Section 1.1: iTerm2

Website: Free

Whenever I set up a new Mac, iTerm2 is always one of the first applications I install. It serves as an exceptional alternative to the default terminal, offering extensive customization options. What I particularly appreciate are the numerous themes available through "Oh My Zsh" and the convenience of managing tabs effortlessly.

Here’s a glimpse of my current setup.

Section 1.2: Alfred 3

Website: Free / $29

Alfred 3 is by far my favorite app, transforming my overall Mac experience. It significantly enhances the functionality of Mac Spotlight. I love features like clipboard history, which retains text and images for up to three months, quick access to Chrome bookmarks, and the ability to execute smart workflows. You can find a variety of useful workflows at http://www.packal.org/.

To access clipboard history, simply use the shortcut Command + Option + C.

Section 1.3: Sublime Text 3

Website: Free / $99

Sublime Text has been a staple for the past 14 years, so it hardly needs an introduction for its effectiveness in handling both small and large projects. Some of my favorite plugins include JSONLint and Emmet. Additionally, I appreciate the flexibility of launching Sublime Text from the terminal. (For setup instructions on opening Sublime Text 3 from the terminal, click here).

Section 1.4: Beyond Compare

Website: Trial / $60

Beyond Compare has saved me on numerous occasions. It’s a powerful diff checker that enables you to compare text files and identify differences. Additionally, it allows for directory scanning and recursive comparisons, which has proven invaluable. One notable advantage is that I used this tool for the first two years without charge, as the trial period lasts for 30 days, counting only when the app is opened.

Section 1.5: Transmit 5

Website: Trial / $45

Transmit 5 is an outstanding file management application that facilitates interaction with servers, AWS S3 buckets, and FTP servers. In web development, it has streamlined the process of transferring files between my Mac and the host, such as downloading logs or uploading images. The editing feature is particularly useful for making quick changes to configuration files on the server.

Section 1.6: Paw

Website: Trial / $49.99

Paw is an excellent HTTP client for testing and debugging APIs, offering a more visually appealing interface than Postman. My favorite aspect is the ability to add environment variables, which is incredibly useful for testing APIs in both development and production environments. It also supports various authentication methods, including OAuth2.

Section 1.7: Moment

Website: Free

Moment is a stunning Google Chrome extension that replaces the homepage with beautiful backgrounds and presents an inspiring quote daily. I enjoy seeing these images each time I open a new tab, and it also allows you to set a "goal of the day," which helps maintain productivity.

Section 1.8: Amphetamine

Website: Free

Amphetamine is a fantastic tool that allows you to establish rules preventing your Mac from sleeping. For instance, you can configure it to keep your Mac awake for a specified duration or while another application, like iTerm2, is running a command or workflow.

Section 1.9: IA Writer

Website: Trial / $29

As engineers, our tasks extend beyond coding; we also draft design documents and emails. IA Writer is an excellent tool for writing in Markdown within a clean text editor. It even suggests text replacements for conciseness, making it ideal for composing Medium posts.

Section 1.10: Notion

Website: Free / $4 per month

Notion has become an integral part of my daily routine, serving as the perfect tool for note-taking, project drafts, personal goal tracking, and checklists. I plan to write a post detailing all the ways I utilize Notion, but recently I've been using a template created by Aivars Meijers for tracking my yearly goals.

Please share your favorite Mac app in the comments!