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MAC_SETUP.md

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Set Up Your Mac for Data & Development Work

This guide will help you set up your Mac for Python, data science and development work using modern tools.

1. Keep macOS Up-to-Date

Keeping your system updated ensures security and compatibility.

  1. Open System Settings → General → Software Update
  2. Install any available updates.
  3. Enable "Automatically keep my Mac up to date"
  4. Update apps via the App Store (Open App Store → Click Updates)

2. Open the Terminal

The Terminal is your command-line interface. Open it by pressing Cmd + Space and searching for "Terminal".

If you prefer, install iTerm2 for a more feature-rich terminal.

3. Install Xcode Command Line Tools

Xcode Command Line Tools are required for compiling packages, running Git, and using Homebrew.

Installation Steps:

  1. Run the following command in the terminal:

    xcode-select --install

  2. A pop-up window should appear prompting you to install the tools. Click "Install" and follow the prompts.

  3. Wait for the installation to complete (this may take a few minutes).

  4. Verify the installation:

    xcode-select --version

  5. Check if essential developer tools like git are available:

    git --version

If you don’t see a pop-up or the command hangs, you can manually install Xcode Command Line Tools from System Settings → Software Update.

4. Install Homebrew (Package Manager)

Homebrew simplifies installing development tools.

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

After installation, verify:

brew doctor
brew update

Add Homebrew to Your PATH

Run these commands in your terminal to ensure Homebrew is accessible:

echo >> ~/.zprofile
echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.zprofile
eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"

Note: Environment variables such as API keys should be stored in your ~/.zshrc or a separate .env file for security. Avoid adding sensitive information directly to ~/.zprofile or ~/.bash_profile.

5. Install a Code Editor

Recommended: Visual Studio Code (VSCode)

To enable VSCode from the Terminal:

  1. Open VSCode
  2. Cmd + Shift + P → Type "Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH"

6. Set Up Git

  1. Install Git:
brew install git
  1. Configure your identity:
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"
  1. Authenticate GitHub with a Personal Access Token (PAT):

7. Install Node.js with NVM (Node Version Manager)

NVM allows easy version switching.

  1. Install NVM:
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.5/install.sh | bash
  1. Add NVM to your shell config (~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc):
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"
  1. Restart your terminal or run:
source ~/.zshrc
  1. Verify installation:
nvm --version
  1. Install and use the latest LTS version of Node.js:
nvm install --lts
nvm alias default lts

8. Install Python and Version Manager

Since macOS ships with a system Python, it's best to use pyenv to manage versions.

  1. Install pyenv:
brew install pyenv
  1. Set up pyenv by adding this to your shell config (~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc):
export PYENV_ROOT="$HOME/.pyenv"
command -v pyenv >/dev/null || export PATH="$PYENV_ROOT/bin:$PATH"
eval "$(pyenv init --path)"
  1. Restart your terminal or run:
source ~/.zshrc
  1. Install the latest Python version:
pyenv install 3.12.2
pyenv global 3.12.2
  1. Verify Python installation:
python --version

Note: Store environment variables such as API keys in ~/.zshrc or a .env file and use export VAR_NAME=value to set them. To load them automatically, add source ~/.zshrc at the end of your shell startup script.

9. Python Dependency Management: Use uv

uv is a modern, faster replacement for pip, venv, and other dependency managers.

Install uv

brew install uv

Set up a Virtual Environment with uv

export UV_VENV_PATH=".venv"
uv venv
source .venv/bin/activate

Install Dependencies

If you have a requirements.txt file:

uv pip install -r requirements.txt

For individual package installation:

uv add pandas numpy matplotlib jupyterlab

Run JupyterLab

uv run jupyter lab

Lock Dependencies for Reproducibility

uv lock

Sync Dependencies in a New Environment

uv sync

10. Install PostgreSQL + PostGIS

The easiest way to manage PostgreSQL with GIS support is via Postgres.app.

Alternatively, install it via Homebrew:

brew install postgresql postgis
brew services start postgresql

11. Install QGIS (for GIS Work)

Download and install QGIS from its website:

brew install --cask qgis

12. Install GDAL (for Geospatial Data Processing)

Required for working with geospatial files.

brew install gdal

Verify installation:

gdalinfo --version

13. Install Additional Useful Packages

Common Python Libraries

pip install numpy pandas matplotlib seaborn geopandas requests jupyterlab

Docker (for Containerized Development)

brew install --cask docker

Open Docker Desktop and follow the setup instructions.

fzf (Fuzzy Finder for Terminal)

brew install fzf
$(brew --prefix)/opt/fzf/install

ripgrep (Better Grep)

brew install ripgrep

14. Optional: Configure Your Shell

If you prefer zsh (default on macOS), enhance it with:

Oh My Zsh

sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

Enable zsh-autosuggestions & syntax highlighting

brew install zsh-autosuggestions zsh-syntax-highlighting

Add this to ~/.zshrc:

source $(brew --prefix)/share/zsh-autosuggestions/zsh-autosuggestions.zsh
source $(brew --prefix)/share/zsh-syntax-highlighting/zsh-syntax-highlighting.zsh

Apply changes:

source ~/.zshrc