{"id":394,"date":"2023-11-14T20:41:59","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T19:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/?p=394"},"modified":"2023-11-14T20:32:53","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T18:32:53","slug":"top-8-technology-tips-for-developers-to-make-macbook-more-productive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/top-8-technology-tips-for-developers-to-make-macbook-more-productive","title":{"rendered":"Top 8 Technology Tips for Developers to Make Macbook More Productive"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Software developers dedicate countless hours to their machines, making it worthwhile to invest some time in enhancing common workflows. You almost have boundless time to devote to this endeavor. Yet, I&#8217;ve discovered several often-overlooked tricks that offer substantial value without requiring extensive investment. We&#8217;ve compiled the best technology tips to make Mac more productive for developers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/tx_sJrtJKqHm85nsQtVsNC-dj4IOoiFLiKpTnIXxMNTGRPXvOWITP7Np7q2xcgqAgnEsjm8cWClGJLgUwVI4PmmYAPkIOCZ_b0qk8QJOMwXDSH0wQyiji_ReBOZt1RZ5J13NoAcATfEiZ3y8nePdS2g\" width=\"602\" height=\"401\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_47_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"ez-toc-toggle-icon-1\"><label for=\"item-69f5204b69068\" aria-label=\"Table of Content\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-69f5204b69068\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/top-8-technology-tips-for-developers-to-make-macbook-more-productive\/#Macbook_Productive_Tips_for_Developers\" title=\"Macbook Productive Tips for Developers\">Macbook Productive Tips for Developers<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/top-8-technology-tips-for-developers-to-make-macbook-more-productive\/#1_Use_%E2%8C%98Space\" title=\"#1 Use \u2318+Space\">#1 Use \u2318+Space<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/top-8-technology-tips-for-developers-to-make-macbook-more-productive\/#2_Use_the_Focus_feature\" title=\"#2 Use the Focus feature\">#2 Use the Focus feature<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/top-8-technology-tips-for-developers-to-make-macbook-more-productive\/#3_Use_a_VPN\" title=\"#3 Use a VPN\">#3 Use a VPN<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/top-8-technology-tips-for-developers-to-make-macbook-more-productive\/#4_Clean_up_your_desktop\" title=\"#4 Clean up your desktop\">#4 Clean up your desktop<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/top-8-technology-tips-for-developers-to-make-macbook-more-productive\/#5_Initial_Finder_view\" title=\"#5 Initial Finder view\">#5 Initial Finder view<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/top-8-technology-tips-for-developers-to-make-macbook-more-productive\/#6_Create_several_users\" title=\"#6 Create several users\">#6 Create several users<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/top-8-technology-tips-for-developers-to-make-macbook-more-productive\/#7_Clean_up_browser\" title=\"#7 Clean up browser\">#7 Clean up browser<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/top-8-technology-tips-for-developers-to-make-macbook-more-productive\/#8_Tab_switching\" title=\"#8 Tab switching\">#8 Tab switching<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/top-8-technology-tips-for-developers-to-make-macbook-more-productive\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Macbook_Productive_Tips_for_Developers\"><\/span><strong>Macbook Productive Tips for Developers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Use_%E2%8C%98Space\"><\/span><strong>#1 Use \u2318+Space<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Finding stuff on your Mac consumes a lot of time. When you start apps, you have to first locate the icon in the Dock or the list of applications. Locating that email your boss sent you last week can also be time-consuming. Looking for the document you want to continue working on? Or that dentist&#8217;s appointment on your calendar? You can significantly speed up all this searching by using Spotlight. So how do you invoke Spotlight? Simply press \u2318+spacebar and start typing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Use_the_Focus_feature\"><\/span><strong>#2 Use the Focus feature<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>macOS Mojave introduced a feature called <a href=\"https:\/\/heyfocus.com\/blog\/how-to-turn-on-mac-focus-mode-from-the-terminal\">Focus<\/a> that allows users to filter their notifications. I created a Focus for Work, which only allows emergency contacts and colleagues from Zapier to contact me during my working hours. I also set up additional Focuses for practicing music, sleeping, and exercising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For iPhone users, Focus settings on your Mac will automatically be synced to your mobile device, helping you stay organized and prevent unnecessary distractions. I wanted to mention this native feature first because it has greatly improved my ability to concentrate. It&#8217;s reassuring to see that Apple values our attention spans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Use_a_VPN\"><\/span><strong>#3 Use a VPN<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While you&#8217;re looking for technology tips for developers, we&#8217;ve taken the liberty of recommending using a VPN for Mac. With VPN apps you can protect yourself from