macOS Setup with nix-darwin

This repository contains my personal nix-darwin setup for managing macOS system settings, packages, and applications declaratively using Nix, using ryan4yin/nix-darwin-kickstarter as a foundation.

Repository Structure

.
├── flake.nix                 # Main flake configuration
├── flake.lock                # Flake dependency lock file
├── Makefile                  # Build commands
├── modules/                  # System-level modules
│   ├── nix-core.nix         # Nix daemon and flake settings
│   ├── system.nix           # macOS system preferences
│   ├── apps.nix             # Homebrew and system packages
│   └── host-users.nix       # Host and user configuration
├── home/                     # User-level home-manager modules
│   ├── default.nix          # Home-manager entry point
│   ├── core.nix             # Core packages and programs
│   ├── git.nix              # Git configuration
│   ├── shell.nix            # Zsh shell configuration
│   └── tmux.conf            # Tmux configuration
└── scripts/                  # Helper scripts
    ├── brew_no_quarantine.sh        # Remove quarantine from Chromium
    ├── alacritty_theme_monitor.sh   # Monitor system appearance changes
    └── alacritty_theme_switcher.sh  # Switch Alacritty theme

Table of Contents

• Installation
• Post-Installation
• Manual Configuration
• Resources

---

Installation

Step 1: Install Nix with Flakes Support

Follow the installation instructions from the official nix-darwin repository.

Step 2: Clone This Repository

# Clone to a location of your choice
git clone https://github.com/jp-roisin/nix-darwin ~/etc/nix-darwin
cd ~/etc/nix-darwin

Step 3: Update Personal Information

Edit flake.nix and update these values:

username = "jp";  # Change to your username
useremail = "your-email@example.com";  # Change to your email
hostname = "macbook";  # Change if desired

Step 4: Build and Apply Configuration

sudo make build

This command will:

1. Build the nix-darwin configuration
2. Switch to the new configuration
3. Install Homebrew packages and applications
4. Apply system settings
5. Remove quarantine from Chromium

Note: The first build will take 15-30 minutes as it downloads and installs everything.

Step 5: Restart Your Mac

sudo shutdown -r now

---

Post-Installation

TODO: Document what's automatically configured after installation

---

Manual Configuration

Development Setup

Development Tools & Credentials

• SSH Keys

  • Generate new SSH key: ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your-email@example.com"
  • Add to ssh-agent: ssh-add --apple-use-keychain ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
  • Add public key to GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket

• GPG Keys

  • Import GPG keys for git commit signing
  • Configure git: git config --global user.signingkey <key-id>
  • Configure git: git config --global commit.gpgsign true

• GitHub CLI

  • Install: brew install gh
  • Authenticate: gh auth login

• Mise

  • Configure Node.js: mise use --global node@lts
  • Configure Python: mise use --global python@latest
  • Install other runtimes as needed

• PostgreSQL

  • Start service: brew services start postgresql@17
  • Create database user if needed

• Redis

  • Start service: brew services start redis

• Docker

  • Sign in to Docker Hub
  • Configure Docker resources (Settings → Resources)

• IDE Configuration

  • WebStorm: Sign in to JetBrains account, sync settings
  • VS Code: Sign in to sync settings and extensions
  • Configure language server settings

• API Keys & Environment Variables

  • Create ~/.zshenv or ~/.env for sensitive variables
  • Add API keys for services you use

Terminal & Shell

• Alacritty

  • Install themes: mkdir -p ~/.config/alacritty/themes && git clone https://github.com/alacritty/alacritty-theme ~/.config/alacritty/themes
  • Verify theme auto-switching works (change system appearance)

• Tmux

  • Install TPM (Tmux Plugin Manager): git clone https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tpm ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm
  • Install plugins: Open tmux, press Ctrl-Space + I

• Zsh

  • Verify autojump works: j <directory> after visiting directories
  • Add any custom aliases to home/shell.nix

• Neovim

  • Install your preferred Neovim config (LazyVim, NvChad, etc.)
  • Or clone your dotfiles: git clone <your-nvim-config> ~/.config/nvim

Applications & Services

Communication & Social

• Signal

  • Link to phone

• WhatsApp

  • Scan QR code to link

• Discord

  • Sign in to account

• Microsoft Teams

  • Sign in with work account

Productivity

• Alfred

  • Purchase/enter Powerpack license
  • Configure hotkey (default: Cmd+Space, may need to disable Spotlight)
  • Sync preferences if using cloud storage
  • Install workflows

• Logseq

  • Choose graph location
  • Configure sync (iCloud, Syncthing, etc.)

• Anki

  • Sign in to AnkiWeb
  • Sync decks

Media & Entertainment

• Spotify

  • Sign in to account
  • Download offline playlists if needed

• Jellyfin Media Player

  • Connect to Jellyfin server

Utilities & System

• Tailscale

  • Sign in and connect to network

• Stats

  • Configure menu bar widgets
  • Grant necessary permissions

• AeroSpace

  • Configure keybindings: ~/.aerospace.toml
  • Grant Accessibility permissions (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility)

• Borders (FelixKratz)

  • Start service: brew services start borders
  • Configure if needed

System Settings

macOS Settings Not Managed by Nix

• System Settings → Privacy & Security

  • Grant Full Disk Access to Terminal/Alacritty
  • Grant Accessibility access to AeroSpace
  • Review and configure other app permissions

• System Settings → Keyboard

  • Configure additional keyboard shortcuts if needed
  • Set up text replacements

• System Settings → Desktop & Dock

  • Add/remove apps from Dock
  • Configure Hot Corners if desired

• System Settings → Displays

  • Arrange multiple displays
  • Set resolution/scaling preferences

• System Settings → Trackpad

  • Verify tap to click is enabled
  • Adjust tracking speed

• System Settings → Sound

  • Configure input/output devices
  • Adjust alert volume

• System Settings → Sharing

  • Set Computer Name
  • Enable/disable sharing services

• System Settings → Users & Groups

  • Set profile picture

• Safari (if using)

  • Configure default browser
  • Import bookmarks

• Time Machine

  • Set up backup disk
  • Configure backup schedule

Optional & Custom

Additional Manual Tasks

• Add your custom tasks here
• [ ]
• [ ]
• [ ]

---

Resources

• nix-darwin manual
• home-manager manual
• Nix language documentation
• NixOS and Flakes Book
• macOS defaults reference