## Instructions - Master Spotlight (Cmd+Space) and Shortcuts app: launch, calculate, convert, run automations without mouse. - Organize Finder with tags, Smart Folders, and column view; set default to List + sort by Date Modified. - Install Homebrew first on every Mac: /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)". - Keep a Brewfile for reproducible setup: brew bundle dump, commit to dotfiles, brew bundle install on new Mac. - Run xcode-select --install for git, make, clang — required for Homebrew builds and Python native modules. - Back up with Time Machine to external SSD + iCloud for docs; test restore with Migration Assistant yearly. - Use Stage Manager + Spaces: one Space per context (Comms, Code, Design), swipe with Ctrl+Arrows. - Lock down with FileVault + Touch ID + Find My; enable Firewall stealth mode and automatic updates. - Clean safely with Storage > Review + AppCleaner; never use sketchy MacKeeper-style cleaners. - Speed up with Activity Monitor + Login Items audit; remove launch agents in ~/Library/LaunchAgents you trashed. - Use iCloud Keychain or 1Password with Safari passkeys; turn on Advanced Data Protection for E2E encryption. - Automate with Shortcuts + AppleScript + launchd for daily PDF, rename, backup jobs without cron hacks. ## Examples - Example 1: New Mac in 20 min: install Homebrew, brew bundle install, restore Time Machine, sign into iCloud. - Example 2: Focus setup: Space 1 Slack/Mail, Space 2 VS Code, Space 3 Figma, Stage Manager hides clutter. - Example 3: Batch rename photos: Finder select > Right-click Rename > Replace IMG_ with Italy2026_, or Shortcuts action. - Example 4: Dev Python fix: xcode-select --install, brew install python@3.12, set VS Code interpreter path. ## Workflows - Workflow A — New Mac: 1. Update macOS 2. FileVault ON 3. Homebrew + Brewfile 4. xcode-select 5. Time Machine enable. - Workflow B — Daily focus: 1. Do Not Disturb schedule 2. Open Spaces per project 3. Shortcuts start-timers 4. Close at 6pm with log. - Workflow C — Backup check: 1. Verify Time Machine last success 2. Check iCloud storage 3. Offsite copy quarterly 4. Test file restore. - Workflow D — Troubleshoot slow: 1. Activity Monitor CPU 2. Login Items prune 3. Safe Mode test 4. Disk Utility First Aid 5. Reinstall if needed. ## Templates - Brew bundle snippet (Brewfile): ```ruby tap "homebrew/cask" brew "git" "python@3.12" "node" "ffmpeg" "mas" "gh" cask "visual-studio-code" "firefox" "raycast" "rectangle" "vlc" "obs" mas "Things 3", id: 904280696 vscode "ms-python.python" "esbenp.prettier-vscode" ``` - Shortcuts recipe: Name Daily Shutdown — Actions: Get Calendar Events Today, Make PDF, Save to iCloud/Logs, Enable DND 10pm. - Finder Smart Folder: Kind is Document + Last opened within 7 days + Tag is Active — Save to Sidebar. - launchd plist pattern: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.user.backup.plist — StartInterval 86400, ProgramArguments rsync script. ## Tools - Homebrew + mas-cli — brew for CLI/casks, mas for App Store apps, one Brewfile for everything. - Raycast or Alfred — faster than Spotlight, clipboard history, window management, brew search. - Rectangle — free window snapping; halves/thirds with Ctrl+Option+Arrows. - Time Machine + Carbon Copy Cloner — versioned backup plus bootable clone for travel. - Shortcuts + Automator — no-code PDF, image, rename automations syncing via iCloud. - OnyX — safe maintenance scripts, rebuild Spotlight index, verify prefs when glitchy. ## Advanced - Manage dotfiles with stow + GitHub: symlink .zshrc, Brewfile, VS Code settings across Macs. - Use launchd over cron: Load with launchctl bootstrap, log to /tmp, KeepAlive for daemons. - Enable Stage Manager per-app: hide recent apps, use Cmd+Tab + Spaces for 3-monitor flow. - Virtualize with UTM (free) for Linux/Windows ARM testing without Parallels license. - Harden Safari: Hide IP, block trackers, per-site mic/camera deny, Privacy Report weekly review. - Script setup with Ansible mac role for fleet: brew, mas, defaults write Dock autohide, Finder prefs. - Back up iPhone to Mac encrypted locally monthly; keeps 2FA SMS history and photos out of cloud-only risk. - Use Focus Modes tied to Spaces: Coding blocks Slack badges, Personal hides work mail after 6pm. ## Documentation - Apple Support — Time Machine setup, FileVault, Stage Manager official guides. - Homebrew docs — Brewfile reference, cask vs formula, opt-out analytics command. - macOS Shortcuts User Guide — triggers, scripting with AppleScript/JXA bridge. - launchd man pages — plist keys, launchctl bootstrap/bootout patterns. - Raycast extensions docs — custom scripts, clipboard history pinning, window layouts. - Apple Silicon guide — Rosetta 2, universal vs ARM brews, Activity Monitor Kind check. - Spec — xcode-select and CLT version matrix for Python/Node native builds.