Steps to configure new macOS system

macOSkickstart.sh

#!/bin/sh

# Installs Homebrew (https://brew.sh), brew packages, and then modifies settings for fresh macOS devices
# Created 11/22/21
# Updated: 
# - 1/30/24
# - 1/6/25

# Install homebrew per brew.sh
echo "Installing Homebrew..."
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

# List of Homebrew casks to be installed
CASKS=(
  1password
  adobe-acrobat-reader
  discord
  firefox
  google-chrome
  google-drive
# rectangle # removed because of the new features in macOS 15... neat!
  spotify
# visual-studio-code
  vscodium
  zoom
)

# List of Homebrew Forulae to be installed
FORMULAE=(
  neofetch # RIP screenfetch
  git
)

# Do Homebrew things
echo "Doing Homebrew things..."
/usr/local/bin/brew install --cask ${CASKS[@]}
/usr/local/bin/brew install --formulae ${FORMULAE[@]}
/usr/local/bin/brew cleanup

# Turn off natural scrolling
echo "Turning off unNatural Scrolling..."
/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.swipescrolldirection -bool false

# Turn on filename extensions
echo "Visible-izing filename extensions..."
/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowAllExtensions -bool true

# Make the Dock less terrible, re: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/dock
echo "Fixing the dock..."
/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.Dock tilesize -int 36
/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.Dock magnification -bool true
/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.Dock largesize -int 72
/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.Dock orientation -string left
/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.Dock autohide -bool true
/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.Dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0.1
/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.Dock show-recents -bool false

# Turn off startup sounds
nvram SystemAudioVolume=%80

# Set the clock to something less terrible and restart the process
/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.menuextra.clock Show24Hour -bool true
/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.menuextra.clock DateFormat -string "EEE d MMM HH:mm"

# Restart the Dock and ControlCenter to apply settings
/usr/bin/killall ControlCenter Dock

# Turn off mouse acceleration
defaults write .GlobalPreferences com.apple.mouse.scaling -1

# crontab contents: # not sure this is necessary anymore as it auto-updates every invocation
#15 8 * * 1-5 /usr/local/bin/brew update
#20 8 * * 1-5 /usr/local/bin/brew upgrade
#15 15 * * 1-5 /usr/local/bin/brew update
#20 15 * * 1-5 /usr/local/bin/brew upgrade

old-Homebrew_macOS.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Installs Homebrew (https://brew.sh) and desired packages for fresh imaged macOS devices
# Shamelessly stolen from jlzimmer and modified 7/25/19

echo "Installing Homebrew..."
/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"
brew tap homebrew/cask
brew update

# Homebrew taps
TAPS=(
    adobe-acrobat-reader
    microsoft-teams
    homebrew/cask
    homebrew/cask-drivers
)

# Homebrew core formulae
FORMULAE=(
    gcc
    gettext
    screenfetch
    telnet
    tree
    wget
)

# Homebrew casks
CASKS=(
    #autopkgr
    #iterm2
    adobe-acrobat-reader
    #balenaetcher
    #box-sync
    #discord
    #github
    #mysides
    powershell
    slack
    rectangle
    visual-studio-code
    vlc
    #firefox
    #google-chrome
)

#brew tap ${TAPS[@]}
brew update
#brew install ${FORMULAE[@]}
brew install --cask ${CASKS[@]}
brew cleanup

# Finder sidebar 
#SIDEBAR=(
#    `id -un` file:///Users/`id -un`/
#    Applications file:///Applications/
#    Desktop file:///Users/`id -un`/Desktop/
#    Documents file:///Users/`id -un`/Documents/
#    Downloads file:///Users/`id -un`/Downloads/
#)

#mysides add ${SIDEBAR[@]}