Mac

App Favorites
I've left default Apple apps off this list (like Calendar, and Music), but I use those as well.
​1Password - Password vault
​Acorn - Image editor
​Arq Backup - Backup archived files to B2 or S3
​Backblaze - Backup entire computer
​Beekeeper Studio - Database editor (SQLite, MySQL, MariaDB, Postgres, CockroachDB, SQL Server, and Amazon Redshift)
​BBEdit - Lightweight text editor
​Be Focused Pro - Pomodoro timer
​Boop - Text transformers
​CodeRunner - Playground for different programming languages
Creative Cloud - I use this just for Photoshop.
​DaisyDisk - Helps cleanup old files
​Dropbox - Sync files
​Encrypt.me - VPN
​Forecast - Edit tags for podcast mp3s
​HandBrake - Convert video files
​Hazel - automate file cleanup and organization
​HazeOver - Darken inactive windows
​Hidden - Hide menu bar apps
​ImageOptim - Batch compress images
​Insomnia - HTTP / REST client (free)
​IntelliJ - IDE for web project
​iTerm - Terminal alternative with more features
​Keyboard Maestro - Text snippets, clipboard history, and OS automation
​Maccy - Lightweight clipboard manager
​MenuBar Stats - Keep track of runaway apps
​Moom - Window management
​Monitor Control - Control 3rd party monitors with system UI
​Music Converter Pro - Convert audio files
​Patterns - Regex helper
​Paw - Debug HTTP requests
​PGAdmin - Postgres admin GUI
​Piezo - Record audio
​Postman - Debug HTTP requests (free)
​Rectangle - Move and resize windows with keyboard shortcuts
​Reeder - RSS reader
​Rest - Make yourself to take screen breaks
​RH Timers - Until Siri can do timers
​Scrutiny - Check links for websites
​Sequel Pro - GUI for MySQL
​Shortcat - Universal command palette
​Soulver - A better calculator
​SourceTree - Free Git GUI
​SuperDuper!  - Full disk backup
​Superkey - Search and click on things by text, and remap a key to Hyper
​Textual - IRC client
​Todoist  - Cross platform to do list service
​ToothFairy - Connect to AirPods from menu bar
​Transmit - File transfer to remote 
​TripMode - Throttle apps while on cellular data
​Turbo Boost Switcher Pro - Turn off CPU turbo boost while on battery power
​Viscosity - OpenVPN client
​Visual Studio Code - Light code text editor (Use Github for settings sync)
​Xnip - Annotate screenshots
​XScope - Measure things on screen
Apps to Consider
Great list of open source Mac apps: https://github.com/serhii-londar/open-source-mac-os-apps​
List of Homebrew Casks: https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/​
​iStat Menus - Keep track of runaway apps
​BlockBlock - Get alerts when apps try to install background processes
​LuLu - Open Source LittleSnitch alternative, blocks outgoing apps
​Timer - Open Source timer app
​SwiftBar - Put the results of scripts in your menu bar
​CleanShot X - Screenshot tool
​Suspicious Package - Inspect MacOS installers
​Mouseless - Keyboard shortcut trainer
​VimMotion - Vim like keyboard nav for Mac
​Blurred - Open Source alternative to HazeOver
Parallels -Virtual Machines
Time Out - Take breaks
​LaunchControl - Manage and debug system services
​Homerow.app - Search and click things by text
​Wooshy - Search and click things by text
​Red Lines Tools - Add guides to the screen
​AltTab.app - Windows like Alt Tabbing interface
​Multitouch.app - Customize trackpad and mouse gestures
​Raycast - Extensible launcher, like Quicksilver or Spotlight
​Rewind.ai - Search engine for everything you do on the Mac
​Github CLI - Commands to help w/ Github
​Scoot - Another element based Vim like keyboard for Mac
​Pomy - Pomodoro & eye strain timer
​Intermission - Break timer
​Breaktimer.app - Break timer
​TripMode App Store Version - Control which apps have access to the internet
​Little Snitch Mini - See what apps are doing what on the internet
​Exporter - export Apples notes files
​Horo - free timer app
Retired Apps
​Bartender - Organize Mac menu bar
Virtual Box - X86 virtual machines
Keyboard shortcuts of note
Dictation - Ctrl twice (needs to be set in System prefs) / Meh + D 
Siri - Hold Opt Space / Meh + S
Keyboard Maestro Macro - Meh + T
Lock Screen / Put Display to Sleep - Ctrl Shift Q 
Clipboard History (KM) - Ctrl Opt Cmd V 
1Password Autofill - Cmd  
1Password Global - Cmd Shit \
Shortcat (Superkey) - Right Cmd F
(KM): Custom Keyboard Maestro shortcut
(Superkey): Right Cmd mapped to Hyper key using Superkey or Karabiner
Useful Terminal Commands
​Check disk stats like lifetime read and writes: $ smartctl --all /dev/disk0
2017 MacBook Pro (about ~3 years of usage):
Data Units Read:                    746,318,540 [382 TB]
Data Units Written:                 100,074,549 [51.2 TB]
Power On Hours:                    1,349
Check system uptime: $ uptime
Check system sleep / wake cycles: $ pmset -g log|grep -e " Sleep " -e " Wake "
Backup Exclusions
Time Machine
~/.dropbox
~/Dropbox/.dropbox
~/Dropbox/.dropbox.cache
~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker
docker.driver.amd64-linux/Docker.raw
~/Library/Application Support/Developer/Xcode/iOS DeviceSupport
~/Library/Application Support/Developer/Xcode/watchOS DeviceSupport
Backblaze
~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker
~/Library/Application Support/NVIDIA
docker.driver.amd64-linux/Docker.raw
~/Library/Application Support/Developer/coresimulator
~/Library/Application Support/Developer/Xcode/iOS DeviceSupport
~/Library/Application Support/Developer/Xcode/watchOS DeviceSupport
Homebrew Packages
Get list of top level packages with $ brew leaves
apr-util 
aspell 
autoconf 
awscli 
carthage 
cmake 
composer 
cputhrottle 
freetds 
glib 
gmp 
heroku/brew/heroku 
imagemagick 
libpq 
libsass 
libxslt 
libzip 
lynx 
mcrypt 
pkg-config 
[email protected] 
smartmontools 
unixodbc 
webp 
yajl
yarn
Launchd services
List non-Apple services: $ launchctl list | grep -v com.apple
(-v inverts the grep match)
​Remove service: $ launchctl remove NameHere
​More info about launchd from the maker of LaunchControl.
Preventing a Mac From Waking Up Randomly
In Settings / Notifications / Do Not Disturb: Check the box to turn on Do Not Disturb when the Display is Sleeping (I also have it set to turn on DND from 10pm to 7am, when the screen is locked, and when mirroring)
Unconfirmed ideas:
In Settings / Battery / Power Adapter disable Wake for Network Access
In Settings / Bluetooth / Advanced disable Allow Bluetooth Devices to Wake This Computer
In Settings / Battery / Power Adapter turn off Sleep When Display is Off
References
​https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/my-mac-os​
​https://github.com/serhii-londar/open-source-mac-os-apps​
​https://github.com/learn-anything/macos-apps​
​https://github.com/jaywcjlove/awesome-mac​
​https://getenet.notion.site/Eighty-Shades-of-Option-Key-3c6e58feb5c848ee9d4c027f0b9d52e0​
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Last modified 3mo ago