GitHub - openbootdotdev/openboot: Set up your Mac dev environment in one command — CLI + Web Dashboard + Team sharing

5 min read Original article ↗

OpenBoot

Setting up a new Mac shouldn't take two hours of your weekend.

openboot.dev

GitHub stars Release License codecov macOS Go

OpenBoot Demo

You know the drill. New Mac, same two-hour ritual:

brew install git node go python rust docker kubectl terraform
brew install --cask visual-studio-code docker iterm2 chrome slack figma
npm install -g typescript eslint prettier
# dig through old laptop for .zshrc
# re-configure git identity
# tweak macOS settings one by one
# two hours later, still missing something

Here's the alternative:

brew install openbootdotdev/tap/openboot
openboot

Pick what you need in a terminal UI. Takes minutes. Or snapshot your current Mac and share it—your whole team gets the same setup with one command.

No tracking. No telemetry. Just works.

Why OpenBoot?

Fresh project, proven demand — 2 weeks old, already trending on Reddit (100K+ views) and growing fast.

Brewfiles are manual YAML editing. Nix has a brutal learning curve. Shell scripts break silently. Dotfile repos become unmaintainable after six months.

OpenBoot is the first tool that handles everything — packages, dotfiles, shell config, macOS preferences, git identity — in an interactive TUI you can actually navigate. No config files to learn. No YAML to write. Just pick what you need and go.

Quick Start

brew install openbootdotdev/tap/openboot
openboot
Alternative: one-line installer 
curl -fsSL openboot.dev/install.sh | bash

How It Compares

OpenBoot Brewfile chezmoi nix-darwin
Interactive package picker TUI manual edit — —
Web dashboard openboot.dev — — —
Shareable install URL openboot -u you — — —
Snapshot & restore full environment — dotfiles only full (steep curve)
Learning curve Low Low High Very High

What It Does

  • Homebrew packages & apps — Installs Docker, VS Code, Chrome, whatever you need
  • Dotfiles — Clone your repo and symlink with GNU Stow, or skip it
  • Shell config — Sets up Oh-My-Zsh with useful aliases
  • macOS settings — Developer-friendly defaults for Dock, Finder, keyboard
  • Git setup — Asks for your name and email, configures git
  • Smart about duplicates — Detects what's already installed, skips it
  • Clean command — Remove packages that drifted from your config
  • Full restore — Snapshots save everything: packages, git config, shell theme, plugins

Web Dashboard

openboot.dev — if you'd rather click than type commands.

  • Visual builder — Pick packages with checkboxes instead of editing YAML
  • Brewfile import — Already have a Brewfile? Drop it in, it maps automatically
  • Shareable links — Every config gets a URL: openboot.dev/yourname/my-setup
  • Team configs — Share one link, everyone gets the same environment

Presets

Three starting points. Pick one, adjust in the TUI. Full list →

Preset What's In It
minimal CLI tools: ripgrep, fd, bat, fzf, lazygit, gh, Warp, Raycast, Rectangle
developer Minimal + Node, Go, Docker, VS Code, Chrome, OrbStack, TablePlus
full Developer + Python, Rust, kubectl, Terraform, Ollama, Cursor, Figma

Most people start with developer and uncheck what they don't need.

Snapshot

Already have a Mac set up the way you like? Save it.

This captures everything: Homebrew packages, macOS settings, shell config, git identity. Upload it to openboot.dev for a shareable URL, or save it locally with --local.

When you restore a snapshot, you get everything back exactly as it was. Docs →

Clean

Installed too much? Clean up what's not in your config.

openboot clean                        # Compare against local snapshot
openboot clean --user yourname        # Compare against cloud config
openboot clean --from my-setup.json   # Compare against a snapshot file
openboot clean --dry-run              # See what would be removed

For Teams

New hire runs one command, gets the same environment as everyone else. Guide →

brew install openbootdotdev/tap/openboot
openboot --user yourteam/frontend

Make your config on the dashboard, put this in your onboarding docs. When your stack changes, update the config. The install command stays the same.

Advanced Usage

CI / Automation 
brew install openbootdotdev/tap/openboot
OPENBOOT_GIT_NAME="Your Name" \
OPENBOOT_GIT_EMAIL="you@example.com" \
openboot --preset developer --silent

Or with the one-line installer:

OPENBOOT_GIT_NAME="Your Name" \
OPENBOOT_GIT_EMAIL="you@example.com" \
curl -fsSL openboot.dev/install.sh | bash -s -- --preset developer --silent
All Commands 
openboot                 # Interactive setup
openboot snapshot        # Capture your current setup
openboot clean           # Remove packages not in your config
openboot doctor          # Check system health
openboot update          # Update Homebrew and packages
openboot update --dry-run  # Preview updates
openboot version         # Print version
CLI Options 
-p, --preset NAME   Set preset (minimal, developer, full)
-u, --user NAME     Use remote config from openboot.dev
-s, --silent        Non-interactive mode (requires env vars)
    --dry-run       Preview what would be installed
    --update        Update Homebrew and packages
    --shell MODE    Shell setup: install, skip
    --macos MODE    macOS prefs: configure, skip
    --dotfiles MODE Dotfiles: clone, link, skip
Environment Variables
Variable Description
OPENBOOT_GIT_NAME Git user name (required in silent mode)
OPENBOOT_GIT_EMAIL Git user email (required in silent mode)
OPENBOOT_PRESET Default preset
OPENBOOT_USER Remote config username

FAQ

Do I need anything installed first? macOS 12.0 or newer. Homebrew if you have it, but the installer will get it for you if not.

What if I already have some of these tools? It checks what's installed and skips anything you already have.

Is my data tracked? No. No telemetry, no analytics. Code is open source, check for yourself.

Docs

📖 openboot.dev/docs — Quick Start · Presets · Snapshot · Custom Configs · Teams

Contributing

Bug reports and feature requests: open an issue. Pull requests welcome.

Development Setup 
git clone https://github.com/openbootdotdev/openboot.git
cd openboot
go build -o openboot ./cmd/openboot
./openboot --dry-run

openboot.dev · Dashboard · Docs · Dotfiles template

License: MIT