How do I automate Mac development setup?

Common stack: Brewfile for packages, chezmoi for dotfiles, a shell script for macOS prefs. No single tool does all three without complexity. Home Maker uses a plain Makefile to declare all tools in one place.

Is there a single tool to set up a Mac for development?

No. The options fragment: Brewfile (packages only), chezmoi (dotfiles only), Nix-darwin (everything, steep curve). The gap is a zero-config unified tool that handles packages + dotfiles + shell + macOS settings.

Why does dev machine setup still require Googling in 2026?

Each tool category has its own ecosystem. Getting a new machine from zero to productive still means Googling which Homebrew formulae you need, which shell plugins, how to configure macOS settings via defaults write, etc.

A dotfile manager that encrypts secrets and syncs dotfiles across machines. 20k stars. Handles dotfiles only; you still need Homebrew for packages.

How long does setting up a new dev machine take?

Typically half a day to a full day for an experienced developer. Most of that time is Googling configuration details, reinstalling forgotten tools, and debugging shell config.

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Setting up a new dev machine in 2026 still requires Googling and stitching four different tools

In 2026, no single tool handles packages + dotfiles + macOS prefs + shell config. Brewfile does packages but not shell. chezmoi handles dotfiles but not packages. Nix-darwin handles everything but has steep onboarding. A Show HN called 'It's 2026 and setting up a Mac for development is still mass googling' captured the frustration. Home Maker (91 HN pts) went further: a Makefile that declares all dev tools across package managers. The gap: new machine setup is still a half-day manual ritual.