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Five Essential Apps for Your Mac
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I have had Moom for years, but Magnet is $1 at the moment, so might check it out.
You can run Access in Parallels or VMware, but depending on your project, looking into SQL might be the way to go.
Hey thanks for mentioning this. I will compare it to Web Snapper which I've used occassionally for several years.
(tl;dr: My essentials, more or less in order; but you’ll have to hold a gun to make me give one up
Keyboard Maestro
Default Folder X
BTT
Karibiner
GeekTool (yep, it still works; you just have to kill its terrible multiple displays “support”)
LingonX
Automator/Script Editor (build your own damn Hazel/Alfred Services and Utilities)
FastScripts (useful for everything you don’t want to remember keystrokes for, even if you do have KM)
Dropbox (you’d be amazed at how much remote control you can perform with Dropbox and scripting)
Carbon Copy Cloner (can’t wait for APFS support a la SuperDuper)
SpamSieve (a geek’s nightmare to setup on multiple accounts, but once it’s running; indispensable)
BBEdit
pCalc
Soulver
CyberDuck or Transmit (best); Forklift is okay
Contacts Sync for Google (if you have to play in that world)
Fantastical (1 is fine; 2 is overkill; simple, fast event/reminder entry with intelligent parsing)
Bartender 2 (not 3; love the shelf; not dev’s fault)
Growl (yep, it still works too; super useful for custom utilities)
Autograph
Clean Slate (or KM)
Sizzling Keys (for the HUD, Find Song and Playlist Selector; otherwise KM)
Acorn or Pixelmator (both fantastic)
iStat Menus (helpful, pretty, but GeekTool and shell can do it all well enough)
A Better Finder Rename (even if you love making your own scripts, this tool is awesome)
MacPilot or TinkerTool (for ease of mods; you can do it all with Terminal)
Pacifist
DiskWarrior
Data Rescue
1Password (legacy, non-subscription; if forced, I can live with Keychain and encrypted files in Dropbox)
(Far too many more to recall right now, but I’d hate my time on a computer without these above; and, yes, the order is pretty much meaningless.)
I can’t believe I got to page seven before someone finally mentioned Keyboard Maestro and Default Folder; these two are crucial to my workflow (been using the former for most of this century; the latter since the 90s), and I tear my hair out when I have to work on a Mac without them.
Mosaic (formerly WindowTidy) has come along way, and the developers have big plans on the way, but there’s not a single window manager today (that I’ve found), including every one listed here, that can properly handle multiple displays (I have six).
However, Keyboard Maestro provides ample tools to make any needed window function; it just lacks portability to configurations that vary wildly; i.e., there’s a lot of time investment for multiple resolutions and arrangements, especially on a per-app basis. But, after decades of experience with AppleScript and KM, I’m doing okay. Adding a grid-based manager that also responds to edge targets and can auto-gutter — across multiple displays — is a real holy grail for me.
BetterTouchTool and Karibiner expands on KM nicely for a very select few mapping features.
I used to use TextExpander, but both their move to subscriptions and poor iOS support/implementation compelled me to absorb its duties into KM and System Keyboard Text Shortcuts. I built a better shortcuts manager for macOS, and now I enjoy universal shortcuts on any device I can login to iCloud, though admittedly, I frequently miss some expansions on iOS.
KM does so very, very, very much more, that it is quite literally the first thing I would have to install if I started from scratch. Thankfully, I’m still running on the same OS X installation and user account dating back to the Public Beta (I truly have prefs files with creation dates of 2001), so Migration Assistant could handle things, but I prefer clone migration to new machines.
