My MacBook Pro 13” (Early 2015) has recently been having some issues; spinning beach balls when switching users, random lock-ups etc.
For my records more than anything, here’s what I configured and loaded on a new installation:
Core
- 1Password – This holds everything (passwords, software license codes etc) so it was installed first
- Arq – Still the core of my backup system, alongside Backblaze on my co-lo’d MacMini
- Little Snitch – Sits silently unless something unexpected tries to connect out; useful at times
- Spark – My preferred email app on MacOS
- TextWrangler – My preferred text editor
Utilities
- Bear – I keep a reasonably up-to-date list of useful software and all my hardware in Bear
- Screens – I connect to my other Mac resources frequently and Screens is superb on both MacOS and iOS
- 1Blocker – Brings some sanity to web browsing
- Carbon Copy Cloner – As well as cloud & Synology backups, I regularly clone my internal SSD to an external drive
- Bartender – Brings some sanity to my menu bar
- CleanMyMacX – A new one for me but seems to do a good job of cleaning out some of the cruft
- CloudMounter – Useful for maintaining connections to my Synology and co-lo’d MacMini
- Daisy Disk – Used to keep an eye on storage
- Google Chrome – For the odd website that works better in Chrome (looking at you Unifi)
- iStat Menus – Needs no introduction
- Resilio Sync – Keeps media folders in sync between my MacBook and my co-lo’d Mac Mini
- Sophos Home – Antivirus
- ToothFairy – Assists with connecting to my AirPods
- Transmit – Still sticking with Transmit for FTP etc.
- Viscosity – I still use Viscosity for ProtonVPN connections but am considering their own app
Productivity
- Microsoft Office suite – Currently using the non-App Store applications, but will likely switch over as have an O365 subscription
- OmniFocus – Having recently switched from Things, am still getting to grips with OF but it’s staying!
- OmniGraffle – Currently in trial, but use this extensively in Pro format on my iPad Pro 12.9 (2018)
- WorkSpot – For remote connection to the office
Others
- Banktivity
- Deliveries
- Irvue – Rotating wallpapers
- Luminar – Great photo editing app for the rare times I edit on my MacBook rather than the iPad (particularly since the arrival of Darkroom for iPad)
