For a fresh Mac developer setup, start with a package manager, a code editor and a terminal; add workflow tools only when they solve a problem you actually have. This curated list covers eight useful jobs—not a ranking of the most-used apps. There is no attributable adoption survey behind a claim that these are what developers use most.
Check each app’s current macOS compatibility and license before installing it. The choices below are starting points: your language, project requirements and existing tools should decide what makes the cut.
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What to install first on a new Mac
Set up the basics in order, then add tools for your particular workflow. A package manager helps install other software; an editor and terminal are where much of the work happens. The remaining recommendations are optional layers.
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- Install Homebrew if you want a repeatable way to manage command-line tools and Mac applications.
- Choose an editor and terminal that fit the languages and projects you work with.
- Add productivity or workflow apps only if they fill a gap not already covered by macOS, your editor or the command line.
- Install project-specific tools, such as container software, when your projects require them.
Eight Mac apps and tools to consider
1. Homebrew: a foundation for installing developer tools
Homebrew installs command-line tools and applications across macOS, Linux and WSL, according to its official homepage. It is useful when you want a consistent way to install and update development dependencies instead of handling every tool separately.
#1 Best Overall
- SUPERCHARGED BY M5 — The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 brings next-generation speed and powerful on-device AI to personal, professional, and creative tasks. Featuring all-day battery life and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak brightness, it’s pro in every way.*
- HAPPILY EVER FASTER — Along with its faster CPU and unified memory, M5 features a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
- APPS FLY WITH APPLE SILICON — All your favorites, including Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, run lightning fast in macOS.*
For a fresh setup, Homebrew Bundle lets you record software in a Brewfile, which can make a setup easier to reproduce on another Mac or after a reinstall. Homebrew’s homepage currently says macOS Sequoia 15 and newer are supported; check its current documentation if your Mac runs a different release.
2. A code editor: Visual Studio Code as a general-purpose option
Visual Studio Code is one reasonable general-purpose editor, and its official site offers a macOS download. It can be a flexible starting point when you work across languages or want an editor with extensions.
It is not the only sensible choice. Xcode is relevant for Apple-platform development, and a language-specific IDE may suit a project better. Pick based on your language, framework, debugging needs and existing team workflow rather than assuming one editor fits every developer.
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- FAST RUNS IN THE FAMILY — The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip brings next-generation speed and powerful on-device AI to personal, professional, and creative tasks. With all-day battery life, double the starting storage,* and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display, it’s pro in every way.*
- BUCKLE UP — Along with a next-generation CPU, faster unified memory, and up to 2x faster SSD storage,* M5 Pro and M5 Max feature a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance and on-device training capabilities. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR AI — Apple silicon, and every major component that powers it, is designed to run demanding on-device AI workloads like LLM inference and training. And Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly with groundbreaking privacy protections at every step.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.*
- MACOS RUNS APPS FAST — All your go-to apps run lightning fast in macOS, including built-in apps like FaceTime and Messages. Plus, built-in virus protection and free software updates help keep your Mac running smoothly and securely.
3. A terminal emulator: choose Ghostty or iTerm2
A terminal emulator provides a window for command-line work. Ghostty and iTerm2 are two options surfaced in a 2026 roundup; that listing establishes them as candidates, not as a tested head-to-head comparison or evidence that one is more popular.
Choose one based on the terminal workflow you prefer, then confirm its current macOS support and licensing on its official site. You can also begin with the terminal already included with macOS; a separate emulator is optional.
4. Raycast: a keyboard-first launcher and workflow utility
Raycast combines app launching with extensions and productivity features such as snippets, quicklinks, hotkeys, file search and window management. Its site says it can be downloaded and used for free.
