Claude-skill-registry-data macos-configuring

Use when configuring macOS settings via terminal, setting up a new machine, asking to configure Finder/Dock/screenshots/keyboard/apps, generating setup scripts, or troubleshooting why a setting didn't take effect.

install

source · Clone the upstream repo

git clone https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry-data

Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/

T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry-data "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/data/macos-configuring" ~/.claude/skills/majiayu000-claude-skill-registry-data-macos-configuring && rm -rf "$T"

manifest: data/macos-configuring/SKILL.md

source content

Configuring macOS

How to configure macOS programmatically. Don't document specific commands here - use training knowledge or web search for those. This skill is about the process.

Responding to "Configure my X"

When the user asks to configure something:

Training knowledge - Try what you know first
Search references - Check macos-defaults.com or mathiasbynens/.macos
Last resort: Discovery - Use the diff technique below
After writing - Tell user what restart is needed (see table)
Generating script? - Use the script template

Discovering Unknown Settings (Last Resort)

When training and references don't have the answer:

# 1. Snapshot current state
defaults read > /tmp/before.plist

# 2. User changes setting in System Settings GUI

# 3. Diff to find what changed
defaults read > /tmp/after.plist
diff /tmp/before.plist /tmp/after.plist

For app-specific:

defaults read com.apple.APPNAME > /tmp/before.plist

To find an app's domain:

osascript -e 'id of app "Photos"'           # Returns bundle ID
ls ~/Library/Preferences/ | grep -i photos  # Or check filesystem
defaults domains | tr ',' '\n' | grep -i photos

Applying Changes

Settings require process restart. Never auto-logout or auto-restart - tell the user what they need to do.

What Changed	How to Apply
Dock, hot corners, Spaces	`killall Dock` (safe to run)
Finder, desktop	`killall Finder` (safe to run)
Menu bar items	`killall SystemUIServer` (safe to run)
Keyboard, fn key, input	Tell user: "Logout and log back in"
Login window	Tell user: "Restart your Mac"
Uncertain	Try `killall cfprefsd` , then tell user to logout

Script Template

#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euo pipefail

echo "Configuring [category]..."

defaults write DOMAIN KEY -TYPE VALUE

killall PROCESS 2>/dev/null || true

echo "Done."

Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause & Fix
Setting reverts	App overwrote on quit. Close app first.
No effect	Wrong domain ( `defaults find KEYWORD` ), or needs logout not killall
Cached values	`killall cfprefsd` flushes preference cache
Permission denied	May need `sudo` , or protected by SIP

Quick Reference

defaults write DOMAIN KEY -TYPE VALUE   # Set
defaults read DOMAIN KEY                # Get
defaults delete DOMAIN KEY              # Remove
defaults find KEYWORD                   # Search all domains

Types:

-string

-int

-float

-bool

-array

-dict

Resources

macos-defaults.com - Searchable database of known settings
mathiasbynens/.macos - Comprehensive example script