Fresh install on a macbook pro

I got a new macbook pro at work, how wonderful is that? Typical users would use the migration assistant to “migrate” their user data and applications from a computer to another. This seems great, but, first when you are a developer or simply you use some open source tools, the migration won’t move your latex or rails install, so you’ll have to do it yourself, by re-installing, also because some of these things are compiled, and between the powerbook and the macbook the biggest difference besides the integrated webcam is the processor… Then I used the migration assistant to migrate my account in the last 4 mac I had, this means that I cary lots of unuseful stuff such as old applications I don’t use, Libraries for applications I don’t even have anymore and crap data. This is time to put an end to this and re-organize.

First thing, mount your old computer using firewire or through the network (I use both firewire for the first big thing, then the wireless Lan). Then copy some libraries from the Library folder of your old user, I moved there the Mail folder, Journler, Firefox, well shortly support for the applications I use the most. Then move also your preferences (Library/preferences) again for the apps you use the most. Move the iTunes folder to your music and the applciations you want to keep (Textmate, Journler, omnigraffle, mplayer, vlc…). We are done with what the Migration assistant would have done.

Then for open source software I use macport, which is a package manager. It first needs you to install the developer tools (needs the gcc compiler and header files) so you do install this (I downloaded it from the web, but you also have it on your osx cds). Then download and install macport. So what do we want to install with this? Use the terminal to type the following commands. oh and don’t forget to add “/opt/local/bin” to your path in /etc/profile.

Latex:

sudo port install tetex

Versionning systems:

sudo port install subversion

sudo port install bazaar-ng

Ruby and Rubygems:

sudo port install ruby

sudo port install rb-rubygems

I don’t like mysql for development I simply use sqlite:

sudo port install sqlite3

Then the gems install for rails:

sudo gem install -y rails

sudo gem install -y sqlite3-ruby

Everything is set, I tested rails, svn and latex compiling with pdflatex… all works fine. Now I need to re-organize my data and that’s another story…