diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8206aba..286d0fe 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -89,12 +89,14 @@ script!
   * install latest long term support version of node
 * npm packages:
   * yarn
-  * create-react-app
-  * prettier
-  * javascript-typescript-langserver
-  * babel
-  * eslint
 
 ### macOS settings configuration
 
-something about settings
\ No newline at end of file
+Many macOS settings are not available through the UI, and many of the default
+settings aren't chosen with professionals in mind. The script will interactively
+take you through a series of questions related to these more esoteric macOS
+settings (like always showing a file extension in Finder).
+
+There is an option to say `yes` once and not get the settings interactively, but
+we would advise you read through `macos_settings.sh` to understand what you're
+getting yourself into before choosing that option.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/design_setup.sh b/design_setup.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index af447d7..6a97bb8
--- a/design_setup.sh
+++ b/design_setup.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-brew install adobe-creative-cloud --cask
\ No newline at end of file
+brew bundle --file=- <<-EOS
+cask "adobe-creative-cloud"
+EOS
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dev_setup.sh b/dev_setup.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 6a51e1e..a7c4a78
--- a/dev_setup.sh
+++ b/dev_setup.sh
@@ -4,15 +4,6 @@
 
 brew bundle
 
-if [ ! -d $HOME/.nvm ]; then
-  fancy_echo "NVM not found, installing"
-  curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.38.0/install.sh | bash
-else
-  fancy_echo "NVM found, continuing"
-fi
-
-nvim install latest
-
 if [ ! -d $HOME/.rvm ]; then
   fancy_echo "RVM not found, installing"
   \curl -sSL https://get.rvm.io | bash -s stable
@@ -31,5 +22,16 @@ else
   rvm install 3.0.0
 fi
 
