make-your-mac-easier

name	make-your-mac-easier
description	Automate new Mac setup by installing common productivity utilities with Homebrew Cask. Use when setting up a fresh macOS machine, onboarding a new work laptop, installing a curated list of Mac apps such as Rectangle, AltTab, Mos, Maccy, AppCleaner, IINA, The Unarchiver, Raycast, or customizing and running a repeatable Mac app installation checklist.

Make Your Mac Easier

Overview

Use this skill to help a user set up a new Mac with a repeatable, reviewable app installation flow. Prefer the bundled script so installs are predictable, auditable, and easy to customize.

Workflow

1. Confirm the Mac is ready:
   • Run uname -s and continue only on Darwin.
   • Check whether Homebrew exists with command -v brew.
   • If Homebrew is already installed, do not change Homebrew sources or mirror settings; continue to the app scan/install flow.
   • If Homebrew is missing, run scripts/bootstrap_homebrew.sh. It must stop for user confirmation and ask whether to use the official source, Tsinghua mirror, or USTC mirror.
   • For mainland China users without Homebrew, recommend Tsinghua or USTC during the bootstrap prompt. Do not silently install Homebrew or silently rewrite network-related settings.
2. Review the install list:
   • Read references/default-apps.md when the user asks what will be installed or wants to customize the list.
   • Keep the default list focused on small productivity utilities.
   • Treat "AltTab Plus" as the user's preferred AltTab-style window switcher; install the Homebrew cask alt-tab unless the user provides a different source for a paid or private variant.
3. Dry-run first:
   • Run scripts/install_mac_apps.sh --dry-run before making changes.
   • Show the user which casks are already installed, which would be installed, and which names look unavailable.
4. Install only after clear permission:
   • Run scripts/install_mac_apps.sh --yes when the user explicitly asks to proceed.
   • Use --with-optional if the user wants the optional bundle.
   • Use --apps for a custom comma-separated cask list.
5. Finish with a concise report:
   • List installed apps, skipped apps, and any failures.
   • Mention manual follow-up only for apps that are not available as Homebrew casks.
   • If failures look network-related, separate "network/Homebrew metadata issue" from "app cask unavailable" in the report.

Commands

From the skill directory:

scripts/bootstrap_homebrew.sh
scripts/bootstrap_homebrew.sh --mirror tsinghua
scripts/bootstrap_homebrew.sh --mirror ustc
scripts/install_mac_apps.sh --dry-run
scripts/install_mac_apps.sh --yes
scripts/install_mac_apps.sh --yes --with-optional
scripts/install_mac_apps.sh --dry-run --apps rectangle,alt-tab,mos,maccy,appcleaner

The app installer intentionally defaults to dry-run behavior. Passing --yes is required for app installation.

The Homebrew bootstrap script changes mirror settings only during first-time Homebrew installation after explicit user confirmation. If Homebrew is already installed, it exits without changing sources.

Customization

Use references/default-apps.md as the source of truth for the default and optional app lists. If a user wants team-specific defaults, update that reference and keep the script defaults in sync.

Prefer Homebrew cask tokens over app display names. Examples:

• Rectangle -> rectangle
• AltTab -> alt-tab
• Mos -> mos
• Maccy -> maccy
• AppCleaner -> appcleaner