I'm getting ready to dive into web development on my new MacBook. My work will heavily involve Laravel/PHP, creating custom WordPress themes, managing localized Docker setups, and using the Terminal to push to production servers. I'd also like to use Claude Code to automate tasks like converting PDFs to CSVs and building plugins. What are your preferred methods for properly setting up macOS for this kind of work?
2 Answers
For terminal users, I recommend checking out 'starship' for managing your prompt; it really simplifies things. Install a clipboard manager like CopyClip, and make sure to get Vim set up with line numbers and syntax highlighting. Don't forget about git aliases to streamline your commands, and consider iTerm for a multi-panel terminal experience. Lastly, research zsh plugins to supercharge your terminal functionality!
The first thing I always do is install Homebrew to easily grab PHP, Composer, Node, and other CLI tools I use daily. After that, I get Docker Desktop set up with sufficient resources so it runs smoothly. If I'm working with PHP often, I usually add Laravel Valet for quick local site setups. I personally love using Oh My Zsh with the Powerlevel10k theme—it makes my terminal much more informative. Setting up SSH keys early on saves me from endless password prompts too. After that, I install either VS Code or PhpStorm, ensuring my extensions are synced, create a tidy Projects folder, and enable Time Machine backups. I also tweak my trackpad and keyboard settings because the defaults don’t work for me. The goal is to get the essentials sorted, make the terminal enjoyable, and automate any repetitive tasks from the get-go.
Why choose iTerm over other options like Ghostwriter?