Need your Alfred snippets on iPhone and iPad? Alfred Snippet Converter now supports zip archives, drag & drop, and batch conversion of multiple collections.

What’s New

Zip Archive Support - Convert collections directly after exporting from Alfred without manual extraction.

Drag & Drop - Simply drag your collection files onto the app window.

Batch Processing - Convert all your Alfred snippet collections in one operation.

The tool converts Alfred snippets into macOS text replacements, which sync across all your Apple devices via iCloud. Read the full setup guide in Alfred Snippets on iOS.

Resources

• Download Alfred Snippet Converter

Since then, I’ve had time to refine this project and add some new features. You can download the final Command Line Interface (CLI) or the macOS app from this link.

Next on my list is the complete automation of the process of synchronizing Alfred text snippets with macOS text replacements. I’m not sure if it’s even possible, but there’s only one way to find out. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will take me less time than it did before.

For anyone interested, the tool is available here!

I’ve relied on Alfred as my daily driver for boosting productivity for years. However, I didn’t switch from Apple’s Spotlight overnight. It took three attempts before I truly embraced its capabilities. In this article I’ll share my Alfred setup and explain my most frequent workflows. Let’s dive in!

The Initial Setup

I’ve already described the initial setup in detail in New Mac Setup article, so be sure to check it if you’re interested.

Snippets: Efficiency at Its Best

One of my absolute favorite features of Alfred is Snippets. I rely on them extensively, whether it’s for a quick access to emojis, executing frequent commands, or crafting boilerplate messages. Let’s explore those use cases!

Emojis

While there are several popular workflows for emojis, I’ve chosen to create snippets for the ones I use most frequently. It’s a highly efficient approach, and for those less common emojis, we’ll explore workflows later. Curious about using your snippets on mobile devices? Don’t miss my guide on Alfred Snippets on iOS.

Commands

I’ve compiled a set of frequently used commands, primarily for directory navigation and running common scripts. Although these tasks could be handled with shell aliases, I prefer having everything neatly organized within Alfred. This setup has proven to be reliable and convenient. It just works.

Note Taking

Markdown is my go-to format for note-taking, and I’ve leveraged snippets to automate repetitive tasks. Here are some noteworthy examples:

• !cb - Inserts a markdown code block.
• !scb - Inserts a markdown code block with Swift syntax highlighting.
• !ds - Generates a line separator followed by today’s date, perfect for organizing notes.
• !nd - Initiates a new daily entry in my TODOs note.

And More

Snippets also come in handy for quick message replies, composing emails, and inserting code snippets.

Workflows: Unleash Productivity

The most exhilarating aspect of Alfred is its workflows – a feature that can supercharge your productivity. For a deeper dive into workflows, you can explore them further here.

Note Taking

Community-built Alfred workflows have streamlined note-taking with popular apps. Personally, I rely on alfred-bear for Bear Notes (personal notes) and obsidian-alfred for Obsidian (work-related notes).

Ideally, I’d prefer keeping all my notes in a single place. However, Bear Notes restricts data to your Apple ID, making cross-account sharing a challenge. Obsidian, with its raw markdown files, easily accommodates iCloud folder sharing. Initially, I thought about migrating my personal notes to Obsidian, but the recent major release of Bear Notes swayed my decision. With new features, it’s just too good of an app to quit using!

Both workflows offer similar features (Obsidian one is a bit more complex). They both excel at accessing notes and creating new ones on the fly.

Launchers: Ready, Set, Go!

Launchers are my custom workflows that I use to launch a set of apps for a particular activity:

• Development: Launches a suite of essential tools and utilities.
• Writing: Opens a predefined set of notes and tools.
• Investing: Initiates my brokerage account, bank account, and a useful Excel sheet for tracking investments.

While I could manage without these, they reduce friction when switching between tasks, ensuring I’m just a click away from my next endeavor.

Emoji: Beyond Snippets

As previously mentioned, snippets handle the most common emojis, but for the rest, there’s this workflow. It may be a tad slower than snippets, but it’s significantly quicker than macOS’s built-in emoji picker. Give it a try – you won’t want to go back.

Shortcuts: Effortless Automation

Certain tasks are best automated using macOS Shortcuts.app. There’s one problem: there’s no easy way to launch them without clicking through the app. However, this shortcut allows you to initiate them directly from Alfred.

More in Store

Explore these miscellaneous workflows for even more functionality:

• AirPlay Toggle - utility for switching between airplay devices
• LinkClean - tool for removing extraneous information from URLs
• System Settings - utility for opening macOS system settings panes

Wrap Up

That concludes my Alfred setup – a straightforward yet highly efficient automation of my daily tasks (at least the most repetitive ones). While there are a few improvements I’m considering, the core concept will remain unchanged.

This note describes the steps I take when setting up a new Mac. This process could be mostly automated, but I can’t get myself to do it. It takes me around 90 minutes to go through all the steps. Let’s get started!

I. Prerequisite Files to Import

Before diving into installations, I make sure to have these configuration files ready:

• .gitconfig
• .zshrc

II. Software Installation

Apps marked with “🌕” emoji are optional (it depends if it’s a work or a private Mac).

