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Mac Setup Guide for DevOps/SRE

· 5 min read
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Make sure you are already connected to the company's WiFi

1. Setup Bluetooth for External Devices​

  • Keyboard
  • Trackpad/Mouse
  • AirPods

2. System Settings​

  • Update User Password
    • Go to Users & Groups and change the default user password.
  • Keyboard Configuration
    • Go to System > Keyboard:
      • Increase the Key Repeat Rate.
      • Shorten the Delay Until Repeat.
    • Disable Press-and-Hold for Keys:
      • Open Terminal and run:
      defaults write -g ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false
  • Trackpad Speed
    • Go to Trackpad > Point & Click:
      • Increase the Tracking Speed.
  • Appearance Settings
    • Go to Appearance and update your personal settings.
  • Desktop & Dock Settings
    • Go to Desktop & Dock and update your personal settings.
  • Wallpapers
    • Go to Wallpapers and set your preferred wallpaper.

3. Jamf Self Service for macOS Downloads​

4. Setup Magnet/Rectangle/Spectacle​

image

5. Download & Install from Browser​

6. Browser Setup​

  • Add Bookmarks Folders
    • Company Page
    • AI Tools
    • AWS/GCP
    • Database Tools
  • Use DuckDuckGo !Bang Search for quick access
    • Set search query: https://duckduckgo.com/?kao=-1&kak=-1&kax=-1
    • Reference
  • Disable Save and fill basic info
  • Disable View and autofill passwords and passkeys
  • Disable Offer to save passwords
  • Disable Save and fill payment info

7. Setup Slack​

  • Upload Profile Photo
  • Update Display Name
  • Configure Timezone
  • Configure Google Calendar APP

8. Setup Gmail​

  • Configure Filters
    • Criteria: 
      Matches: subject:(New login) OR (New Device Logged) OR (sign-in from new location) OR (Login alert)
    • Action: 
      Mark as read and apply the label "login-notification"
  • Add Company Signatures

9. Terminal Setup​

  • Install Homebrew (requires sudo privileges)
  • Install zimfw
    • Run: 
      curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/zimfw/install/master/install.zsh | zsh
    • Download zimfw Settings
      • Copy and paste the settings from zshrc and zimrc

10. Install via Homebrew​

11. Setup mise Plugins​

mise - Getting Started

12. Generate a New SSH Key and Set Up Git​

  • Generate SSH Key
    • Run the following command: 
      ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"
  • Configure Git
    • Set your global Git username and email: 
      git config --global user.name "John Doe"
      git config --global user.email johndoe@example.com

References​

13. Setup Microsoft Visual Studio Code​

  • Open Sync and Disable Sync once finished
  • Install code command in PATH:
    • Open the Command Palette (⌘ + ⇧ + P on Mac) OR View ❯ Command Palette.
    • Type "Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH".
    • Reference

14. Setup VIM​

  • git clone git@github.com:siansiansu/nvim.git

15. Setup Ansible​

  • pip install --user ansible

16. Setup AWS CLI SSO​

Configure the AWS CLI with IAM Identity Center authentication

17. Test Remote VPN​

  1. Disconnect company's WiFi.
  2. Connect to your personal hotspot
  3. Test remote VPN

Notice​

  • Do not log in with your personal iCloud account, Bitwarden/1Password account, or use your private phone number for Line and Telegram logins.
  • Do not sign in to your browser with your personal account.
  • Restart the laptop once all setup is complete.