A New 2025 MacBook Setup

Recently upgraded my daily driver to an Apple M4, and I'm a believer in pass nothing between the machines and start fresh every time.

Step 1
Remove everything but Finder, LaunchPad, Notes, App Store, and Settings in the dock.

Step 2
Delete GarageBand

Step 3
Put Apple Fluff in LaunchPad folder

Step 4
Software Update

Step 5
Install what I need to get work done immediately: browser, video, chat, password manager, documentation app.

Step 6
Next I update my System Preferences so things look and react the way I expect.

Step 7
Now it's time to get my working environment setup.

1. Install homebrew
2. Install VS Code
3. Install Cursor
4. Install Sublime Text
5. Install iTerm2
6. Install Postman
7. Install Docker
8. Install git
9. Install node
10. Install nvm
11. Install yarn
12. Install postgres
13. Install python
14. Install Claude
15. Install ChatGPT
16. Install Command Line Developer Tools
17. Install Rectangle
18. Install Figma
19. Install Miro
20. Install Sonos
21. Install Tidal
22. Install Kindle
23. Install Float
24. Update Hot Corners to lock
25. Update Double-click a window title bar to ‘Zoom’
26. Add Bluetooth to show In menu bar
27. Remove Spotlight from showing in menu bar
28. Add Weather to show in menu bar