyTrashSecurely -bool false

#================================================
# *               FINDER WINDOWS
#================================================

# Visibility of hidden files (default: false)
# I lately use `⌘-.` to switch between showing hidden files manually
# defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true

# Filename extensions (default: false)
# See my applescript for showing and hiding extensions
# defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowAllExtensions -bool true

# Status bar (default: false)
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowStatusBar -bool true

# Full POSIX path as window title
defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool false

# Path bar
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowPathbar -bool true

# Text selection in Quick Look
defaults write com.apple.finder QLEnableTextSelection -bool true

# Search scope
# This Mac       : `SCev`
# Current Folder : `SCcf`
# Previous Scope : `SCsp`
# I prefer current folder
defaults write com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope -string "SCcf" 

# Arrange by
# Kind, Name, Application, Date Last Opened,
# Date Added, Date Modified, Date Created, Size, Tags, None
defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredGroupBy -string "Name"

# Spring loaded directories
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.springing.enabled -bool true

# Delay for spring loaded directories
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.springing.delay -float 0.3

# Preferred view style
# Icon View   : `icnv`
# List View   : `Nlsv`
# Column View : `clmv`
# Cover Flow  : `Flwv`
defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "clmv"

# After configuring preferred view style, clear all `.DS_Store` files
# to ensure settings are applied for every directory
find . -name '.DS_Store' -type f -delete

# Keep folders on top when sorting by name
# defaults write com.apple.finder _FXSortFoldersFirst -bool true

# View Options
# ! This no longer works in Monterey 12.0.1
# ColumnShowIcons    : Show preview column
# ShowPreview        : Show icons
# ShowIconThumbnails : Show icon preview
# ArrangeBy          : Sort by
#   dnam : Name
#   kipl : Kind
#   ludt : Date Last Opened
#   pAdd : Date Added
#   modd : Date Modified
#   ascd : Date Created
#   logs : Size
#   labl : Tags
# /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy \
#     -c "Set :StandardViewOptions:ColumnViewOptions:ColumnShowIcons bool    false" \
#     -c "Set :StandardViewOptions:ColumnViewOptions:FontSize        integer 11"    \
#     -c "Set :StandardViewOptions:ColumnViewOptions:ShowPreview     bool    true"  \
#     -c "Set :StandardViewOptions:ColumnViewOptions:ArrangeBy       string  dnam"  \
#     ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

# New window target
# Computer     : `PfCm`
# Volume       : `PfVo`
# $HOME        : `PfHm`
# Desktop      : `PfDe`
# Documents    : `PfDo`
# All My Files : `PfAF`
# Other…       : `PfLo`
defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTarget -string 'PfHm'
#defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTargetPath -string "file://${HOME}/"

# 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

# show full POSIX path as Finder window title, default false
defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool false

# show status bar in Finder windows
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowStatusBar -bool true

# show path bar in Finder windows
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowPathBar -bool true
## later versions use "ShowPathbar"

#================================================
# *              FINDER SIDE BAR
#================================================

# size of Finder sidebar icons, small=1, default=2, large=3
# (TBD: maybe for Catalina 10.15+ only?)
defaults write NSGlobalDomain "NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode" -int "1" 

#================================================
# *              FINDER DESKTOP
#================================================

# Desktop Enabled
defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool true

# Quitting via ⌘ + Q; doing so will also hide desktop icons
# defaults write com.apple.finder QuitMenuItem -bool true

# Icons for hard drives, servers, and removable media on the desktop (default: false)
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowExternalHardDrivesOnDesktop -bool true
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowHardDrivesOnDesktop         -bool true
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowMountedServersOnDesktop     -bool true
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowRemovableMediaOnDesktop     -bool true

# Size of icons on the desktop and in other icon views (default: 64)
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:iconSize 32" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:iconSize 64" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:iconSize 64" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

# Grid spacing for icons on the desktop and in other icon views (default: 54)
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:gridSpacing 54" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:gridSpacing 54" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:gridSpacing 54" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

# Show item info near icons on the desktop and in other icon views (default: false)
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:showItemInfo false" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:showItemInfo false" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:showItemInfo false" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