Keyboard Maestro
Default Folder X
BTT
Karibiner
GeekTool (yep, it still works; you just have to kill its terrible multiple displays “support”)
LingonX
Automator/Script Editor (build your own damn Hazel/Alfred Services and Utilities)
FastScripts (useful for everything you don’t want to remember keystrokes for, even if you do have KM)
Dropbox (you’d be amazed at how much remote control you can perform with Dropbox and scripting)
Carbon Copy Cloner (can’t wait for APFS support a la SuperDuper)
SpamSieve (a geek’s nightmare to setup on multiple accounts, but once it’s running; indispensable)
BBEdit
pCalc
Soulver
CyberDuck or Transmit (best); Forklift is okay
Contacts Sync for Google (if you have to play in that world)
Fantastical (1 is fine; 2 is overkill; simple, fast event/reminder entry with intelligent parsing)
Bartender 2 (not 3; love the shelf; not dev’s fault)
Growl (yep, it still works too; super useful for custom utilities)
Autograph
Clean Slate (or KM)
Sizzling Keys (for the HUD, Find Song and Playlist Selector; otherwise KM)
Acorn or Pixelmator (both fantastic)
iStat Menus (helpful, pretty, but GeekTool and shell can do it all well enough)
A Better Finder Rename (even if you love making your own scripts, this tool is awesome)
MacPilot or TinkerTool (for ease of mods; you can do it all with Terminal)
Pacifist
DiskWarrior
Data Rescue
1Password (legacy, non-subscription; if forced, I can live with Keychain and encrypted files in Dropbox)
(Far too many more to recall right now, but I’d hate my time on a computer without these above; and, yes, the order is pretty much meaningless.)
I can’t believe I got to page seven before someone finally mentioned Keyboard Maestro and Default Folder; these two are crucial to my workflow (been using the former for most of this century; the latter since the 90s), and I tear my hair out when I have to work on a Mac without them.
Mosaic (formerly WindowTidy) has come along way, and the developers have big plans on the way, but there’s not a single window manager today (that I’ve found), including every one listed here, that can properly handle multiple displays (I have six).
However, Keyboard Maestro provides ample tools to make any needed window function; it just lacks portability to configurations that vary wildly; i.e., there’s a lot of time investment for multiple resolutions and arrangements, especially on a per-app basis. But, after decades of experience with AppleScript and KM, I’m doing okay. Adding a grid-based manager that also responds to edge targets and can auto-gutter — across multiple displays — is a real holy grail for me.
BetterTouchTool and Karibiner expands on KM nicely for a very select few mapping features.
I used to use TextExpander, but both their move to subscriptions and poor iOS support/implementation compelled me to absorb its duties into KM and System Keyboard Text Shortcuts. I built a better shortcuts manager for macOS, and now I enjoy universal shortcuts on any device I can login to iCloud, though admittedly, I frequently miss some expansions on iOS.
KM does so very, very, very much more, that it is quite literally the first thing I would have to install if I started from scratch. Thankfully, I’m still running on the same OS X installation and user account dating back to the Public Beta (I truly have prefs files with creation dates of 2001), so Migration Assistant could handle things, but I prefer clone migration to new machines.
The third party app that gets the most use on my Mac is HoudahSpot: file search. I may be biased. I am the developer of HoudahSpot. But the truth is, that I developed HoudahSpot for my own needs. And it serves those well and often. I literally have hundreds of thousands source code files, 30’000 emails, 30’000 photos, … Fast and preceise search make all this data an asset rather than a liability.
Next on my list is a clipboard manager / history. Again, I can’t imagine productive work without it. I currently use LaunchBar both as launcher and clipboard manager.
Next on my list is a clipboard manager / history. Again, I can’t imagine productive work without it. I currently use LaunchBar both as launcher and clipboard manager.
It's been mention at least 10 times previously in this thread... the first time was on page 2 (post 49).
[doublepost=1517491124][/doublepost]
Wow... $30 for search utility... and some bagged on me for mentioning a $15 menu bar manager utility.
So many of these are great suggestions. I will likely be replacing my laptop soon, and my tendency is to start from scratch, reinstalling everything. I will have to take a look at many of these before I consider my new set up.
One request to anyone who might post or add to the (already large) list - could you consider adding a short description when you provide your favourites? It would be much appreciated.
And a question to anyone who might be following this thread - what would be the typical use case for something like Homebrew or MacPorts for someone who doesn't (yet) do a lot of coding or similar work? i.e. what does it provide that I can't get via the App Store or standard apps? I've tried to look this up, but don't really get a sense of whether it would be useful to me or not.
One request to anyone who might post or add to the (already large) list - could you consider adding a short description when you provide your favourites? It would be much appreciated.
