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Quick-Guide on setting up a MacBook for AI Engineering

Setting up a new MacBook for AI development doesn't have to be overwhelming. Here's my streamlined 10-step process to transform a fresh macOS installation into a fully functional AI engineering workstation.

1. Install Xcode Command Line Tools

Start by installing the Xcode Command Line Tools. These are essential building blocks for any software development on macOS, including AI and data science work.

xcode-select --install

This command opens a dialog that walks you through the installation process.

2. Install Homebrew

Next, install Homebrew, the go-to package manager for macOS. It makes installing and managing software incredibly simple. Run this command:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

The installer will guide you through the process and may ask for your password.

3. Install essential development tools

Now let's install the core tools you'll need for AI engineering:

brew install openssl readline sqlite3 xz zlib pyenv uv htop gitmoji pandoc ncdu tmux

Here's what each tool does:

Python environment:

  • pyenv — manage multiple Python versions seamlessly
  • uv — fast Python package manager and environment handler

System libraries:

  • openssl — SSL/TLS cryptography support
  • readline — command-line text editing
  • sqlite3 — lightweight embedded database
  • xz — advanced data compression
  • zlib — compression library

Productivity tools:

  • htop — visual system monitor and process viewer
  • tmux — manage multiple terminal sessions
  • ncdu — analyze disk usage interactively
  • gitmoji — add emojis to commit messages
  • pandoc — convert documents between formats

Note: For more detailed information about using uv for Python development, check out my Quick-Guide on managing Python on macOS with uv.

4. Choose your terminal

The default macOS Terminal works fine, but I've found better alternatives. I recently switched from iTerm2 to Warp. Warp is a modern, Rust-based terminal with built-in AI features that make your workflow smoother.

You can download Warp from their website.

Optional: iTerm2 configuration

If you prefer the battle-tested iTerm2, here's my recommended setup:

Enable natural text editing:

  1. Open Preferences → Profiles → Keys → Key Mappings
  2. Click the Presets… dropdown
  3. Select "Natural Text Editing"

Choose a color theme:

  1. Browse themes at iTerm2-Color-Schemes
  2. Open Preferences → Profiles → Colors → Color Presets…
  3. Click Import and select your downloaded theme

5. Set up Zsh with Oh My Zsh

Modern macOS comes with Zsh as the default shell, but we'll enhance it with Oh My Zsh, a framework that makes Zsh more powerful and easier to customize:

brew install zsh
sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

The Oh My Zsh installer will back up your existing Zsh configuration and set up the new one.

6. Add Zsh plugins for superpowers

Plugins make your terminal smarter and more productive. Edit your ~/.zshrc file to add these plugins:

plugins=(
    aws bgnotify brew docker docker-compose
    emoji forklift gcloud git history iterm2
    keychain kubectl macos pre-commit
    pyenv pylint python screen themes
    tmux virtualenv vscode
    zsh-autosuggestions zsh-syntax-highlighting
)

You can find detailed descriptions of all plugins in the Oh My Zsh plugins wiki.

Extra installation required:

The last two plugins need separate installation (but it's quick!):

Follow the installation instructions on their respective GitHub pages.

7. Make your terminal beautiful with Powerlevel10k

Powerlevel10k is a gorgeous Zsh theme that displays useful information like your current directory, Git status, Python environment, and more. The best part? It comes with an interactive configuration wizard that walks you through customizing it to your preferences.

Follow the installation instructions on their GitHub page.

Font setup for other editors

If you use VSCode or other editors with integrated terminals, you'll want to use compatible fonts:

  1. Open your editor's settings
  2. Search for terminal.integrated.fontFamily
  3. Set it to MesloLGS NF (this font is installed with Powerlevel10k)

For detailed font setup instructions, check the Powerlevel10k font guide.

8. Pick your code editor and AI assistant

For AI engineering, you'll want both a powerful IDE and AI coding assistants. Here's my setup:

IDE:

  • Cursor — a VSCode fork with native AI pair programming features
  • VSCode — the industry standard with an enormous extension ecosystem

AI Assistants:

  • OpenAI Codex — OpenAI's code generation model for intelligent code completion
  • Claude — Anthropic's AI assistant for complex coding tasks and architecture discussions

My preference: I use Cursor as my IDE alongside Codex (or Claude Code) running in parallel.

9. Additional developer tools

Round out your setup with these applications:

10. You're ready to build

That's it! You now have a complete AI engineering setup that mirrors what I use daily. This configuration removes the friction between having an idea and building with AI models. From here, you can:

  • Start new Python projects with uv
  • Run local LLMs for development and testing
  • Manage your code with Git and GitHub
  • Work efficiently in a beautiful, customized terminal