# Show item info about the icons on the desktop (default: false)
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:labelOnBottom false" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

# Enable snap-to-grid for icons on the desktop and in other icon views
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:arrangeBy kind" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:arrangeBy kind" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:arrangeBy kind" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

#================================================
# *             FILEVIEWER DIALOG
#================================================

# by default iCloud Documents are the default directory opened in the fileviewer dialog when saving a new document
# "true" to default to iCloud, false to default to home directory
# (TBD: maybe for Catalina 10.15+ only?)
defaults write NSGlobalDomain "NSDocumentSaveNewDocumentsToCloud" -bool "false" 

#================================================
# *                 HOT CORNERS
#================================================
# Hot corners
# Possible values:
#  0: no-op
#  2: Mission Control
#  3: Show application windows
#  4: Desktop
#  5: Start screen saver
#  6: Disable screen saver
#  7: Dashboard
# 10: Put display to sleep
# 11: Launchpad
# 12: Notification Center

if [[ "$osx_hardware_model_is_vm" = true ]] ; then
    # VM don't need corner screen saver
    defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-bl-corner -int 0 # no-op
    defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-bl-modifier -int 0
else
    # Bottom left screen corner → Start screen saver
    defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-bl-corner -int 10 # sleep display
    defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-bl-modifier -int 0
fi


#================================================
# *                   SAFARI
#================================================

# ? NOTE: Many of these don't work anymore, and those that do require Terminal
# ? to have Full Disk Access (which is tested and set above).
# ? https://lapcatsoftware.com/articles/containers.html
# TODO: test each setting if works in Monterey & Big Sur.

# Delete the old redundant .plist file, the correct location is
# ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Safari since Safari 13 in Catalina 10.15

# Get Safari Version
read osx_safari_version osx_safari_version_major osx_safari_version_minor osx_safari_version_patch \
    <<< $(/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "print :CFBundleShortVersionString" \
    /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Info.plist | \
    awk -F. '{print $0 " " $1 " " $2 " " $3}')

# If Safari 13 or greater, delete outdated redundant pref file from earlier Safari
if [[ -f ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist && "$osx_safari_version_major" -ge 13 ]]; then
    rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist
fi

# Show status bar
# defaults write com.apple.Safari ShowStatusBar -bool true
# ! Doesn't seem to work Safari 15 on macOS Monterey

# Show hovering overlay on links
defaults write com.apple.Safari ShowOverlayStatusBar -bool true #default is false
# * [x] Does work in Safari 15 on macOS Monterey

# Safari opens with: last session
defaults write com.apple.Safari AlwaysRestoreSessionAtLaunch -bool true
# * [x] Does work in Safari 15 on macOS Monterey
# * [x] Does work in Safari 14.1.2 on macOS Mojave 10.14.6

# Set Safari’s home page to `about:blank` for faster loading
# defaults write com.apple.Safari HomePage -string "about:blank"
# ! Doesn't seem to work Safari 15 on macOS Monterey
# ? [ ] Set manually

# Don't open files in Safari after downloading:
defaults write com.apple.Safari AutoOpenSafeDownloads -bool false
# * [x] Does work in Safari 15 on macOS Monterey

# Show Develop menu in Safari
# defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeDevelopMenu -bool true
# ! Doesn't seem to work Safari 15 on macOS Monterey, as it is now Debug
# TODO wrap these to test safari version

# Enable Safari’s Debug menu
defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeInternalDebugMenu -bool true
# * [x] Does work in Safari 15 on macOS Monterey

#================================================
# *                 SCRIPT MENU
#================================================

#Enable Script Menu (scripts in ~/Library/Scripts/ will be listed in menu bar)

defaults write com.apple.scriptmenu.plist ScriptMenuEnabled true

#================================================
# *          KILL AFFECTED APPLICATIONS
#================================================

# echo "Kill all affected actions, press any key..."
# read KEY
# ? This only works in interactive mode, not in `curl`.
# TODO: puzzle out a solution for use with `curl` 

for app in "SystemUIServer" "cfprefsd" \
           "Finder" "Dock" "Safari" \
           # "Terminal" \
do
    killall "${app}" > /dev/null 2>&1
done

sleep 2
open -a Safari