Setting Up Your Apple Silicon MacBook as a DevOps Engineer in 5 Minutes

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Getting your M1 (Apple silicon)-based MacBook ready for DevOps with iTerm, AWS, and Google Cloud

Note: This post was written by a developer on an M1 MacBook. However, the same steps apply to all other M1 or M2 machines.

Introduction

As a DevOps engineer, you know the importance of having a reliable and efficient development environment. With the release of the Apple silicon machines, developers who prefer Macs now have a more efficient machine that can handle the demands of modern software engineering. 💻

In this blog post, we’ll guide you through setting up your new Apple silicon MacBook as a DevOps workstation in just 5 minutes, including installing iTerm terminal, configuring it with custom settings, and setting up AWS and Google Cloud. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Install iTerm2 Terminal

iTerm2 is a powerful and customizable terminal emulator for macOS that offers a host of features not available in the default Terminal app. To install iTerm2 on your Apple silicon-based MacBook, follow these simple steps:

  1. Visit iTerm2’s official website at https://iterm2.com/.
  2. Download the latest release for Apple Silicon.
  3. Open the downloaded .zip file and move the iTerm app to your Applications folder.
  4. Launch iTerm2 from the Applications folder.

Step 2: Customize iTerm2 Terminal Appearance and Settings

Now that you’ve installed iTerm2, let’s customize its appearance and settings to create a visually appealing and efficient workspace:

  1. Open iTerm2 and navigate to iTerm2 > Settings.
  2. In the Appearance tab, customize the theme to your preference. The default “Minimal” theme with the “Solarized Dark” color preset is a popular choice.

3. In the Profiles tab, create a new profile or modify the default one. You can customize various settings like font, window size, color preset and keyboard shortcuts.

4. In the Keys tab, configure shortcuts for frequently used actions, like creating new tabs, switching between tabs, and clearing the buffer.

Step 3: Install Oh My Zsh

Oh My Zsh is a powerful and user-friendly framework for managing your Zsh configuration, providing built-in plugins, themes, and useful shortcuts. To install Oh My Zsh, run the following command in iTerm2:

Bash
sh -c "$(curl -fsSL <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh>)"

After the installation is complete, restart iTerm2 for the changes to take effect.

Step 4: Install and Configure AWS CLI and Google Cloud SDK

As a DevOps engineer, you’ll likely be working with cloud services like AWS and Google Cloud. To manage these services from your terminal, install the AWS CLI and Google Cloud SDK:

  • Install AWS CLI:
Bash
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL <https://awscli.amazonaws.com/AWSCLIV2.pkg>)"
  • Configure AWS CLI by running:
Bash
aws configure

Follow the prompts to enter your AWS Access Key, Secret Access Key, default region, and output format.

  • Install Google Cloud SDK:
Bash
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL <https://sdk.cloud.google.com>)"
  • Initialize Google Cloud SDK by running:
Bash
gcloud init

Follow the prompts to log in to your Google account, select a project, and set up the default region and zone.

Step 5: Install Essential DevOps Tools

Finally, install the essential tools and packages that you’ll need as a DevOps engineer:

  • Install Homebrew:
Bash
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install.sh>)"
  • Install essential tools like Docker, Kubernetes CLI, and Terraform using Homebrew:
Bash
brew install --cask docker
brew install kubectl
brew install terraform
  • Launch Docker Desktop by finding it in your Applications folder and double-clicking the icon. Sign in with your Docker ID or create one if you don’t have it.
  • Install Python and pip (if not already installed) for managing Python packages:
Bash
brew install python
  • Install Ansible, a powerful automation tool for managing and configuring systems:
Bash
brew install ansible
  • Install Git for version control and managing code repositories:
Bash
brew install git
  • Configure your Git username and email:
Bash
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve now set up your Apple Silicon MacBook as a powerful DevOps workstation in just 5 minutes. With iTerm2, Oh My Zsh, AWS CLI, Google Cloud SDK, and essential DevOps tools installed, you’re well-equipped to tackle any project.

As you progress in your DevOps journey, be sure to explore additional tools and customizations to further streamline your workflow and enhance your productivity.

If you’re looking for more tech tips and guides, check out more of our blogs at Bonito Tech. With over 12 years of experience, we offer plenty of ideas and stories to help you excel in your tech journey. From software development to consulting for startups, SMEs, governments, and corporations, we’ve got you covered. Browse our blog and take your tech skills to the next level today!

Happy coding!