A. Homebrew & Command-Line Tools

1. Install HomeBrew (from Web)
2. Install CLI tools via Brew:

// Set shell to zsh
chsh -s /bin/zsh

brew install zsh-autosuggestions
brew install zsh-syntax-highlighting
brew install pure
brew install jesseduffield/lazygit/lazygit
brew install xcodesorg/made/xcodes

// Optional
brew install rbenv
brew install swiftlint
brew install node

B. App Store Applications

• Pause
• Dynamo
• Pixelmator Pro

C. GUI Applications (from Web)

• Alfred
• Rectangle
• Hammerspoon
• Karabiner-Elements
• Ghostty
• Obsidian
• Toggl
• Ice
• Xcode
• Visual Studio Code
• AppCleaner
• Logi Options+
• Monitor Control
• PDF Expert
• ProxyMan
• BoltAI
• 🌕 OmniDiskSweeper
• 🌕 Monodraw

III. Application Configuration

Now, let’s configure the installed applications.

• Alfred:
  • Disable both shortcuts for Spotlight (Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts … -> Spotlight -> disable both)
  • Import preferences from /Users/$USER/Library/Application Support/Alfred/Alfred.alfredpreferences
  • Set global shortcut (⌘+Space)
  • Enable Clipboard History
  • Enable: Features -> Snippets “Automatically expand snippets by keyword”
  • Enable: Features -> Web Bookmarks -> Safari Bookmarks
• Rectangle:
  • Import config
• Hammerspoon:
  • Import config
  • Install AppLauncher
• Karabiner-Elements:
  • Import config
• Ghostty:
  • Import config
• Obsidian:
  • In order to make git plugin work:
    • git config --global credential.helper osxkeychain
    • git pull
• Visual Studio Code:
  • Log in to sync plugins and preferences
  • Fix holding motion keys not working with vim plugin:
    • defaults write com.microsoft.VSCode ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false
• Logi Options+:
  • Restore from backup
• ProxyMan:
  • Import mapped requests

IV. System Preferences Settings

Let’s tweak the system settings.

• Set desktop background

General

• Set accent color

Language & Region

• Set English (United States) as primary language

I simply can’t stand Trash being called Bin.

Displays

• Adjust display resolution

Desktop & Dock

• Desktop & Dock -> Desktop & Stage Manager -> Click wallpaper to reveal desktop -> Only in Stage Manager

Keyboard

• Keyboard -> Keyboard Navigation -> Enable

This setting enables option selection with the Tab key.

• Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> Modifier Keys -> Map Caps Lock to Escape

Trackpad

• Trackpad -> Point & Click -> Tap to click
• Trackpad -> Point & Click -> Tracking Speed (increase)

Sharing

• Change machine’s name

Login Password

• Enable “Use Apple Watch to unlock your applications and your Mac”

Security & Privacy

• Disable “Password Autofill”
• Add fingers to Touch ID

General (System Settings Panel)

• Set Login Items

V. Core macOS Application & Utility Configuration

Archive Utility

• Preferences -> After expanding: move to trash

Messages

• Enable message forwarding on iPhone
• Enable iCloud sync

Dock

• Move to right
• Adjust zoom and size
• Rearrange apps
• Enable “Show Percentage” (Battery settings, if referring to menu bar)

Mail

• Take all accounts online
• Rename and rearrange

Finder

• Rearrange sidebar
• Set “Search the current folder”
• “Show path bar” (it’s in the menu bar)
• Enable “Snap to grid” (right click on empty Desktop, Show View Options -> Sort By -> Snap to Grid)
• Disable “Show warning before removing from iCloud Drive”
• Set Preferences -> General -> New Finder windows show … -> Desktop

Time Machine

• Create backup

Conclusion

That’s it. That’s the entire setup process. I know there are tools to automate ~90% of it. I plan to do it someday. In the meantime, my next project is to automate syncing things like Alfred preferences and system settings across all of my Macs. Fingers crossed, I’ll sit down and do it this summer!

There’s one problem. Alfred snippets only work on your Mac. Today we’ll focus on how we can convert them into macOS snippets. That way, you’ll be able to use them across all your Apple devices!

How

Alfred stores snippets as a Zip archive. On macOS, you can open it with the Archive Utility app that’s shipped with the system. After successfully exporting it, you’ll need to convert it from Alfred’s data format to the one used by the system snippets. macOS allows to import keyboard snippets in bulk with Property List format files (plist).

Here’s how Alfred stores snippets:

{
  "alfredsnippet" : {
    "snippet" : "🐛",
    "uid" : "81F59CDA-FD1E-4D71-AB4C-E4C47212023B",
    "name" : "bug",
    "keyword" : "bug"
  }
}

… and here’s how macOS stores snippets:

<dict>
	<key>phrase</key>
	<string>🐛</string>
	<key>shortcut</key>
	<string>:bug</string>
</dict>

Steps

1. Export a snippet collection from Alfred
   • Alfred -> Features -> Snippets -> Collection -> right-click -> Export

macOS does not allow us to group snippets into collections

2. Open the exported file using the Archive Utility app

• right-click -> Open With -> Archive Utility

3. Convert files from Alfred’s format (json) to macOS format (plist)

For this step I use a script written in Swif. You can download it here: bkunat/snippet-converter. Should you decide to use it, please follow instructions in the main.swift file.

4. Import the snippets into /System/Library/PreferencePanes/Keyboard.prefPane

• System Settings -> Keyboard -> Text Replacements -> drag&drop the created plist file

Notes

• All devices need to be signed into a single iCloud account. Otherwise, macOS won’t sync your snippets.
• macOS 13.2
• Alfred 5.0.6