Orchard automatically configures macOS system preferences for a developer-optimized experience. These settings adjust the Dock, Finder, keyboard, mouse, trackpad, and security defaults — all tuned to reduce friction during a typical development workday. Every preference is applied by provision.sh using defaults write commands, so no manual configuration is required.
Dock
Orchard configures the Dock to stay out of your way and focus on the applications you actually use.
Auto-hide enabled
The Dock hides when your cursor moves away from it, giving your applications the full screen width. Move your cursor to the bottom of the screen to reveal it.
Auto-hide is especially useful when working with wide layouts or split-screen coding sessions where every pixel of horizontal space counts.
Recent apps hidden
macOS shows recently used applications in the Dock by default. Orchard disables this so your Dock only shows apps you have intentionally pinned there.
Default apps removed
Orchard removes the following Apple apps from the Dock, leaving space for the tools you install:
Safari, Messages, Maps, Photos, FaceTime, Phone, Contacts, Reminders, Notes, TV, Music, Games, App Store, iPhone Mirroring, System Settings
These apps are not uninstalled — they remain on your Mac and can be opened via Spotlight or added back to the Dock manually.
Finder
New windows open to your home folder
By default, Finder opens new windows to the Recents view. Orchard changes this so new Finder windows open directly to your home folder (~), giving you immediate access to your projects and files.
Starting from your home folder is faster when navigating to common development directories like ~/code, ~/projects, or ~/.ssh.
Keyboard
Fast key repeat
Orchard sets two keyboard repeat preferences that make editing code and navigating text significantly faster:
| Setting | Value | What it means |
|---|
| Key repeat rate | 2 (fast) | How quickly a held key repeats once it starts. Lower values repeat faster. |
| Initial key repeat delay | 15 (short) | How long you must hold a key before it starts repeating. Lower values start repeating sooner. |
Fast key repeat makes navigating large files with arrow keys, deleting text, and scrolling through terminal output noticeably quicker. You will feel the difference immediately when editing code.
Mouse
Fast tracking speed
Orchard sets the mouse tracking speed to 3, which is at the faster end of the macOS range. A higher tracking speed means your cursor covers more screen distance per inch of physical movement, reducing the effort needed to move between windows and across multiple displays.
Trackpad
Fast tracking speed
The trackpad tracking speed is set to 3, matching the mouse setting. This keeps cursor behavior consistent whether you are using a mouse or the built-in trackpad.
Tap to click enabled
You can tap the trackpad surface to register a click instead of physically pressing it down. This reduces finger fatigue during long working sessions.
Security & Privacy
When the screensaver activates, macOS requires your password to unlock the screen with no delay. This ensures your machine is protected the moment you step away.
Pair this with a short screensaver activation time in System Settings → Lock Screen to maximize security without any extra manual steps.