macOS Developer Environment Setup

This repository contains a comprehensive, interactive setup script to bootstrap a complete macOS developer environment with your preferred dotfiles, tools, and configurations.

Features

• Interactive Setup: Choose between default dotfiles, custom repository, or minimal setup
• Dotfiles Management: Clones and symlinks your dotfiles for a consistent environment
• Flexible Configuration: Use pre-configured defaults or bring your own dotfiles repository
• SSH Key Management: Interactive SSH key setup - paste existing keys or generate new ones
• Development Tools: Python (pyenv), Ruby (rbenv - optional), Node.js, Git, and essential CLI tools
• Beautiful Terminal: Oh My Zsh, Powerlevel10k theme, and MesloLGS NF fonts
• Package Management: Homebrew with Brewfile support or essential packages
• macOS Optimizations: Dock customization, system preferences, and productivity tweaks
• Secure: Password handling with session management and proper cleanup
• Idempotent: Safe to re-run; skips or updates already-installed tools

Prerequisites

• macOS 12 or later (Intel or Apple Silicon)
• Internet connection
• Administrator privileges (script will prompt for password once)

Usage

Quick Start

Mac OS (Apple Silicon)

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Shrishesha4/dotfiles/main/macos_setup.sh)"

What the Script Does

The script will interactively ask you to:

1. Choose your dotfiles setup:

   • Default setup: Uses pre-configured dotfiles with common tools and apps
   • Custom repository: Provide your own GitHub dotfiles repository URL
   • Minimal setup: Install only basic tools without custom configurations

2. Ruby development setup:

   • Choose whether to install Ruby and rbenv (useful for Jekyll, Rails, etc.)

3. SSH key configuration:

   • Use existing local SSH keys
   • Paste your existing SSH keys from another machine
   • Generate new SSH keys with your email

Setup Options

1. Default Setup

• Repository: https://github.com/Shrishesha4/dotfiles.git
• Includes: VS Code, Git config, terminal setup, dock applications
• Best for: Quick start with sensible defaults

2. Custom Repository

• Provide your own GitHub repository URL (HTTPS or SSH)
• The script clones and uses your configurations
• Best for: Existing dotfiles users

3. Minimal Setup

• Installs only essential development tools
• No custom configurations or dotfiles
• Best for: Clean start or manual configuration

What Gets Installed

Always Installed

• ✅ Xcode Command Line Tools
• ✅ Homebrew package manager
• ✅ Python with pyenv (versions 3.13.5, 3.9.23)
• ✅ Oh My Zsh with Powerlevel10k theme
• ✅ Essential CLI tools (git, curl, wget, vim, tree, htop, jq)
• ✅ MesloLGS NF fonts for terminal
• ✅ SSH key configuration

Optional (Based on Your Choices)

• 💎 Ruby with rbenv (version 3.2.7)
• 📁 Your dotfiles repository and symlinks
• 🚀 VS Code or other applications (if in your Brewfile)
• ⚙️ macOS customizations and dock setup

macOS Customizations Applied

• Dock auto-hide settings and app management
• Trackpad tap-to-click enabled
• Screenshots folder organization
• System UI improvements

SSH Key Setup

The script provides flexible SSH key management:

1. Existing Keys: Use SSH keys already on your system
2. Paste Keys: Paste private and public key content from another machine
3. Generate New: Create new ED25519 keys with your email
4. GitHub Integration: Automatic instructions for adding keys to GitHub

File Structure

Your dotfiles repository should include:
dotfiles/
├── .zshrc
├── .gitconfig
├── .p10k.zsh
├── .vimrc
├── Brewfile (optional)
└── terminal/
└── CustomProfile.terminal (optional)

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Permission Errors:

• Ensure you have administrator privileges
• Don't run the script with sudo - it will prompt for password when needed

Network Issues:

• Check your internet connection
• Some corporate networks may block GitHub or Homebrew

SSH Key Problems:

• Verify your public key is added to GitHub: https://github.com/settings/keys
• Test connection: ssh -T git@github.com

Font Issues:

• Set terminal font to "MesloLGS NF" in Terminal preferences
• Run p10k configure to customize your prompt

Re-running the Script

The script is idempotent and safe to re-run:

• Existing installations are detected and skipped
• Configuration files are backed up before changes
• You can update your setup by running the script again

Logs and Debugging

• Run with verbose mode: bash macos_setup.sh --verbose
• Check backup directory: ~/.dotfiles_backup_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS
• Review error messages in the terminal output

Customization

Adding Your Own Dotfiles

1. Fork this repository or create your own
2. Add your configuration files (.zshrc, .gitconfig, etc.)
3. Update the repository URL when prompted

Modifying Installed Packages

• Edit your Brewfile in your dotfiles repository
• For minimal setup, packages are hardcoded in the script

Custom macOS Settings

• Modify the setup_macos_customizations() function
• Add your preferred system defaults commands

Security Features

• 🔐 Secure password handling (prompted once, cleared after use)
• 🔑 SSH key validation and secure generation
• 💾 Automatic backups of existing configurations
• 🛡️ No hardcoded credentials or sensitive data

Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Make your changes
3. Test thoroughly on a fresh macOS installation
4. Submit a pull request

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details

Credits

• Oh My Zsh
• Powerlevel10k
• Homebrew
• pyenv
• rbenv

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Happy coding! 🚀

Last updated: August 2025