When I got a new Mac, I wanted a fresh, clutter-free setup without dragging along unnecessary apps from my previous machine. As i already use Homebrew for managing packages and love clarity of a categorized app list that keeps me organized and in control, I decided to create a Brewfile - a single, well-structured list of all the essential apps and tools I truly need. I store this file in a Git repository on GitHub to keep it synchronized across devices and easily share it with others.

I also learned about the NixOS package manager from this video video, and I was surprised to discover that it can even manage macOS settings. However, I found the configuration approach to be a bit redundant for my needs.

Homebrew does have some security concerns, but they aren’t critical for me. I also prefer installing pre-bundled apps, unlike MacPorts, which takes a different approach.