Setting up Mac OSX

03/08/2016

Install Homebrew. It will fail to install packages by default due to issues writing to /usr/local. To fix this:

sudo chmod -R g+w /usr/local

Make hidden files visible in the Finder:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
killall Finder

Change the following settings using the Mac system preferences to make the trackpad usable:

  • Key Repeat – all the way long
  • Delay Until Repeat – all the way short
  • Tracking speed – faster

Install Karabiner, so that you can remap keys. Note that Karabiner doesn’t yet work in OS X Sierra. You can either use Karabiner Elements on Sierra or swap Ctrl and Command in System Preferences->Keyboard->Modifier Keys…

Go to “Misc & Uninstall” then click “Open private.xml”. Paste the code below. Switch back to the main tab “Change Key” and hit “Reload XML”. Now check “Swap Command and Control unless tabbing through windows”. Also check “Disable all settings while you are using Remote Desktop or VNC”.


<!—
 The autogen format is:
   new keys
   original keys
—>

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<root>
  <item>
    <name>Swap Command and Control unless tabbing through windows</name>
    <identifier>private.ben_hates_macs</identifier>
    <autogen>
      __KeyToKey__
      KeyCode::TAB, ModifierFlag::CONTROL_L,
      KeyCode::TAB, ModifierFlag::COMMAND_L
    </autogen>
    <autogen>
      __KeyToKey__
      KeyCode::TAB, ModifierFlag::COMMAND_L,
      KeyCode::TAB, ModifierFlag::CONTROL_L
    </autogen>
    <autogen>
      __KeyToKey__
      KeyCode::BACKQUOTE, ModifierFlag::CONTROL_L,
      KeyCode::BACKQUOTE, ModifierFlag::COMMAND_L
    </autogen>
    <autogen>
      __KeyToKey__
      KeyCode::BACKQUOTE, ModifierFlag::COMMAND_L,
      KeyCode::BACKQUOTE, ModifierFlag::CONTROL_L
    </autogen>
    <autogen>
      __KeyToKey__
      KeyCode::COMMAND_L,
      KeyCode::CONTROL_L
    </autogen>
    <autogen>
      __KeyToKey__
      KeyCode::CONTROL_L,
      KeyCode::COMMAND_L
    </autogen>
  </item>
</root>
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