Free course

macOS for Developers Course

Build a reproducible Mac development environment with Apple tools, Homebrew, shell configuration, project runtimes, credentials, and recovery notes.

5 modules · 25 lessons · No signup

Prerequisites: macOS Basics, Shell Commands and Git

Download this course as PDF or EPUB

Read it offline, on your Kindle, or print it. Join my free newsletter and you get this course plus every other book and course I published.

Download PDFDownload EPUB
~~~

Your progress

of lessons completed.

Course completed.

What you'll learn

Set up, verify, document, and rebuild a Mac development workstation without depending on hidden state or unsafe shortcuts.

Course contents

  1. Know your Mac

    Record the operating system, architecture, developer directory, package-manager prefix, and compatibility boundaries.

    1. ✓ Record the workstation baseline
    2. ✓ Distinguish hardware and process architecture
    3. ✓ Inspect the active developer directory
    4. ✓ Write a compatibility note
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: know your mac

  2. Build the toolchain

    Install Apple tools, manage Homebrew packages, pin project runtimes, and verify which executable will run.

    1. ✓ Install and verify Apple command-line tools
    2. ✓ Understand the Homebrew prefix
    3. ✓ Capture packages with a Brewfile
    4. ✓ Pin and verify project runtimes
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: build the toolchain

  3. Shape the shell

    Control Zsh startup files, PATH order, environment variables, aliases, functions, and project-specific configuration.

    1. ✓ Map Zsh startup files
    2. ✓ Build PATH deliberately
    3. ✓ Separate environment from secrets
    4. ✓ Create a small shell contract
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: shape the shell

  4. Identity and local trust

    Configure Git and SSH identities, use Keychain safely, manage local certificates, and review application permissions.

    1. ✓ Separate Git identities by context
    2. ✓ Configure SSH host aliases
    3. ✓ Store a local secret in Keychain
    4. ✓ Review local trust and permissions
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: identity and local trust

  5. Make it reproducible

    Capture packages and dotfiles, test a clean setup, protect recovery data, and maintain the workstation over time.

    1. ✓ Inventory rebuildable and personal state
    2. ✓ Manage dotfiles with clear ownership
    3. ✓ Test setup in a clean context
    4. ✓ Write the workstation recovery runbook
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: make it reproducible