Example macOS configuration

macOS.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash

# Derived from Mathias Bynens' macos 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'

# Ask for the administrator password upfront
sudo -v

# Keep-alive: update existing `sudo` time stamp until `.macos` has finished
while true; do sudo -n true; sleep 60; kill -0 "$$" || exit; done 2>/dev/null &

###############################################################################
# General UI/UX                                                               #
###############################################################################

# Expand save panel by default
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool true
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode2 -bool true

# Expand print panel by default
defaults write NSGlobalDomain PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool true
defaults write NSGlobalDomain PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint2 -bool true

# Save to disk (not to iCloud) by default
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSDocumentSaveNewDocumentsToCloud -bool false

# Automatically quit printer app once the print jobs complete
defaults write com.apple.print.PrintingPrefs "Quit When Finished" -bool true

# Remove duplicates in the “Open With” menu (also see `lscleanup` alias)
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user

# Display ASCII control characters using caret notation in standard text views
# Try e.g. `cd /tmp; unidecode "\x{0000}" > cc.txt; open -e cc.txt`
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSTextShowsControlCharacters -bool true

# Disable Resume system-wide
defaults write com.apple.systempreferences NSQuitAlwaysKeepsWindows -bool false

# Reveal IP address, hostname, OS version, etc. when clicking the clock
# in the login window
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow AdminHostInfo HostName

# Restart automatically if the computer freezes
sudo systemsetup -setrestartfreeze on

# Never go into computer sleep mode
sudo systemsetup -setcomputersleep Off > /dev/null

# Disable smart quotes as they’re annoying when typing code
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled -bool false

# Disable smart dashes as they’re annoying when typing code
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticDashSubstitutionEnabled -bool false

###############################################################################
# Trackpad, mouse, keyboard, Bluetooth accessories, and input                 #
###############################################################################

# Increase sound quality for Bluetooth headphones/headsets
defaults write com.apple.BluetoothAudioAgent "Apple Bitpool Min (editable)" -int 40

# Enable full keyboard access for all controls
# (e.g. enable Tab in modal dialogs)
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleKeyboardUIMode -int 3

# Set language and text formats
# Note: if you’re in the US, replace `EUR` with `USD`, `Centimeters` with
# `Inches`, `en_GB` with `en_US`, and `true` with `false`.
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleLanguages -array "en"
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleLocale -string "en_US@currency=USD"
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleMeasurementUnits -string "Inches"
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleMetricUnits -bool false

###############################################################################
# Screen                                                                      #
###############################################################################

# Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver begins
defaults write com.apple.screensaver askForPassword -int 1
defaults write com.apple.screensaver askForPasswordDelay -int 0

# Save screenshots to the desktop
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location -string "${HOME}/Desktop"

# Save screenshots in PNG format (other options: BMP, GIF, JPG, PDF, TIFF)
defaults write com.apple.screencapture type -string "png"

# Disable shadow in screenshots
defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true

# Enable subpixel font rendering on non-Apple LCDs
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 2

###############################################################################
# Finder                                                                      #
###############################################################################

# Set Desktop as the default location for new Finder windows
# For other paths, use `PfLo` and `file:///full/path/here/`
defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTarget -string "PfDe"
defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTargetPath -string "file://${HOME}/Desktop/"

# Show icons for hard drives, servers, and removable media on the desktop
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

# Finder: show hidden files by default
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true

# Finder: show all filename extensions
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowAllExtensions -bool true

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

# Finder: show path bar
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowPathbar -bool true

# Display full POSIX path as Finder window title
defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool true

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

# When performing a search, search the current folder by default
defaults write com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope -string "SCcf"

# Disable the warning when changing a file extension
defaults write com.apple.finder FXEnableExtensionChangeWarning -bool false

# Enable spring loading for directories
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.springing.enabled -bool true

# Remove the spring loading delay for directories
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.springing.delay -float 0

# Avoid creating .DS_Store files on network or USB volumes
defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool true
defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteUSBStores -bool true

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

# Use list view in all Finder windows by default
# Four-letter codes for the other view modes: `icnv`, `clmv`, `Flwv`
defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "Nlsv"

# Disable the warning before emptying the Trash
defaults write com.apple.finder WarnOnEmptyTrash -bool false

# Show the ~/Library folder
chflags nohidden ~/Library

# Show the /Volumes folder
sudo chflags nohidden /Volumes

# 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

###############################################################################
# Dock, Dashboard, and hot corners                                            #
###############################################################################

# Enable spring loading for all Dock items
defaults write com.apple.dock enable-spring-load-actions-on-all-items -bool true

# Stop the Dock moving monitor
defaults write com.apple.Dock position-immutable -bool yes

###############################################################################
# Activity Monitor                                                            #
###############################################################################

# Show the main window when launching Activity Monitor
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor OpenMainWindow -bool true

# Visualize CPU usage in the Activity Monitor Dock icon
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor IconType -int 5

# Show all processes in Activity Monitor
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor ShowCategory -int 0

# Sort Activity Monitor results by CPU usage
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor SortColumn -string "CPUUsage"
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor SortDirection -int 0

###############################################################################
# Mac App Store                                                               #
###############################################################################

# Enable the automatic update check
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticCheckEnabled -bool true

# Check for software updates daily, not just once per week
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate ScheduleFrequency -int 1

###############################################################################
# Photos                                                                      #
###############################################################################

# Prevent Photos from opening automatically when devices are plugged in
defaults -currentHost write com.apple.ImageCapture disableHotPlug -bool true

###############################################################################
# Google Chrome & Google Chrome Canary                                        #
###############################################################################

# Disable the all too sensitive backswipe on trackpads
defaults write com.google.Chrome AppleEnableSwipeNavigateWithScrolls -bool false
defaults write com.google.Chrome.canary AppleEnableSwipeNavigateWithScrolls -bool false

# Disable the all too sensitive backswipe on Magic Mouse
defaults write com.google.Chrome AppleEnableMouseSwipeNavigateWithScrolls -bool false
defaults write com.google.Chrome.canary AppleEnableMouseSwipeNavigateWithScrolls -bool false

# Use the system-native print preview dialog
defaults write com.google.Chrome DisablePrintPreview -bool true
defaults write com.google.Chrome.canary DisablePrintPreview -bool true

# Expand the print dialog by default
defaults write com.google.Chrome PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint2 -bool true
defaults write com.google.Chrome.canary PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint2 -bool true

###############################################################################
# Sublime Text                                                                #
###############################################################################

# Make Sublime Text the default text editor
defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices LSHandlers -array-add '{LSHandlerContentType=public.plain-text;LSHandlerRoleAll=com.sublimetext.3;}'

###############################################################################
# Git                                                                         #
###############################################################################

# Make Beyond Compare the git difftool and merge tool
git config --global diff.tool bc3
git config --global merge.tool bc3
git config --global mergetool.bc3.trustExitCode true

###############################################################################
# Kill affected applications                                                  #
###############################################################################

for app in "Activity Monitor" "Address Book" "Calendar" "Contacts" "cfprefsd" \
	"Dock" "Finder" "Google Chrome" "Google Chrome Canary" \
	"Photos" "SystemUIServer" "Terminal" "iCal"; do
	killall "${app}" &> /dev/null
done
echo "Done. Note that some of these changes require a logout/restart to take effect."