most cyber risks and vulnerabilities. You can even use a <a href=\"https:\/\/veepn.com\/vpn-features\/double-vpn\/\" title=\"\">double VPN<\/a> to further enhance your anonymity and resistance to cyber-attacks. True, this function is not available everywhere, but VeePN has it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Clean_up_your_desktop\"><\/span><strong>#4 Clean up your desktop<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not use your desktop as it is an imperfect solution to a multitasking problem that has existed for ages (more on this later). Here&#8217;s why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Having no icons on your desktop reduces visual clutter significantly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You will need to actively sort files and make proper use of your home folder since there are no icons on your desktop.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By not having icons on your desktop, applications do not have to compete with other elements for screen space. If you need to drag and drop files to save them, such as for an email or from a web page, you can always use a Finder window instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Initial_Finder_view\"><\/span><strong>#5 Initial Finder view<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This performance tweak is about changing the default screen when opening Finder. Having All My Files displayed can significantly slow down the initial opening of Finder. To resolve this, go to Finder Preferences and modify the setting for New Finder windows to show something else, such as your user folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Create_several_users\"><\/span><strong>#6 Create several users<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You should consider creating distinct user accounts for personal and work computing. For instance, sign into Slack exclusively with your work user and use your user for signing into Messages, to compartmentalize your activities effectively. Ensure that you set up different fingerprints for each user in System Preferences &gt; Touch ID for fast switching. This is not applicable everywhere, since it is better to use the same VPN on different devices. You can install an<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/vpn-service-by-veepn\/id1246703610\"> iOS VPN app<\/a>, a browser extension, a router setup, etc. All this will be for the price of one subscription.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Clean_up_browser\"><\/span><strong>#7 Clean up browser<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/browser.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/browser.jpg 950w, https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/browser-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/browser-768x404.jpg 768w, https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/browser-816x429.jpg 816w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can use Chrome for all your work-related tasks and Firefox for personal browsing. It&#8217;s a convenient way to keep your browsing separate, avoiding any conflicts with history, bookmarks, or logged-in accounts. With the Choosy app, you have the flexibility to choose which browser opens under specific conditions. To configure this, go to System Preferences &gt; General and set Choosy as your default browser. Here are some examples of the conditions I have set:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>When clicking a link in Slack, open it in Chrome.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When clicking a link in Messages, open it in Firefox.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When opening a URL from Alfred, you&#8217;ll be prompted to choose the browser.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, I recommend disabling search suggestions in Chrome. This can be helpful if you have numerous bookmarks and want to find the right one quickly. You can do this by going to Chrome &gt; Settings &gt; Sync and Google services &gt; Autocomplete searches and URLs, and disabling the &#8220;Autocomplete searches and URLs&#8221; option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Tab_switching\"><\/span><strong>#8 Tab switching<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Having a system-wide feature for switching between tabs is practical. You can assign the shortcut Alt + Cmd + Left to navigate to the left tab, and Alt + Cmd + Right to navigate to the right tab. However, certain apps may have this shortcut hidden in their own preferences. In such cases, you&#8217;ll need to locate it there (for instance, in iTerm).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also develop your own strategies to help you stay productive. However, this requires experience and analysis of actions. You should start with the methods listed above and gradually improve them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Developers invest a significant amount of time in their machines. Enhance workflows with often-overlooked yet valuable tricks. Optimize Mac productivity with compiled tech tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":397,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=394"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":396,"href":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394\/revisions\/396"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extendsclass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}