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Getting Started

Welcome to Dev Cockpit! This guide will help you get up and running quickly with Dev Cockpit on your Apple Silicon Mac.

Prerequisites

Before installing Dev Cockpit, ensure your system meets these requirements:

  • Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max, M3, M3 Pro, M3 Max)
  • macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or later
  • Terminal application (iTerm2 recommended, but Terminal.app works fine)
  • Internet connection (for installation)

Installation

The easiest way to install Dev Cockpit is using our installation script:

bash
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/caioricciuti/dev-cockpit/main/install.sh)"

This script will:

  1. Download the latest release binary
  2. Install it to /usr/local/bin/devcockpit
  3. Make it executable
  4. Verify the installation

Manual Installation

If you prefer to install manually:

  1. Download the latest release:

    Visit the GitHub Releases page and download the latest devcockpit binary.

  2. Make it executable:

    bash
    chmod +x devcockpit
  3. Move to system path:

    bash
    sudo mv devcockpit /usr/local/bin/
  4. Verify installation:

    bash
    devcockpit --version

Build from Source

For developers who want to build from source:

  1. Clone the repository:

    bash
    git clone https://github.com/caioricciuti/dev-cockpit.git
    cd dev-cockpit/app
  2. Install dependencies:

    bash
    make deps
  3. Build the binary:

    bash
    make build
  4. Install system-wide (optional):

    bash
    make install
  5. Or run locally:

    bash
    ./build/devcockpit

First Run

After installation, launch Dev Cockpit:

bash
devcockpit

On first run, Dev Cockpit will:

  • Create a configuration directory at ~/.devcockpit/
  • Scan your system for installed tools (Homebrew, npm, Docker, etc.)
  • Display the main dashboard with system metrics

Interface Overview

Dev Cockpit uses a Text User Interface (TUI) with the following layout:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Dashboard | Cleanup | Packages | ...       │  ← Module Tabs
├─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                             │
│          Module Content Area                │
│                                             │
│                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Module Switching:

  • Number keys (1-9): Jump directly to a module
  • Tab: Cycle through modules
  • ← →: Navigate left/right between modules

Module Navigation:

  • ↑ ↓: Move up/down in lists
  • Enter: Select/execute current item
  • Space: Alternative select key
  • ESC: Go back / Close modal / Return to switcher

General:

  • q or Ctrl+C: Quit Dev Cockpit
  • ?: Show help (where available)

Modules

Dev Cockpit includes these modules:

  1. Dashboard - Real-time system monitoring (CPU, GPU, Memory, Disk, Network)
  2. Cleanup - Remove system junk and free up disk space
  3. Packages - Manage Homebrew, npm, and other package managers
  4. Docker - Monitor and manage Docker containers
  5. Quick Actions - Common development tasks
  6. Network - Network diagnostics and information
  7. Security - Security audits and privacy cleanup
  8. System - System information and diagnostics
  9. Support - Support the project

Package Manager Detection

Dev Cockpit automatically detects and integrates with:

Homebrew

  • Automatically detected at /opt/homebrew/bin/brew (Apple Silicon)
  • Or /usr/local/bin/brew (Intel Macs)
  • If not detected, install with:
    bash
    /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

npm (Node Package Manager)

  • Supports NVM (Node Version Manager) installations at ~/.nvm/
  • Supports Homebrew Node installations
  • Supports system Node installations
  • If using NVM, ensure default is set:
    bash
    nvm alias default node

Docker

  • Requires Docker Desktop or compatible Docker daemon
  • Socket expected at /var/run/docker.sock
  • Install Docker Desktop from docker.com

Configuration

Dev Cockpit stores its configuration in ~/.devcockpit/:

~/.devcockpit/
├── config.yaml      # Main configuration
└── debug.log        # Debug logs (if --debug enabled)

Currently, most settings are auto-detected and don't require manual configuration.

CLI Commands

Dev Cockpit supports command-line arguments:

Display help:

bash
devcockpit --help
devcockpit -h

Show version:

bash
devcockpit --version
devcockpit -v

Enable debug mode:

bash
devcockpit --debug

Run cleanup operations:

bash
devcockpit cleanup empty-trash

This empties the trash from the command line without launching the TUI.

Uninstall Dev Cockpit:

bash
devcockpit uninstall              # Interactive uninstall with prompts
devcockpit uninstall --force      # Uninstall without confirmation

Show log file location:

bash
devcockpit --logs

Examples:

bash
# Empty trash from CLI
devcockpit cleanup empty-trash

# Uninstall Dev Cockpit
devcockpit uninstall

# Show where logs are stored
devcockpit --logs

# Enable debug logging
devcockpit --debug

Tips for Best Experience

  1. Use a modern terminal:

    • iTerm2 (recommended) - Better color support and performance
    • Terminal.app works but has limited customization
  2. Recommended terminal size:

    • Minimum: 80 characters × 24 lines
    • Recommended: 120 characters × 40 lines for best experience
  3. Font recommendations:

    • Fira Code (with ligatures)
    • JetBrains Mono
    • Menlo (default macOS monospace)
    • SF Mono
  4. Enable sudo access:

    • Some cleanup operations require sudo
    • You'll be prompted when needed
    • Or run with: sudo devcockpit
  5. Regular maintenance:

    • Run cleanup weekly to keep your Mac healthy
    • Monitor system metrics to catch issues early
    • Update packages regularly through the Packages module

Next Steps

Now that you have Dev Cockpit installed:

  1. Explore the Dashboard to see your system metrics in real-time
  2. Run a Cleanup to free up disk space
  3. Check your Packages to see what's installed
  4. Customize your terminal for the best visual experience

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues:

Uninstalling

If you need to uninstall Dev Cockpit, use the built-in uninstall command:

bash
devcockpit uninstall

This will:

  • Stop Dev Cockpit if running
  • Remove the binary from /usr/local/bin/devcockpit
  • Prompt to remove configuration directory (~/.devcockpit/)
  • Clean up temporary files

For non-interactive uninstallation:

bash
devcockpit uninstall --force

Manual uninstallation (if needed):

bash
# Remove binary
sudo rm /usr/local/bin/devcockpit

# Remove config directory (optional)
rm -rf ~/.devcockpit

Getting Help

Need assistance?

Welcome to Dev Cockpit - your command center for macOS development!

Released under GPL 3.0.