8 Must-Have Software for Programmers on Mac

Here are 8 essential applications that every programmer should consider installing on their new Mac, along with a brief overview of their features.

1. Video Recording and Streaming: OBS Studio

Features:

• Allows users to customize their streaming setup by choosing between different capture modes like displaying a virtual webcam or selecting specific windows or areas to stream.
• Offers a comprehensive yet user-friendly interface for configuring stream settings, allowing granular control over audio, video, and encoding parameters.
• Enables the creation of an unlimited number of scenes and seamless transitions between them, enhancing the overall streaming experience.

2. Video Player: IINA

Features:

• Customizable interface themes for a personalized viewing experience.
• Adjustable default behaviors and UI elements to suit individual workflows.
• Control over subtitle loading preferences, giving users the flexibility to choose whether subtitles are loaded automatically.
• Configurable keybindings for a tailored and efficient video playback control scheme.
• Fine-grained adjustments for video, audio, and subtitle settings, allowing users to optimize playback quality to their liking.

3. Online Video Downloader: Downie 4

Features:

• Downloads online videos from various platforms to local storage for offline viewing.
• Streamlined downloading process by simply dragging and dropping video links onto the Downie interface or pasting them directly into the application.
• Automatic video detection and download option presentation upon link input, simplifying the user experience.

4. Development Environment: ServBay

Features:

• Comes pre-configured with multiple programming languages, database components, and a wide array of extensions, eliminating the need for manual compilation and setup.
• Enables the use of unregistered domains and TLDs for local development, complete with free SSL certificates, simplifying the testing process.
• Provides native support for HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 protocols, as well as the latest PHP 8.4, ensuring compatibility with modern web development practices.
• Facilitates team collaboration by offering a unified development environment, allowing team members to share work and stay synchronized throughout the development lifecycle.
• Maintains a clean system footprint by storing all software packages and data within the /Applications/ServBay directory, enabling easy backup, migration, and uninstallation when needed.

5. File Compression: Keka

Features:

• File compression and extraction with support for password-protected archives, enhancing data security.

6. Screenshot Tool: CleanShot X

Features:

• Versatile screenshot capture modes encompassing full screen, selected area, specific windows, and even menus, catering to diverse capture needs.
• Provides a comprehensive set of annotation tools for enriching screenshots with text, shapes, highlights, and other visual elements.
• Supports direct upload of captured screenshots to cloud storage services like iCloud or FTP servers, facilitating convenient cross-device access and sharing.

7. Vector Graphics Editor: Sketch

Features:

• Professional-grade, lightweight vector drawing application on par with industry-standard tools like Adobe Photoshop, well-suited for designing websites, user interfaces, icons, and more.
• Highly regarded among web and mobile designers, particularly for its intuitive interface and powerful features tailored for mobile app design workflows.

8. 4K Dynamic Wallpaper: Dynamic Wallpaper

Features:

• Brings your desktop to life with an extensive library of stunning 4K ultra-high-definition video wallpapers, adding a visually immersive element to the macOS experience.