🛠️ macOS Neovim Setup Guide (v0.11)

Everything you need from Git + SSH to fonts, plugins, and language servers—in one place.

Table of Contents

1. Prerequisites
2. Git & SSH Configuration
3. Install Neovim
4. Clone Your Neovim Config
5. Install Nerd Font & Set Terminal Font
6. Required & Recommended CLI Tools
7. Launch Neovim & Install Plugins
8. LSP / Formatter Setup with Mason
9. Quality‑of‑Life Tweaks
10. Troubleshooting / FAQ

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Prerequisites

Homebrew

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

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Git & SSH Configuration

1. Install Git

   brew install git

2. Set global identity

   git config --global user.name  "Your Name"
   git config --global user.email "you@example.com"

3. Generate an SSH key

   ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "you@example.com"
   # Press <Enter> through the prompts (or set a passphrase if you like)

4. Add key to agent & create config

   eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
   mkdir -p ~/.ssh
   cat >> ~/.ssh/config <<'EOF'
   Host github.com
     AddKeysToAgent yes
     IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
   EOF
   ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

5. Add the public key to GitHub

   pbcopy < ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub  # copies key to clipboard

   GitHub ▸ Settings ▸ SSH and GPG keys ▸ New SSH key ▸ paste ▸ Add key.

6. Test

   ssh -T git@github.com
   # Expect: “Hi <username>! You've successfully authenticated …”

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Install Neovim

brew install neovim
nvim --version  # should show v0.11.x

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Clone Your Neovim Config

# Remove any previous config
rm -rf ~/.config/nvim

# Clone your repo (replace with your own)
git clone git@github.com:desmond-45/nvim-config.git ~/.config/nvim

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Install Nerd Font & Set Terminal Font

1. Install a patched font (avoid the Mono variant for bigger icons):

   brew tap homebrew/cask-fonts
   brew install --cask font-jetbrains-mono-nerd-font

2. Set the font in your terminal:

Terminal	Steps
iTerm2	Preferences ▸ Profiles ▸ Text ▸ Font ▸ choose JetBrainsMono Nerd Font
Apple Terminal	Settings ▸ Profiles ▸ Text ▸ Change Font ▸ choose JetBrainsMono Nerd Font
Alacritty	~/.config/alacritty/alacritty.yml: yaml<br/>font:<br/> normal:<br/> family: "JetBrainsMono Nerd Font"<br/> style: Regular<br/>

Restart the terminal after changing the font.

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Required & Recommended CLI Tools

Purpose	Command
Icons	(Already installed Nerd Font above)
Fuzzy search (Telescope)	brew install ripgrep fd
LSP toolchains	Go   → brew install go Node → brew install node
Git TUI (optional)	brew install lazygit

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Launch Neovim & Install Plugins

nvim

On first open, your plugin manager (Lazy.nvim / Packer / NvChad) will sync and install plugins automatically.

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LSP / Formatter Setup with Mason

Inside Neovim:

:Mason

Use the UI to install, for example:

• gopls
• pyright
• typescript-language-server
• prettier
• html-lsp, css-lsp, etc.

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Quality‑of‑Life Tweaks

What	Command
Alias vim → nvim	echo 'alias vim="nvim"' >> ~/.zshrc && source ~/.zshrc
Caps Lock → Esc	System Settings ▸ Keyboard ▸ Keyboard Shortcuts ▸ Modifier Keys… ▸ set Caps Lock → Escape

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Troubleshooting / FAQ

Problem	Fix
?? icons or boxes	Ensure terminal font is set exactly to JetBrainsMono Nerd Font (not Mono variant) and restart terminal.
Permission denied (publickey) when cloning	ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519, ensure key is added in GitHub Settings.
Mason installs failing for go/npm	Install go and node via Homebrew (see above).
Telescope search errors	Verify ripgrep (rg) and fd are in PATH.

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🎉 You’re all set. Enjoy Neovim with pretty icons, fuzzy finding, and full LSP power!