-fancy_echo "Installing common npm packages"
-npm install -g yarn create-react-app prettier javascript-typescript-langserver babel eslint
\ No newline at end of file
+# installing rvm will create shell profiles if they do not exist
+if [ ! -d $HOME/.nvm ]; then
+  fancy_echo "NVM not found, installing"
+  curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.38.0/install.sh | zsh
+  source ~/.zshrc
+else
+  fancy_echo "NVM found, continuing"
+fi
+
+nvm install --lts
+
+fancy_echo "Installing yarn"
+npm install -g yarn
diff --git a/macos_settings.sh b/macos_settings.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..002205d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/macos_settings.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+clear_and_header() {
+  clear
+  echo ""
+  echo "=============== macOS config wizard ================"
+  echo "( please choose each setting with either 'y' or 'n')"
+  echo ""
+}
+
+# arguments: prompt, command
+prompt_and_read() {
+  if [ "$ACCEPT_ALL" = "true" ]; then
+    eval "$2"
+  else
+    clear_and_header
+    echo ""
+    echo $1
+    read macos
+    if [ "$macos" = "y" ]; then
+      eval "$2"
+    fi
+  fi
+}
+
+echo "Please enter your admin password to update preferences"
+sudo -v
+
+# Close any open System Preferences panes, to prevent them from overriding
+# settings we’re about to change
+osascript -e 'tell application "System Preferences" to quit'
+
+clear_and_header
+echo "Accept all suggested options?"
+read macos
+if [ "$macos" = "y" ]; then
+  ACCEPT_ALL="true"
+fi
+
+prompt_and_read "Hide all desktop icons?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop false"
+
+prompt_and_read "Prevent photos from opening automatically when devices are plugged in?" \
+  "defaults -currentHost write com.apple.ImageCapture disableHotPlug -bool true"
+
+prompt_and_read "Disable sound effects on boot?" \
+  "sudo nvram SystemAudioVolume=\" \""
+
+prompt_and_read "Disable autocorrect when typing?" \
+  "defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticSpellingCorrectionEnabled -bool false"
+
+prompt_and_read "Disable automatic capitalization?" \
+  "defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticCapitalizationEnabled -bool false"
+
+prompt_and_read "Disable automatic smart dashes?" \
+  "defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticDashSubstitutionEnabled -bool false"
+
+prompt_and_read "Disable automatic smart quotes?" \
+  "defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled -bool false"
+
+prompt_and_read "Disable the 'are you sure you want to open this application?' dialog?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices LSQuarantine -bool false"
+
+prompt_and_read "Show hidden files in finder?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true"
+
+prompt_and_read "Show file extensions in finder?" \
+  "defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowAllExtensions -bool true"
+
+prompt_and_read "Disable shadows in screenshots?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true"
+
+prompt_and_read "Enable subpixel font rendering on non-Apple displays?" \
+  "defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 2"
+
+prompt_and_read "Avoid creating .DS_Store files on network or USB volumes?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool true && defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteUSBStores -bool true"
+
+prompt_and_read "Automatically hide and show the Dock?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.dock autohide -bool true"
+
+prompt_and_read "Keep folders on top while sorting by name in finder?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.finder _FXSortFoldersFirst -bool true"
+
+prompt_and_read "Have the dock show only active applications?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool true; killall Dock"
+
+prompt_and_read "Visualize CPU usage in the Activity Monitor Dock icon" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor IconType -int 5"
+
+prompt_and_read "Activity Monitor show all processes?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor ShowCategory -int 0"
+
+prompt_and_read "Save to disk (not iCloud) by default?" \
+  "defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSDocumentSaveNewDocumentsToCloud -bool false"
+
+prompt_and_read "Expand save panel by default?" \
+  "defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool true && defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode2 -bool true"
+
+prompt_and_read "Sort activity monitor results by CPU usage?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor SortColumn -string \"CPUUsage\" && defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor SortDirection -int 0"
+
+prompt_and_read "Add Rectangle as login item?" \
+  "osascript -e 'tell application \"System Events\" to make login item at end with properties {name: \"Rectangle\",path:\"/Applications/Rectangle.app\", hidden:false}'"
+
+prompt_and_read "Add Alfred as login item?" \
+  "osascript -e 'tell application \"System Events\" to make login item at end with properties {name: \"Alfred 4\",path:\"/Applications/Alfred 4.app\", hidden:false}'"
+
+prompt_and_read "Disable the warning when changing a file extension?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.finder FXEnableExtensionChangeWarning -bool false"
+
+prompt_and_read "Show the ~/Library folder by default?" \
+  "chflags nohidden ~/Library"
+
+prompt_and_read "Disable Resume system wide?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.systempreferences NSQuitAlwaysKeepsWindows -bool false"
+
+prompt_and_read "Save screenshots to their own folder on the Desktop?" \
+  "mkdir $HOME/Desktop/screenshots && defaults write com.apple.screencapture location -string \"${HOME}/Desktop/screenshots\""
+
+prompt_and_read "In Finder, search the current directory by default?" \
+  "defaults write com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope -string \"SCcf\""
+
+for app in "Calendar" "Contacts" "Dock" "Finder" "SystemUIServer"; do
+  killall "$app" &> /dev/null
+done
diff --git a/setup_script.sh b/setup_script.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index bc073ce..60675db
--- a/setup_script.sh
+++ b/setup_script.sh
@@ -38,16 +38,98 @@ fi
 # Why do we install it for everyone?
 #   It's the program that much more of this script relies on
 #
-if [ ! -f /usr/local/bin/brew ]; then
+# set expected Homebrew install dir by processor architecture
+case $(arch) in
+  'arm64')
+    BREW_DIR=/opt/homebrew/bin
+    ;;
+  'x86_64')
+    BREW_DIR=/usr/local/bin
+    ;;
+  *)
+    unset BREW_DIR
+    ;;
+esac
+
+if ! [[ -z "$BREW_DIR" ]] && ! [[ -f $BREW_DIR/brew ]]; then
   fancy_echo "Homebrew not found.. installing Homebrew"
-  /bin/zsh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
-else
+  /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
+  if [[ $BREW_DIR == /opt/homebrew/bin ]]; then
+    echo '# Set PATH, MANPATH, etc., for Homebrew.' >> ~/.zprofile
+    echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.zprofile
+    eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"
+    fancy_echo "brew added to PATH"
+  fi
+  brew -v
+elif ! [[ -z "$BREW_DIR" ]] && [[ $(which brew) == $BREW_DIR/brew ]]; then
   fancy_echo "Homebrew detected"
   fancy_echo "Updating brew"
   brew update
+  brew -v
+else
+  unset BREW_DIR
+  fancy_echo "No action taken for Homebrew; path did not match CPU architecture"
 fi
 
