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Development Tools

This section contains comprehensive guides for essential development tools used in the lab.

Tools that you should be using

  • Homebrew - macOS package manager for installing system tools and applications
  • iTerm2 - Powerful terminal emulator for macOS with advanced features
  • Git - Version control system for tracking code changes and collaboration
  • SSH Keys - Secure authentication for remote servers, GitHub, and GitLab
  • VS Code/Cursor - Code editors with Python support, debugging, and AI features
  • Jupyter - Interactive notebooks for data science and research
  • Conda - Python package and environment management system
  • Zsh Configuration (.zshrc) - Configure your shell environment and customize your terminal
  • Oh My Zsh - Framework for managing zsh configuration with themes and plugins
  • HCC Clusters - Guide to using Holland Computing Center high-performance computing resources

Quick Overview

Homebrew

Use Homebrew for: - System-level tools (git, wget, tree, etc.) - GUI applications (VS Code, browsers, etc.) - Development tools not language-specific - System services (PostgreSQL, Redis, etc.)

Git

Use Git for: - Version control and tracking code changes - Collaboration with team members - Managing project history - Integration with GitHub/GitLab

Conda

Use Conda for: - Python package management - Creating isolated Python environments - Managing multiple Python versions - Scientific computing packages

Jupyter

Use Jupyter for: - Interactive data analysis and exploration - Combining code, visualizations, and documentation - Sharing research notebooks - Prototyping and experimentation

Last updated: December 18, 2025