MacOS
Release History
Data retrieved from Apple on Sept 17, 20221).
Release Name | Version |
macOS Monterey | 12.6 |
macOS Big Sur | 11.7 |
macOS Catalina | 10.15.7 |
macOS Mojave | 10.14.6 |
macOS High Sierra | 10.13.6 |
macOS Sierra | 10.12.6 |
Notes
Why I still use MacOS 10.14 (Mojave):
I can still change the stupid BSOD icon used for SMB shares.
I can still hide major OS upgrades from Software Update.
The OS isn't locked down as an encrypted, read-only volume.
TotalFinder still works.
Customization
Software Update
Hide unwanted updates using the following:
sudo softwareupdate --ignore "macOS Catalina"
VSCode
Utilities
MacOS lacks a lot of useful features that are easy to take for granted in Windows.
BetterTouchTool
Hyperswitch
TotalFinder
This is a paid application to enable customizing the behavior of all your Apple input devices (remotes, keyboards, mice, touchpads, etc.) It's definitely worth the money for a lifetime license. Older versions that don't support current MacOS are also available for free from the software publisher that purchased BetterTouchTool from its original creator.
It adds some important capabilities:
Remapping the behavior of the green “zoom” button, so it maximizes the window, rather than switching to Apple's full screen mode.
Mapping three-finger taps and clicks to middle click, which is mega useful for opening webapges in new tabs.
Window snapping, which behaves like the Aero Snap feature built in to Windows since Windows 7.
If you don't care about the input device stuff, the window snapping feature is available as a free app from the publisher.
Hyperswitch
This allows Cmd+Tab to behave like Window Alt+Tab, meaning you can switch between open windows as opposed to open applications. This particular behavior of the OS X and MacOS app switcher has never made sense to me, and I've always used third-party applications to fix it. Hyperswitch complains about being an expired trial every time it launches (i.e. when you reboot), but if you let it check for updates, it will let you use it anyway.
There is another option called Alt+Tab, but this app behaved oddly in Mojave when using TotalFinder, whereas Hyperswitch handles TotalFinder windows without issue.
TotalFinder
TotalFinder is a Finder extension that adds some very nice features to the Finder. Apple finally introduced tabs, but they're kludgy and fat. TotalFinder slims down the Finder chrome so it's not so bulky, along with adding features like context menu file cut/copy/paste and dual pane mode, which is awesome for file management between server and client.
This application was discontinued due to MacOS 11+ having an extraordinarily strictly locked-down OS. There is now free registration available, so you can activate the software.
Name
Free License
License Key
GAWAE-FBWVZ-N69YV-DZHEP-4R2WT-R63FW-M2XVY-H6GYC-CR7LV-AAY4T-CBC5E-2NR7F-TZFVP-SASBN-CQJY
TotalFinder is best supported through 10.15. After the release of 11, the core system software has become too locked-down for TotalFinder to really work properly. I can't live without it on my Macs that support it!
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