Compendium of Secret Knowledge

👋🏻 Disclaimer

I really love Mac OS but some things about it are quite annoying. For that reason I wanted to create a list of apps and changes I make to Mac OS to make it more productive and fun to use. I thought sharing this list might help other Developers struggling with the same issues.

Useful Settings

Faster Dock Hiding

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 0; defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -int 0;killall Dock

Undo:

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 0.5; defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -int 0.5 ;killall Dock

Add Spacer to Dock

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{tile-data={}; tile-type="spacer-tile";}' && killall Dock

⚠️ Attention

To remove the spacer, simply drag and drop it out of your dock, like an application.

Add Half-Height Spacer to Dock

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{"tile-type"="small-spacer-tile";}' && killall Dock

Disable annoying warning when removing USB from Mac

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.DiskArbitration.diskarbitrationd.plist DADisableEjectNotification -bool YES && sudo pkill diskarbitrationd

⚠️ Attention

This change to qlist requires a restart of your Mac

Re-Enable Annoying Disk Warning (Why would you though?)

sudo defaults delete /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.DiskArbitration.diskarbitrationd.plist DADisableEjectNotification && sudo pkill diskarbitrationd

Change Screenshot Default to JPG (Replace with png to undo)

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg

Make Hidden Apps Transparent

defaults write com.apple.Dock showhidden -bool TRUE && killall Dock