I recently got a new Macbook Air M4. And even though I've used Macbooks before, I wanted to write specifically what all I do to setup a macbook for personal use.
Establish connection to the home server.
Have a streamlined and automated system to set all this up in the dotfiles repository.
cd command. Smart file-system navigation karta hai. Usually when I setup a macbook (always for my office only I did), I make sure to change the default terminal used to something different. Till now, I always installed iTerm2 coz that's what seemed to be recommended for a long time, and Vinay Naik also recommended it.
I wanted to try something different this time around,
I installed Warp for bit, considering all the hype around it being an "AI-focused" terminal. While it may be good and sexy, I still dont use GenAI as much. Post installation, it gave me no terminal but instead an input where I can add a prompt and that would start the terminal session. Instantly put off by that, and then started search again.
I've been reading about this new terminal emulator called WezTerm. Since it came out, I had an eye on it, but didn't install coz don't wanna run unused software on office macbooks.
Sooo I installed it here, and till now I'm finding it quite nice to configure. It's Lua based, like some other tools I know. Might make me learn some Lua along the way too, this terminal.
Tried to setup Claude Code, but it seems that my subscription has ended. There were some emails I was getting, that I'll look into now.
I will get the pro subscription though, but I'll setup a more resilient payment method. I may need it to quickly setup the RentAGame - Game Tracker project.
Tried installed Affinity Photo for some time, but I don't wanna commit to buying right now, I don't wanna make an account without a trial, and none of the torrents online have enough seeders to get me the application.
Had to install Photoshop 2024 instead, uska seeders mast tha. It's quite useful for quick editing, and I am quite comfortable already with it.
If Affinity Photo was easy to install, I'd at least give it a go using RentPlay ka poster as an idea.
Installed qBitTorrent and Mullvad VPN, but qBitTorrent seems to be working slow on this laptop. I think naqu ka laptop had a faster download speed even though both these laptops were wirelessly connected. Had to keep the Photoshop download on the home server ka qBittorrent container
Just setup Claude Code, and boy is the new interface sexy looking. I've already started using it for building the MVP for RentAGame - Game Tracker. Lessee how it goes.
Fucking finally got Photoshop installed on the macbook. Was a lot of effort, and I still am not sure if Photoshop will still work after a month. We'll check then. At least right now it'll help with the poster for RentPlay.
One minor thing also I fixed. In MacOS ka VSCode, Option + Shift + F should format the code. But because I had selected the "ABC - Indian" Variant in my Inputs, that combo would enter some weird symbol. Switched to the regular "ABC" variant and my issue was resolved.
I think I'm done with the "initial" setup of the macbook now. Ticked all the boxes, and I'm having a pretty nice experience now with this.
touchwood.
I'm truly blessed/lucky/whatever to be able to have this amazing device (amongst others). Especially when the world and other aspects of my own life are not so great.