-brew install google-chrome slack rectangle 1password spotify figma alfred --cask
+if [[ -z "$BREW_DIR" ]]; then
+  fancy_echo "Skipping all Homebrew managed applications..."
+else
+  if [ ! -d /Applications/"Google Chrome.app" ]; then
+    fancy_echo "Google Chrome not found.. installing Google Chrome"
+    brew install --cask google-chrome
+  else
+    fancy_echo "Google Chrome detected"
+    fancy_echo "Skipping Google Chrome..."
+  fi
+
+  if [ ! -d /Applications/Slack.app ]; then
+    fancy_echo "Slack not found.. installing Slack"
+    brew install --cask slack
+  else
+    fancy_echo "Slack detected"
+    fancy_echo "Skipping Slack..."
+  fi
+
+  if [ ! -d /Applications/Rectangle.app ]; then
+    fancy_echo "Rectangle not found.. installing Rectangle"
+    brew install --cask rectangle
+  else
+    fancy_echo "Rectangle detected"
+    fancy_echo "Skipping Rectangle..."
+  fi
+
+  if [ ! -d /Applications/'1Password 7.app' ]; then
+    fancy_echo "1password not found.. installing 1password"
+    brew install --cask 1password
+  else
+    fancy_echo "1password detected"
+    fancy_echo "Skipping 1password..."
+  fi
+    
+  if [[ -d /Applications/'Spotify.app' ]] || [[ -d "$HOME/Applications/Chrome Apps.localized/Spotify.app" ]]; then
+    fancy_echo "Spotify detected"
+    fancy_echo "Skipping Spotify..."
+  else
+    fancy_echo "Spotify not found.. installing Spotify"
+    brew install --cask spotify
+  fi
+
+  if [ ! -d /Applications/'Figma.app' ]; then
+    fancy_echo "Figma not found.. installing Figma"
+    brew install --cask figma
+  else
+    fancy_echo "Figma detected"
+    fancy_echo "Skipping Figma..."
+  fi
+
+  if [ ! -d /Applications/'Alfred 4.app' ]; then
+    fancy_echo "Alfred not found.. installing Alfred"
+    brew install --cask alfred
+  else
+    fancy_echo "Alfred detected"
+    fancy_echo "Skipping Alfred..."
+  fi
+fi
 
 if [ ! -f ./setup_script.sh ]; then
   git clone https://github.com/madeintandem/SetupScript.git $HOME/tandem_setup_script
@@ -82,6 +164,22 @@ elif [ "$dev" = "y" ]; then
   . ./dev_setup.sh
 fi
 
+#############################
+#   Useful macOS settings   #
+#############################
+# Some settings and configuration of macOS are not accessible
+# through the UI. Included here are some useful settings that
+# can be opted into.
+
+fancy_echo "Would you like to set up some macOS configuration? y / n"
+read macos
+
+if [ "$macos" = "y" ] && [ "$IS_CLONED" = "true" ]; then
+  . $HOME/tandem_setup_script/macos_settings.sh
+elif [ "$macos" = "y" ]; then
+  . ./macos_settings.sh
+fi
+
 # clean up after yourself!
 if [ "$IS_CLONED" = "true" ]; then
   rm -rf $HOME/tandem_setup_script