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macos-configuring

Use when configuring macOS settings via terminal, setting up a new machine, asking to configure Finder/Dock/screenshots/keyboard/apps, generating setup scripts, or troubleshooting why a setting didn't take effect.

personAuthor: jakexiaohubgithub
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Configuring macOS

How to configure macOS programmatically. Don't document specific commands here - use training knowledge or web search for those. This skill is about the process.

Responding to "Configure my X"

When the user asks to configure something:

  1. Training knowledge - Try what you know first
  2. Search references - Check macos-defaults.com or mathiasbynens/.macos
  3. Last resort: Discovery - Use the diff technique below
  4. After writing - Tell user what restart is needed (see table)
  5. Generating script? - Use the script template

Discovering Unknown Settings (Last Resort)

When training and references don't have the answer:

# 1. Snapshot current state
defaults read > /tmp/before.plist

# 2. User changes setting in System Settings GUI

# 3. Diff to find what changed
defaults read > /tmp/after.plist
diff /tmp/before.plist /tmp/after.plist

For app-specific: defaults read com.apple.APPNAME > /tmp/before.plist

To find an app's domain:

osascript -e 'id of app "Photos"'           # Returns bundle ID
ls ~/Library/Preferences/ | grep -i photos  # Or check filesystem
defaults domains | tr ',' '\n' | grep -i photos

Applying Changes

Settings require process restart. Never auto-logout or auto-restart - tell the user what they need to do.

| What Changed | How to Apply | |--------------|--------------| | Dock, hot corners, Spaces | killall Dock (safe to run) | | Finder, desktop | killall Finder (safe to run) | | Menu bar items | killall SystemUIServer (safe to run) | | Keyboard, fn key, input | Tell user: "Logout and log back in" | | Login window | Tell user: "Restart your Mac" | | Uncertain | Try killall cfprefsd, then tell user to logout |

Script Template

#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euo pipefail

echo "Configuring [category]..."

defaults write DOMAIN KEY -TYPE VALUE

killall PROCESS 2>/dev/null || true

echo "Done."

Troubleshooting

| Problem | Cause & Fix | |---------|-------------| | Setting reverts | App overwrote on quit. Close app first. | | No effect | Wrong domain (defaults find KEYWORD), or needs logout not killall | | Cached values | killall cfprefsd flushes preference cache | | Permission denied | May need sudo, or protected by SIP |

Quick Reference

defaults write DOMAIN KEY -TYPE VALUE   # Set
defaults read DOMAIN KEY                # Get
defaults delete DOMAIN KEY              # Remove
defaults find KEYWORD                   # Search all domains

Types: -string, -int, -float, -bool, -array, -dict

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