Mac

App Favorites

I've left default Apple apps off this list (like Calendar, and Music), but I use those as well.

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

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
  • 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

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