Here you can discover these essential apps and settings to optimize your MacBook or Mac for enhanced usability and productivity.
While these apps and system settings are intended to work on the most recent macOS versions and Apple Silicon processors, there may be occasional compatibility issues. Please note my device about:
- MacBook Pro M3 Pro
- macOS Sonoma & Sequoia
Please keep in mind that while efforts are made to ensure compatibility, it is not guaranteed to be 100% effective. In addition, always check the latest versions of the applications mentioned
Here are the applications I use most. Each serves a specific purpose, which I'll outline, and offers functionality that complements the default macOS utilities. All of these applications are set to start at login.
Free and Open source app that allows to move and resize windows in macOS using keyboard shortcuts or snap areas.
Rectangle - configuration 1
Rectangle - configuration 2
Free and Open source app that allows to control your display's brightness and volume on your Mac as if it was a native Apple Display.I particularly rely on it when connected to an external monitor.
MonitorControl - menu bar
MonitorControl - configuration
You might have noticed that my Mac's stats are now conveniently displayed in the status bar. It's all thanks to one of my favorite apps, which allows me to monitor nearly every component right from the menu bar.
Stats - menu bar
Stats - monitors available
Personally, I mainly utilize the power, fan, CPU, and RAM usage features. However, there are plenty of other features available for you to explore at your own.
Stats - cpu usage
Stats - cpu configuration 1
Stats - cpu configuration 2
Stats - cpu configuration 3
Stats - ram usage
Stats - ram configuration 1
Stats - ram configuration 2
Stats - ram configuration 3
Stats - fans usage (bottom) in RPM
Stats - fans configuration 1
Stats - fans configuration 2
Stats - fans usage (top)
Stats - power configuration 1
Stats - power configuration 2
With the arrival of Apple Silicon processors, the introduction of the notch has led to limited space in the menu bar. This app enables you to group icons occupying space into a fixed folder directly on your menu bar.
iBar - menu bar
In my case, I usually hide everything except the stats monitor.
iBar - configuration
An upgraded version of Spotlight for Mac, offering enhanced search capabilities both locally and on the web, enabling more detailed and comprehensive searches.
Alfred - search functionality
Alfred - configuration
Frustrated with the default mouse scrolling direction on your Mac? This app allows you to reverse the "unnatural" external mouse scroll direction to your preference. Simply download and start using it hassle-free.
MOS - configuration
If you, like me, often keep your MacBook connected to the charger for extended periods, you might be concerned about the health of your battery. Continuous charging at 100% can potentially cause chemical and irreversible damage to the battery.
You may have also heard about the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries, typically around 1000 charge cycles. When your MacBook is constantly plugged in, the system may draw power from the battery even while it's charging, further accelerating its degradation.
Enter Aldente – this app offers a solution by allowing you to set a cap on your battery's charge and ensure that the system primarily draws power from the adapter rather than the battery. I highly recommend upgrading to the PRO version for deeper management of your Mac's battery health, although the free version is also enough for basic basic functionalities.
Aldente - menu bar
Aldente - system battery not charging
Aldente - premium functionalities 1
Aldente - premium functionalities 2
Aldente - premium functionalities 3
Aldente - premium functionalities 4
You can hide or show the notch on the new MacBooks as desired.
Top Notch - disabled
Top Notch - enabled
It brings the power of Windows’s “alt-tab” window switcher to macOS or customize as you desired.
Alt Tab - feature
Alt Tab - configuration
A multifunctional screenshot tool that offers a range of features to enhance your screenshot-taking experience. All the screenshots in this document were captured using Shottr.
Shottr - configuration
Amazon Q (previously known as CodeWhisperer) is an AI tool designed for enhancing shell command line interactions. It offers a range of functionalities including personalized code completions, inline documentation, and translation of natural language into code.
Currently, it is exclusively available for macOS, so enjoy it :)
Code Whisperer - IDE-style completions
Code Whisperer - Natural language-to-bash translation
Clipy is an application that allows you to store and access previously copied content.
Clipy - interface
Using BetterDisplay, you are able to Unlock your displays on your Mac! Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more!
BetterDisplay - some features
Occasionally, the Mac dock occupies space on our desktop. You can use the key combination ⌥⌘D to hide/show the dock. However, the animation for the dock to reappear is too slow.
- To make the Dock instantly leap back into view when it’s needed, rather than slide, type the following in your terminal:
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -int 0; killall Dock- If you’d like the animation for the dock to reappear to last for a split-second, try the following:
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0.15; killall DockTo explain, changing "0.15" with any number can let you tailor things as it represents the time in seconds taken for the dock to reappear fully.
- To revert back to the default sliding effect, type the following:
defaults delete com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier; killall DockI will monitor this repository and make upgrades as needed. Contributions are encouraged and open, so feel free to make adjustments and modifications as necessary.