Rank #3
- SUPERCHARGED BY M5 — The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 brings next-generation speed and powerful on-device AI to personal, professional, and creative tasks. Featuring all-day battery life and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak brightness, it’s pro in every way.*
- HAPPILY EVER FASTER — Along with its faster CPU and unified memory, M5 features a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
- APPS FLY WITH APPLE SILICON — All your favorites, including Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, run lightning fast in macOS.*
It is most useful if you like invoking actions from the keyboard and want several small workflows in one place. If Spotlight and your existing shortcuts are enough, you do not need to add another launcher.
The Tool Desk
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Rectangle is a window-management option listed in the roundup. Consider it if you want a dedicated way to arrange windows; first check whether the window controls built into your macOS version already meet your needs.
The available comparison material does not establish a feature-by-feature assessment of Rectangle against current macOS window controls. Verify its present compatibility and licensing before installing it.
Rank #4
- FAST RUNS IN THE FAMILY — The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip brings next-generation speed and powerful on-device AI to personal, professional, and creative tasks. With all-day battery life, double the starting storage,* and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display, it’s pro in every way.*
- BUCKLE UP — Along with a next-generation CPU, faster unified memory, and up to 2x faster SSD storage,* M5 Pro and M5 Max feature a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance and on-device training capabilities. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR AI — Apple silicon, and every major component that powers it, is designed to run demanding on-device AI workloads like LLM inference and training. And Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly with groundbreaking privacy protections at every step.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.*
- MACOS RUNS APPS FAST — All your go-to apps run lightning fast in macOS, including built-in apps like FaceTime and Messages. Plus, built-in virus protection and free software updates help keep your Mac running smoothly and securely.
6. Container software: only when a project calls for it
Some development projects depend on containers, in which case you may need Docker Desktop or another compatible container tool. If your work does not use containers, there is no reason to treat container software as a mandatory new-Mac install.
The roundup identifies multiple container-tool options but does not establish a winner or provide a supported technical comparison. Check your project’s setup instructions and tool compatibility before choosing; do not select on unverified speed or memory claims.
7. An API client such as Bruno
An API client can help you make and organize requests while developing or debugging an API. Bruno appears as an example in the roundup, but app-specific official documentation was not reviewed here, so check its current features, macOS support and licensing before adopting it.
Best Value
- FAST RUNS IN THE FAMILY — The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip brings next-generation speed and powerful on-device AI to personal, professional, and creative tasks. With all-day battery life, double the starting storage,* and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display, it’s pro in every way.*
- BUCKLE UP — Along with a next-generation CPU, faster unified memory, and up to 2x faster SSD storage,* M5 Pro and M5 Max feature a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance and on-device training capabilities. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR AI — Apple silicon, and every major component that powers it, is designed to run demanding on-device AI workloads like LLM inference and training. And Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly with groundbreaking privacy protections at every step.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.*
- MACOS RUNS APPS FAST — All your go-to apps run lightning fast in macOS, including built-in apps like FaceTime and Messages. Plus, built-in virus protection and free software updates help keep your Mac running smoothly and securely.
If your editor, browser or command-line tools already cover your API workflow, a separate client may add little.
8. A Git GUI or database GUI, if it fills a gap
A graphical Git client such as Fork can offer a visual way to inspect changes and history. A database GUI may be more useful if your daily work involves browsing or editing data. These are alternative workflow layers, not essentials for every developer.
The command line and many editors already provide Git tools, so add a GUI only if its interface makes your work clearer or more convenient. Before installing any candidate, confirm its current compatibility and licensing; the roundup is not a product comparison.
Quick Recap
How to decide what belongs on your setup
- Start with the work: identify your language, framework, platform and project requirements before choosing a specialist IDE or container tool.
- Avoid duplicate jobs: check whether macOS, your editor or a command-line tool already handles the task.
- Check current details: verify the app’s macOS compatibility, license and cost on its official site, since those details can change.
- Keep the setup reproducible: use a Brewfile for Homebrew-managed tools you want to reinstall consistently.
- Do not treat a roundup as a popularity survey: a list of candidates does not establish what developers use most.
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