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# Setting up a new mac
- URL: https://oroup.com/blog/2016/07/setting-up-a-new-mac/
- Published: 2016-07-11T22:51:31.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-05T22:58:56.000Z
- Description: I bought a new iMac recently and figured it would be worthwhile to write down everything I did to get it to where I wanted it. Install bootstraps: Chrome – Preferred browser Iterm2 – Terminal Homebrew – The missing package manager Atom – Text…
- Author: Oliver Roup
- Tags: Code, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-05 22:27

I bought a new iMac recently and figured it would be worthwhile to write down everything I did to get it to where I wanted it.

- Install bootstraps:  
  - [Chrome](https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/?ref=oroup.com) – Preferred browser
  - [Iterm2](https://www.iterm2.com/?ref=oroup.com) – Terminal
  - [Homebrew](http://brew.sh/?ref=oroup.com) – The missing package manager
  - [Atom](https://atom.io/?ref=oroup.com) – Text editor for code
- Install brew packages and ruby
- - ```  
  brew install mysql git ruby-build rbenv powder  
  rbenv init  
  rbenv install -l  
  rbenv install 2.3.1  
  rbenv global 2.3.1  
  rbenv rehash  
  gem update --system  
  gem install bundler  
  powder install  
  ```
- Configure git  
  - ```  
  git config --global core.editor "atom --wait"  
  git config --global user.name "Oliver Roup"  
  git config --global user.email "oroup@oroup.com"  
  ```
- Copy across SSH keys (Airdrop is a good way to do this)
- [Configure SSHD](http://superuser.com/questions/364304/how-do-i-configure-ssh-on-os-x?ref=oroup.com) for passwordless entry
- - Modify /private/etc/sshd\_config
  - Put the SSH key in \~/.ssh/authorized\_keys
- Sync remote files from old machine to new with rsync (Not everything is in Google Drive / Dropbox)
- Install from the app store
- - [Dash 3](https://blog.kapeli.com/dash-3?ref=oroup.com) – Code instructions
  - [Base 2](https://menial.co.uk/base/?ref=oroup.com) – Easy local SQL queries
  - [Liya](http://cutedgesystems.com/software/liya/?ref=oroup.com) – Nice remote SQL queries
  - [TileWindows](http://www.carsten-mielke.com/tilewindows.html?ref=oroup.com) – Align windows to the screen
  - [DaisyDisk](https://daisydiskapp.com/?ref=oroup.com) – Examine disk usage
  - [Omnigraffle](https://www.omnigroup.com/omnigraffle?ref=oroup.com) – Diagramming tool
- Install from web  
  - [Backblaze](https://www.backblaze.com/?ref=oroup.com) – Whole mac offsite backup
  - [Dropbox](https://www.dropbox.com/?ref=oroup.com) – Sync work files
  - [Google Drive](https://www.google.com/drive/download/?ref=oroup.com) – Sync personal non-photo files.
  - [Google Photo Sync](https://photos.google.com/apps?ref=oroup.com) – Yes really there are two different google clients
  - [Emacs](https://emacsformacosx.com/?ref=oroup.com) – Text editor for when you need to automate stuff
  - [Gimp](https://www.gimp.org/?ref=oroup.com) – Image editing
  - [Office](https://products.office.com/en-us/buy/compare-microsoft-office-products?tab=omac&ref=oroup.com) – Hey, I still need Excel
  - [Skype](https://www.skype.com/en/?ref=oroup.com) – Talking to mom
  - [VMWare](https://www.vmware.com/products/fusion?ref=oroup.com) – Run Windows and Ubuntu in a box
  - [Paparazzi](https://derailer.org/paparazzi/?ref=oroup.com) – Great screenshots
- System Preferences
- - Dock  
    - Set size as small as it will go, turn on zoom
  - Security  
    - Turn on the firewall
  - Sharing  
    - Permit remote login
  - Mouse  
    - Turn on right click gesture
- Remove from the dock:  
  - Safari
  - Mail
  - Contacts
  - Calendar
  - Notes
  - Todo
  - Pages
  - Numbers
  - iTunes
  - iBooks