Mac OS X Lion Setup

The following is a breakdown of apps I commonly use and their install order (from a fresh install of the MacOS):

Install

To install Mac OX X Lion, you’ll need to be running Snow Leopard with the App Store application installed. Here are the steps necessary to configure you machine:

1. Launch the App Store and buy Lion to start the download.
2. Once the download completes, DO NOT start the install. Instead ensure that you make a copy of the DMG image via the Lion installer application (found in your Applications folder). You’ll need to open file info on the installer and choose to show package contents. You’ll want to make a copy of the Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg file. More details here.
3. Once a copy of the DMG has been made, you can start the install.
4. Follow the screen prompts to complete.

For those that don’t like the default Lion install settings, you’ll need to perform the install twice. However, this time you have the DMG installer image. You can either make a DVD or USB boot disk. Once you have, you can reboot Lion while holding down the COMMAND+R keys to launch into recovery mode. Here are the steps for reinstall:

1. Launch Disk Utilities and format the main partition as MacOS Extended (journaled, case sensitive). Don’t bother messing with the boot disk partition as that is where your recovery utilities are.
2. Exit Disk Utilities and start the Lion installer.
3. Follow the install prompts until the Lion install completes.

Configuration

1. Rename your computer via System Preferences - Sharing.
2. Unhide your user library folder: chflags nohidden ~/Library

Applications

1. Mac OS X 10.7.x Software Updates (Software Update)
2. Mac OS X 10.7.x Combo Patch (web)
3. XCode (App Store)
4. Dropbox (web)
5. 1Password (App Store)
6. Knox (web)
7. iTerm2 (web)
8. TextMate (web)
9. Alfred (web)
10. Alfred Powerpack (web)
11. TextExpander (App Store)
12. PathFinder (web)
13. Firefox (web)
14. Google Chrome (web)
15. Opera (web)
16. OmniFocus (App Store)
17. OmniOutliner (App Store)
18. OmniGraffle Professional (App Store)
19. OmniDazzle (web)
20. Caffeine (App Store)
21. Fantastical (App Store)
22. ColorSnapper (App Store)
23. xScope (App Store)
24. 3Hub (App Store)
25. ExpanDrive (web)
26. iStat Menus (web)
27. Growl (App Store)
28. Air Display (App Store)
29. Pastebot Sync (web)
30. PDFpenPro (App Store)
31. Gitbox (App Store)
32. GitHub (web)
33. Snippets (web)
34. Patterns (App Store)
35. Espresso (web)
36. Gradient (App Store)
37. CodeKit (web)
38. LittleSnapper (App Store)
39. Acorn (App Store)
40. Pixelmator (App Store)
41. DoubleTake (web)
42. ImageOptim (web)
43. ImageAlpha (web)
44. VLC (web)
45. SQLite Database Browser (web)
46. pgAdmin (web)
47. VMWare Fusion (web)
48. Billings (App Store)
49. MoneyWell (App Store)
50. Delicious Library (App Store)
51. GarageBand (App Store)
52. iMovie (App Store)
53. iPhoto (App Store)
54. OpenOffice (web)
55. Logitech Control Center (web)
56. Logitech Harmony Remote (web)
57. Colloquy (web)
58. Skype (web)

Configurations

1. Enable FileVault (via System Preferences - Security and Privacy).
2. Configure Wi-Fi.
3. Configure printer.
4. Configure scanner.
5. Configure Apple Mail and all email accounts.
6. Configure iCal
7. Configure iTunes
8. Install the Network Link Conditioner preference pane (found via /Developer/Applications/Utilities/Network Link Conditioner/)
9. Install Firefox extensions.
10. Configure installed applications.
11. Configure Ruby development environment.

Notes

For more Mac-related information, check out my Mac page.

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