Like many developers, I enjoy doing a clean install of macOS from time to time. It keeps the system lean, removes accumulated clutter, and gives me a fresh development environment.
However, the biggest pain after a clean install is reinstalling all the tools, apps, and configurations required for development. Over the years, I’ve tried different approaches — manual installs, Homebrew bundles — but recently I created a neat utility that simplifies the process.
The tool is mac-bootstrap, available on GitHub here:
https://github.com/davinc/mac-bootstrap
What It Does
This utility helps bootstrap a new Mac environment automatically. Instead of manually installing everything after a fresh OS install, you can run a script that installs and configures the tools you need.
Typically, Mac bootstrap scripts automate tasks such as:
- Installing development tools
- Installing applications via package managers like Homebrew
- Setting up shell environments and dotfiles
- Applying system preferences and developer defaults
These scripts are commonly used to provision a brand-new machine quickly, turning hours of setup work into a repeatable automated process.
Why I Like This Approach
When I do a clean macOS install, I want to reach a fully working development environment quickly. With a bootstrap script:
- Setup becomes repeatable
- Configuration stays documented in code
- A new machine can be ready in minutes instead of hours
It also acts as a living checklist of everything I consider essential on my Mac.
A Small Tip
If you frequently reinstall macOS or move between machines, maintaining a bootstrap script like this is extremely useful. Over time, you can customize it with:
- Your favorite tools
- Development frameworks
- System tweaks
- CLI utilities
Eventually, setting up a new Mac becomes as simple as cloning a repo and running one command.
