I'm using Mac for several years now as my daily driver at different workplaces, and during those years I've selected a few tools that goes with me anywhere.
I will skip the obvious ones such as code editors / terminals, etc and focus on the tools that I think are less known but can improve your productivity.
Homebrew
Can't define homebrew as less known, but I still think it's worth mentioning because its the first thing I install when I start working on a Mac.
Homebrew is a package manager for macOS (not only) that allows you to install and manage software packages from the command line effortlessly. By the way, it's also a great way to install tools that are not available in the App Store. It is free and open source, and it's a must-have tool for any developer working on a Mac in my point of view.
Some of the tools recommended in this article can be installed using Homebrew.
Docker Desktop
Docker desktop is the easiest and most strait forward way I know to run containers, monitor and manage locally on your Mac. It's a great tool for developers who want to run and test their applications in a containerized environment. I use it daily to run databases, message brokers, and other services that I need for my development environment.
Raycast
Raycast is a productivity tool that helps you to perform tasks faster on your Mac. It's a great tool for developers who want to automate repetitive tasks and access their favorite tools and services quickly using custom scripts, hotkeys and more.
Jumpcut
Jumpcut is a clipboard manager for macOS that allows you to access your clipboard history and paste previously copied items with ease. It's a great tool for developers who want to copy and paste multiple items quickly without losing track of their clipboard history. You can browse your clipboard history using hotkeys, and it supports text, images, and other types of content.
AltTab
AltTab is a macOS app that enhances the built-in app switcher with more features and customization options. It allows you to switch between apps and windows more efficiently using keyboard shortcuts and gestures. It's a great tool for developers who want to navigate between apps and windows quickly and easily. Personally, I replaced the default macOS app switcher with AltTab, and I find it more intuitive and user-friendly. For example, when you want to switch between windows of the same app, you can use the arrow keys to navigate and select the desired window while it provides you a preview of the window you're about to switch to.
UTM
UTM is a macOS app that allows you to create and manage virtual machines on your Mac. It's a great tool for developers who want to run multiple operating systems and environments on their Mac for testing and development purposes. UTM supports a wide range of operating systems and platforms, and it provides one of the most user-friendly interfaces I encountered up until now for creating and managing virtual machines.
TinkerTool
TinkerTool is a macOS app that allows you to customize and tweak various system settings and preferences on your Mac. It's a great tool for developers who want to personalize their Mac experience and optimize their workflow. TinkerTool provides a wide range of options and settings that are not available in the standard macOS preferences, and it allows you to customize your Mac to suit your needs and preferences.
Stats
Stats is a macOS system monitor that provides real-time information about your Mac's performance and resource usage. It's a great tool for developers who want to keep an eye on their system's performance and identify any bottlenecks or issues that may affect their work. Stats displays information about CPU, memory, disk, network, and battery usage in a user-friendly interface, and it allows you to monitor your Mac's performance at a glance while also providing the option to customize the display and layout of the information.
Let me know if you have any other tools that you think are worth mentioning, and I'll be happy to check them out!
