What Orchard does
When you run Orchard, it works through a sequence of modular steps, each responsible for a specific part of your machine setup. By the end, your workstation is fully configured with no manual intervention required beyond the occasional password prompt.Applications installed
Orchard installs software through three channels:- Homebrew — the package manager itself, with analytics disabled
- Homebrew Casks — GUI applications installed silently:
- 1Password
- Docker
- Google Cloud CLI
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Teams
- Visual Studio Code
- Zoom
- Homebrew packages — command-line tools:
devcontainer— for working with Dev Containersmas— the Mac App Store command-line interface
- Claude Code — Anthropic’s AI coding tool, installed via its official installer
System preferences configured
Orchard applies a set of opinionated macOS defaults tuned for developer productivity:| Area | What changes |
|---|---|
| Dock | Auto-hide enabled, recent apps hidden, non-essential default apps removed |
| Finder | New windows open to your home folder |
| Keyboard | Key repeat rate and initial repeat delay set for faster input |
| Mouse | Tracking speed increased |
| Trackpad | Tracking speed increased, tap-to-click enabled |
| Security | Screensaver password required immediately on wake |
Verification
After provisioning, Orchard runstest.sh automatically to confirm that the setup completed as expected.
Who Orchard is for
Orchard is designed for developers who want a reliable, repeatable way to set up a macOS workstation. It’s particularly useful when provisioning a new machine, rebuilding an existing one, or maintaining a consistent environment across multiple machines.Get started
Clone the repo and run a single command to provision your machine.
What gets installed
See the full list of apps and tools Orchard installs.
Add your own packages
Extend Orchard with additional Homebrew packages or casks.
Command reference
Reference documentation for provision.sh, scaffold.sh, and test.sh.