And a question to anyone who might be following this thread - what would be the typical use case for something like Homebrew or MacPorts for someone who doesn't (yet) do a lot of coding or similar work? i.e. what does it provide that I can't get via the App Store or standard apps? I've tried to look this up, but don't really get a sense of whether it would be useful to me or not.
Filemaker Pro. I used to use this as well as the simpler "Bento" for a little while. You should be able to convert an access database to filemaker.
My list of essential apps for Mac includes none of these paid-to-macforum-for-ads-apps. MiniNote Pro is one of these. MS Office - another one. Iina video player - another one. Eggsellent - another one. Battery Monitor - the last one if we must fit into 5 apps list.
Out of all the apps I've ever used, DefaultFolder is the only one I consider absolutely, 100% essential. I've been using it since the Mac OS 8/9 days on every computer I've ever worked on. If I start a new job somewhere, I buy a new license myself if the company won't spring for it.
Every other utility I use regularly I could do without if I didn't have the option of using it.
Every other utility I use regularly I could do without if I didn't have the option of using it.
I'll be the first to admit that, none of these apps are 'essential' in the purest sense of the word, but, let's be honest here and admit that this phrase is used throughout the industry to describe items that can make our lives with a chosen robotic overlords easier.
This being the case I've welcomed this post and resultant posts that were made as a result - I've found a lot of cool stuff that fix some annoying niggles I've always had with OSX.
Out of all of them I've installed today (trial or purchased) only Magnet (purchased on the a advise of a work colleague) and PathFinder (found on me tod) I had installed. Bartender 3 certainly gives me a much cleaner menu bar up top so I'll almost certainly be going for that.
HazeOver I liked - right up until it started placing "Buy" and "Trial" messages over the greyed out windows - then it became something that I'll NOT be buying - if you're going to give me a trial - give me a trial - make me love you and I'll buy you - make me hate you and you're gone.
Hyperdock I just found to be intermittent - and something has to be 100% or it's gone. Multiple times I found myself having to re-enable it again because it didn't want to work, so it's going to.
That said, I don't begrudge my time spent downloading and playing with them - I like stuff like this so I say keep 'em coming!
This being the case I've welcomed this post and resultant posts that were made as a result - I've found a lot of cool stuff that fix some annoying niggles I've always had with OSX.
Out of all of them I've installed today (trial or purchased) only Magnet (purchased on the a advise of a work colleague) and PathFinder (found on me tod) I had installed. Bartender 3 certainly gives me a much cleaner menu bar up top so I'll almost certainly be going for that.
HazeOver I liked - right up until it started placing "Buy" and "Trial" messages over the greyed out windows - then it became something that I'll NOT be buying - if you're going to give me a trial - give me a trial - make me love you and I'll buy you - make me hate you and you're gone.
Hyperdock I just found to be intermittent - and something has to be 100% or it's gone. Multiple times I found myself having to re-enable it again because it didn't want to work, so it's going to.
That said, I don't begrudge my time spent downloading and playing with them - I like stuff like this so I say keep 'em coming!
I’m not a programmer but I’m getting more and more interested in it. However I do have a few raspberry pi’s and do make some use of the terminal. Homebrew has enabled easy installation and maintenance of packages that are either not present on OSX or the version present is old.
Examples:
“pv” (pipeline viewer, not available by default) this is great for flashing the SD cards of the raspberry pi’s along with “dd” allowing me to follow the progress without resorting to another GUI app.
Uncomplicated installation of Python libraries if you want to start programming.
Updated Rsync (default version was quite old and incompatible with the version that was present in my RPi’s OS. Use it to sync folder directories and hierarchies to the RPi.
Slowly it’s helped me to learn more about the CLI and working with it.
Exactly. Homebrew or macports give you access to CLI-softwares (without Graphical User Interface) that can be very interesting.
Dropzone 3 ($9.99) - Dropzone makes it easier to copy, move, and share files with unique, customizable actions that let you organize your data with simple drag and drop gestures. Drag a file into an application listed in Dropzone and you can copy it, share it to a social network, AirDrop it, and do tons more.
I like Dropzone. It was a great remake of Defender
I like Dropzone. It was a great remake of Defender
Drop zone is great. And it deals with the broken drag and drop of photos.app, albeit with an annoying extra step.