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For a fresh Mac setup, start with Homebrew, a code editor, a terminal, and a launcher; add window management, containers, an API client, or a Git/database GUI only if your work benefits from them. This is a curated starting stack, not a popularity ranking: there is no attributable survey here showing which Mac apps developers use most. Check each app’s current macOS compatibility and licensing before installing.
What should you install first on a new Mac?
Think in terms of jobs rather than a must-have list. A package manager helps install tools; an editor is where you work on code; a terminal gives you command-line access; and a launcher can speed up everyday actions. The remaining choices depend on your projects and preferences.
- Set up Homebrew to manage command-line tools and Mac applications.
- Choose an editor that fits your languages and projects.
- Pick a terminal emulator if you want a dedicated terminal app.
- Add workflow tools selectively for launching, window management, containers, API requests, or visual Git/database work.
Eight Mac apps and tools to consider
1. Homebrew: install and reproduce your tool setup
Homebrew is a package manager for command-line tools and applications. Its homepage describes it as installing “the command-line tools and applications you need across macOS, Linux and WSL.” The project’s current homepage lists macOS Sequoia 15 and newer as supported, so check its compatibility guidance if your Mac runs an older release.
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#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.*
2. Visual Studio Code: a general-purpose editor
Visual Studio Code is one reasonable general-purpose editor to consider; its official site provides a macOS download. It is not the right choice for every developer. Xcode may better suit Apple-platform development, while a language-specific IDE or another editor may fit a specialized workflow better.
Choose based on the languages and frameworks you use, the integrations you need, and whether the editor supports your macOS version. Avoid installing multiple editors simply because they appear on a list; begin with the one that fits your current projects.
Rank #2
- 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. Ghostty or iTerm2: a dedicated terminal
A terminal emulator provides a graphical way to work with shell sessions. Ghostty and iTerm2 are two options surfaced in a current Mac-app roundup, but that listing is not a controlled comparison and does not establish a winner. Try one that fits your preferred terminal workflow, or keep using the terminal already available on macOS if it meets your needs.
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The choice is separate from your shell and command-line tools: a terminal emulator is the interface for sessions, while shells and developer utilities do their own jobs. Check the candidate app’s current compatibility and license before installing.
Rank #3
- 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.
4. Raycast: keyboard-first launching and quick actions
Raycast combines an app launcher with extensions and productivity features. Its site describes features including snippets, quicklinks, hotkeys, file search, and window management, and says it can be downloaded and used for free. Consider it if keyboard-driven shortcuts and quick actions suit how you work; it is optional rather than a requirement for development.
5. Rectangle: optional window management
Rectangle is a window-management option mentioned in the roundup. Whether you need a separate app depends on your macOS version and how its built-in window controls fit your habits. Try the native controls first; add a third-party utility only if it gives you a workflow you actually want. Verify Rectangle’s current compatibility and licensing before installing.
Rank #4
- 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.*
6. Docker Desktop or another container option: only for container-based projects
Install container software when a project’s development environment or deployment workflow requires containers. Docker Desktop is one option; a current roundup also identifies alternatives, so compare candidates against the project’s requirements rather than assuming one tool suits everyone.
Recommended Free Tools
Before choosing, check compatibility with your project’s container workflow and your macOS version. If your work does not use containers, this category can stay off your fresh-install list.
Best Value
- 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.*
7. Bruno or another API client: for a visual request workflow
An API client can help when you want a dedicated interface for making and organizing requests. Bruno is one example listed in the roundup, but the available evidence does not establish its current feature set, compatibility, or licensing. Confirm those details from its official documentation before deciding whether it fits.
If your editor, command-line tools, or existing workflow already handles the requests you need, a separate client may add little.
8. A Git GUI or database GUI: add the interface your work calls for
A visual Git client such as Fork, or a database GUI, can be useful if you prefer a dedicated interface for that part of your work. The roundup lists these as optional workflow categories rather than necessities. Command-line Git and editor integrations may already cover your needs, so add a GUI only for a specific gap in your workflow.
How do you choose among the optional tools?
| Need | Starting choice | When to add or change it |
|---|---|---|
| Install and record developer tools | Homebrew | Use Homebrew Bundle and a Brewfile if you want a repeatable setup. |
| Write and navigate code | VS Code as a general-purpose example | Consider Xcode, a language-specific IDE, or another editor when your work calls for it. |
| Work in shell sessions | Ghostty or iTerm2 | Choose based on terminal workflow; a dedicated emulator is optional. |
| Launch apps and trigger shortcuts | Raycast | Add it if its keyboard-first features suit your habits. |
| Arrange windows | Native macOS controls first; Rectangle as an option | Install a separate utility if the built-in workflow falls short. |
| Run local containers | Docker Desktop or a compatible alternative | Choose only when project requirements call for containers. |
| Make API requests visually | Bruno or another API client | Check current documentation and licensing, and skip it if your existing tools suffice. |
| Review Git changes or work with databases visually | A Git GUI or database GUI | Pick the interface that addresses a real workflow need; CLI and editor tools may be enough. |
The comparison evidence for these choices does not establish measured speed or memory differences. Use job fit, project requirements, integrations, licensing, and macOS compatibility—not unsupported performance rankings—to decide.
What does this list say about the “most used” Mac developer apps?
It does not establish a most-used ranking. A roundup naming terminal, editor, package-manager, launcher, and window-management options is not an adoption survey, and no attributable developer-preference statistic is available here. Treat the eight entries as a practical set of categories and examples, not a claim about what most developers install.
Quick Recap
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