Setting up a Mac for dev

First steps

Install Xcode from the Mac App Store

While you won't use Xcode directly, it includes command line tools that the other stuff will use.

Install iTerm

The default macOS terminal is fine, but iTerm is way better. It's free and open-source. You can download it here.

Install Homebrew

Homebrew is a package manager that will help you install command line tools easily. Here is the download

Install Node.js

You might want help with this part

Node.js is a server-side Javascript runtime. A lot of our backend runs on it. Don't install Node from its website, because it will be out of date Instead, install nvm which is the Node Version Manager. Check it out here.

Open iTerm and run the following command:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.34.0/install.sh | bash

Then run the following:

nvm install node

nvm use node

Install command line tools

You will want the following:

• Nginx (web server)
• zsh (better command shell)

Run the following:

brew install nginx zsh

Install Git (if you don't have it)

You will want either Github Desktop or the command line git (depending on what you like - there is no right answer)

Next steps

Install VS Code

VS Code is a text editor preferred by the web dev community. It's open source, free, and made by Microsoft. Download it here

Next, you will want some extensions. Here are some great ones I use:

• Auto close tag
• Color highlight
• EditorConfig for VS Code
• ESLint
• HTML CSS Support
• IntelliSense for CSS class names
• Path Intellisense
• Prettier - code formatter
• TODO highlight

Keep this keyboard shortcut handy: CMD + SHIFT + P. This will open the command palette, where you can quickly access editor commands. Type "install" and hit enter on the install extension item.