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    macOS software setup

    My favorite computing environment is macOS augmented with LaunchBar, a flexible, Spotlight-like launcher. Typing ⌘Space brings up a text field that can quickly run applications, search the web, and run custom actions. LaunchBar's Instant Send feature uses a different key chord (or a longer press on the primary one) to pre-populate the text field with selected text. From there, pressing Tab follows the usual rules to find an action to take on that text, like a shell pipeline. I use this to quickly search sites like Bookshop with text I've selected.

    I use Safari with an extension for Instapaper and try to avoid having too many tabs open at once. Kagi handles web searches. NetNewsWire tracks website updates through RSS feeds. I use the built-in Mail.app on macOS for reading email. Always present in the menu bar, Fantastical make it easy to enter new tasks and events into my Fastmail account.

    I write prose in iA Writer. I don't like using a programming-focused text editor for writing, because its options tend to distract me and get in the way. I don't use the distraction-free features of the editor, wish it supported wiki links, and used a hierarchical list view instead of a column view for the organizer. Otherwise, I have no complaints -- the multi-file search is fast and it looks nice. I don't mind not being able to switch the font, as the built-in one based on IBM Plex is quite good. When writing, I often check for synonyms using a custom LaunchBar action and define words using Webster's 1913 dictionary instead of the one that ships with macOS.

    For writing code or markup, I use Helix in my terminal emulator. For some tasks, I still use Sublime Text, especially if a file is large and I need to keep a persistent search window open. I don't deviate from the defaults much, but I do insist on a syntax highlighting scheme that only colors comments, strings, and function definitions.

    To incorporate graphics into my work, Monodraw draws diagrams with text. For SVG, I dabble with Inkscape or Affinity Designer. I use Blender for complex CAD or 3D modeling.

    My terminal emulator is Ghostty, which supports hyperlinked text, connected box drawing characters, and a "quick terminal" overlay. I use the fish interactive shell because of its auto-complete and history search features.

    There are also a few passive utilities that I don't have to think much about to get a benefit: