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

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What you'll learn

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

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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