macos-defaults.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash

# Heavily inspired by https://github.com/kevinSuttle/macOS-Defaults

# Close any open System Preferences panes, to prevent them from overriding
# settings we’re about to change
osascript -e 'tell application "System Preferences" to quit'

# Ask for the administrator password upfront
sudo -v

# Keep-alive: update existing `sudo` time stamp until `.macos` has finished
while true; do sudo -n true; sleep 60; kill -0 "$$" || exit; done 2>/dev/null &

###############################################################################
# General UI/UX                                                               #
###############################################################################

# Disable the sound effects on boot
sudo nvram SystemAudioVolume=" "

# Set sidebar icon size to medium
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode -int 2

# Expand save panel by default
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool true
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode2 -bool true

# Expand print panel by default
defaults write NSGlobalDomain PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool true
defaults write NSGlobalDomain PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint2 -bool true

# Save to disk (not to iCloud) by default
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSDocumentSaveNewDocumentsToCloud -bool false

# Disable automatic capitalization as it’s annoying when typing code
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticCapitalizationEnabled -bool false

# Disable smart dashes as they’re annoying when typing code
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticDashSubstitutionEnabled -bool false

# Disable automatic period substitution as it’s annoying when typing code
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticPeriodSubstitutionEnabled -bool false

# Disable smart quotes as they’re annoying when typing code
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled -bool false

# Disable auto-correct
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticSpellingCorrectionEnabled -bool false

# Increase sound quality for Bluetooth headphones/headsets
defaults write com.apple.BluetoothAudioAgent "Apple Bitpool Min (editable)" -int 40

# Use scroll gesture with the Ctrl (^) modifier key to zoom
# defaults write com.apple.universalaccess closeViewScrollWheelToggle -bool true # TODO: not working?
# defaults write com.apple.universalaccess HIDScrollZoomModifierMask -int 262144 # TODO: not working?
# Follow the keyboard focus while zoomed in
# defaults write com.apple.universalaccess closeViewZoomFollowsFocus -bool true # TODO: not working?

# Enable subpixel font rendering on non-Apple LCDs
# Reference: https://github.com/kevinSuttle/macOS-Defaults/issues/17#issuecomment-266633501
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 1

# Show icons for hard drives, servers, and removable media on the desktop
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowExternalHardDrivesOnDesktop -bool true
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowHardDrivesOnDesktop -bool true
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowMountedServersOnDesktop -bool true
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowRemovableMediaOnDesktop -bool true

# Finder: show all filename extensions
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowAllExtensions -bool true

# Finder: show status bar
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowStatusBar -bool true

# Finder: show path bar
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowPathbar -bool true

# Keep folders on top when sorting by name
defaults write com.apple.finder _FXSortFoldersFirst -bool true

# When performing a search, search the current folder by default
defaults write com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope -string "SCcf"

# Disable the warning when changing a file extension
defaults write com.apple.finder FXEnableExtensionChangeWarning -bool false

# Enable spring loading for directories
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.springing.enabled -bool true

# Remove the spring loading delay for directories
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.springing.delay -float 0.5

# Avoid creating .DS_Store files on network or USB volumes
defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool true
defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteUSBStores -bool true

# Use list view in all Finder windows by default
# Four-letter codes for the other view modes: `icnv`, `clmv`, `glyv`
defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "Nlsv"

# Show the ~/Library folder
chflags nohidden ~/Library

# Show the /Volumes folder
sudo chflags nohidden /Volumes

# Remove the auto-hiding Dock delay
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 0
# Remove the animation when hiding/showing the Dock
# Disabled: removing the delay in the above command and keeping the animation at the default 0.5 works nicer
# defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0

###############################################################################
# Safari & WebKit                                                             #
###############################################################################

# Privacy: don’t send search queries to Apple
defaults write com.apple.Safari UniversalSearchEnabled -bool false
defaults write com.apple.Safari SuppressSearchSuggestions -bool true

# Show the full URL in the address bar (note: this still hides the scheme)
defaults write com.apple.Safari ShowFullURLInSmartSearchField -bool true

# Disable AutoFill
defaults write com.apple.Safari AutoFillFromAddressBook -bool false
defaults write com.apple.Safari AutoFillPasswords -bool false
defaults write com.apple.Safari AutoFillCreditCardData -bool false
defaults write com.apple.Safari AutoFillMiscellaneousForms -bool false

# Enable “Do Not Track”
defaults write com.apple.Safari SendDoNotTrackHTTPHeader -bool true

# Update extensions automatically
defaults write com.apple.Safari InstallExtensionUpdatesAutomatically -bool true

###############################################################################
# Mail                                                                        #
###############################################################################

# Copy email addresses as `foo@example.com` instead of `Foo Bar <foo@example.com>` in Mail.app
defaults write com.apple.mail AddressesIncludeNameOnPasteboard -bool false

# Disable inline attachments (just show the icons)
defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool true

###############################################################################
# Terminal & iTerm 2                                                          #
###############################################################################

# Only use UTF-8 in Terminal.app
defaults write com.apple.terminal StringEncodings -array 4

# Don’t display the annoying prompt when quitting iTerm
defaults write com.googlecode.iterm2 PromptOnQuit -bool false

###############################################################################
# Time Machine                                                                #
###############################################################################

# Prevent Time Machine from prompting to use new hard drives as backup volume
defaults write com.apple.TimeMachine DoNotOfferNewDisksForBackup -bool true


################# Not needed now but maybe in the future? #####################

# Disable the “Are you sure you want to open this application?” dialog
# defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices LSQuarantine -bool false

# Disable the crash reporter
#defaults write com.apple.CrashReporter DialogType -string "none"

# Save screenshots in PNG format (other options: BMP, GIF, JPG, PDF, TIFF)
# defaults write com.apple.screencapture type -string "png"

# Finder: show hidden files by default
#defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true

echo "Done. Note that some of these changes require a logout/restart to take effect."