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John Still
John Still

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ServBay Mac Setup for Web Development (2025 Edition)

#beginners #tutorial #productivity #tooling

Say goodbye to complex server configs and hello to streamlined development with ServBay.

Background

Like many developers starting a new role or upgrading their machine, I recently had to set up a fresh macOS environment. But instead of just reinstalling the same tools, I took this as a chance to rebuild smarter and faster—this time with ServBay at the center of my stack.

ServBay isn’t just another tool. It’s a complete rethinking of the local web development experience—eliminating the pain of switching between Apache, Nginx, and Caddy; simplifying SSL setup; and streamlining server configuration. Whether you're managing a Node.js app or a PHP project, ServBay turns your Mac into a web server powerhouse.

macOS Customization Tips

Dock & Desktop

  • Remove unnecessary apps.
  • Disable magnification and auto-hide the dock.
  • Keep only the essentials like VSCode, Terminal, and ServBay.

Keyboard & Trackpad Tweaks

  • Max out key repeat speed.
  • Enable clipboard-only screenshots with a custom shortcut (Shift + Cmd + 2).
  • Set trackpad speed to high and enable "Tap to Click".

Terminal System Settings 

# Show hidden files
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

# Show status and path bar
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowStatusBar -bool true
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowPathbar -bool true
killall Finder
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Development Stack

Git

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "you@example.com"
git config --global init.defaultBranch main
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Homebrew + Tooling
Install:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

brew install \
  nvm \
  pnpm \
  gh \
  wget
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ZSH + Plugins

sh -c "$(wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh -O -)"
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Plugins I use:

plugins=(
  git
  macos
  zsh-autosuggestions
  zsh-syntax-highlighting
)
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ServBay: The Star of the Setup 🌟

One-Click Server Switching
Tired of wrangling config files to switch between Apache, Nginx, and Caddy? With ServBay, it’s as simple as selecting the server from the UI. No downtime. No fuss. Just flexibility that adapts to any project.

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Ultimate HTTPS Simplicity

  • Built-in ECC and RSA SSL support (up to ECC-521, RSA-4096).
  • Auto sign with ServBay CA or ACME providers (Let’s Encrypt, ZeroSSL, Google Trust).
  • Fake domains supported for staging—no need to own a domain just to test HTTPS.

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HTTP/3 + CORS + Custom Ports

  • Native support for HTTP/2, HTTP/3, and QUIC = faster load times.
  • Visual CORS rule manager—forget wildcard hell.
  • Customize every port easily. Just type it in.

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Bonus: Cost-Saving Dev Tool
ServBay helps reduce real dev expenses by eliminating the need to purchase SSL certificates or reserve domains during the development stage. A must-have if you're running multiple environments.

Productivity Boosters

Summary

If you're serious about developing web apps on a Mac, ServBay is the secret sauce. It replaces half a dozen tools and smooths out every bump in your local dev process. Give it a try, and you might never go back.

Ready to unleash your Mac's true web dev power? Download ServBay for macOS 12+ and level up your setup today.

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