Should DevOps engineers use a GUI or CLI Git client?

CLI is the standard for DevOps engineers since Git operations are frequently scripted into CI pipelines and automation workflows. However, a visual Git client like Fork is valuable for complex merge conflict resolution and reviewing large diffs. The ideal approach is proficiency in CLI Git for daily operations with a GUI client available for complex situations.

How do I manage multiple Kubernetes clusters from my Mac?

Install kubectl and kubectx via Homebrew. Kubectx lets you switch between clusters with a single command, and kubens switches namespaces instantly. Configure your kubeconfig file with contexts for each cluster. Use Warp or iTerm2 with split panes to monitor multiple clusters simultaneously. For a visual overview, install k9s — it provides a terminal-based Kubernetes dashboard.

What terminal is best for DevOps work on Mac?

Warp is the best terminal for DevOps engineers who want modern features like AI command search, block-based output, and collaborative sessions. iTerm2 remains the best choice for engineers who need deep customisation, tmux integration, and scripting capabilities. Many DevOps engineers install both — Warp for daily interactive work and iTerm2 for complex automation and remote sessions.

How should I manage infrastructure tool versions on Mac?

Use mise as a universal version manager. It handles Terraform, Node.js, Python, and dozens of other tools with per-directory version files. Run `mise use terraform@1.7` in one project and `mise use terraform@1.5` in another — each project gets the correct version automatically. Install mise via Homebrew and add a .tool-versions file to each repository.

What is the fastest way to bootstrap a new DevOps Mac?

Maintain a Brewfile in a Git repository listing every tool you need: kubectl, helm, terraform, ansible, aws-cli, OrbStack, Warp, VS Code, and utilities. On a new Mac, install Homebrew, clone your dotfiles repo, and run `brew bundle`. The entire setup completes in under fifteen minutes. Include shell configuration, SSH config, and kubeconfig templates in the same repo for a complete environment.

How do I install all devops engineers apps at once?

Use Bundl's one-command installer. Visit the build page, select the DevOps Engineers preset, and run the generated Homebrew command in Terminal. All 6 apps install automatically.

Are these devops engineers apps free?

Many of the recommended apps are free or open source, including Docker Desktop, OrbStack, Warp, iTerm2, Visual Studio Code, Postman. Some professional tools may require a paid licence for advanced features.

Do these apps work on Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes. Every app listed here runs natively on Apple Silicon (M-series) and Intel Macs through Homebrew's universal install process.

Can I customise the devops engineers app bundle?

Absolutely. Use the Bundl builder to toggle individual apps on or off. You can also combine apps from other categories like development and terminal to create a fully personalised setup.

Best Mac Apps for DevOps 2026

DevOps engineers live in the terminal and need tools that handle containers, infrastructure, and automation seamlessly. This collection features the best DevOps tools available through Homebrew — from container runtimes like Docker and OrbStack to terminal emulators like Warp, plus modern CLI utilities that make infrastructure management a breeze. Build your DevOps workstation in minutes, not hours.

Featured Apps

Docker Desktop

App for building, sharing, and running containerized apps

Free

OrbStack

Fast, lightweight Docker & Linux on Mac

Free

Warp

Modern, Rust-based terminal with AI

Free

iTerm2

Replacement for macOS Terminal

FreeOpen Source

Visual Studio Code

Open-source code editor by Microsoft

Free

Postman

API platform for building and using APIs

Free

Why This Stack for DevOps Engineers

DevOps is all about reproducibility. Homebrew fits naturally into your infrastructure-as-code mindset: declare every CLI binary and GUI tool in a Brewfile, commit it alongside your Terraform modules and Ansible playbooks, and give every team member an identical local environment. Bundl adds a shareable link so new hires can bootstrap their workstations in one click.

Suggested Workflow

Containers

Build, run, and debug containers locally before pushing to CI.

Docker Desktop

OrbStack

Terminal

SSH into servers, tail logs, and run kubectl commands.

Warp

iTerm2

Edit IaC

Author Dockerfiles, Helm charts, and CI pipelines with IntelliSense.

Visual Studio Code

Test APIs

Validate service endpoints and monitor response times.

Postman

Head-to-Head Comparisons

Orbstack vs Docker Warp vs Iterm2 Cursor vs Vscode

See all comparisons → Mac App Comparisons

Deep Dive: DevOps Engineers on Mac

A DevOps engineer's Mac is a command centre for managing distributed infrastructure. Your setup needs to handle container orchestration, infrastructure-as-code authoring, SSH sessions to dozens of servers, and continuous monitoring — all simultaneously. Start with OrbStack as your container runtime. It replaces Docker Desktop with dramatically better performance: containers start in under two seconds, memory usage drops by 50%, and it includes a built-in Kubernetes cluster for local testing. Warp transforms your terminal experience with AI-powered command search, persistent sessions, and block-based output that makes parsing log files intuitive. For infrastructure-as-code, VS Code with the Terraform, Kubernetes, and Docker extensions provides IntelliSense for HCL files, YAML manifests, and Dockerfiles. Install the Kubernetes extension to browse cluster resources directly from your editor. For API and service testing, Postman or Bruno let you validate endpoints across environments. Round out your toolkit with CLI essentials via Homebrew: kubectl, helm, terraform, ansible, and aws-cli all install with a single brew command. The critical practice is maintaining a Brewfile that declares every tool your team needs — commit it alongside your infrastructure code so any engineer can bootstrap an identical workstation. Use mise to manage multiple versions of Terraform and Node.js across projects without conflicts.

Tool Philosophy

DevOps tools should embody the same principles you apply to infrastructure: automation, reproducibility, and observability. Never install a tool manually that can be declared in a Brewfile. Choose CLI tools over GUI tools where possible — they are scriptable, composable, and work over SSH. When evaluating container runtimes, prioritise startup speed and memory efficiency over feature count — you will run dozens of containers daily and the overhead compounds. For terminal emulators, pick one that handles multiple sessions elegantly — you will routinely have six or more panes open across different servers and namespaces. Version-control everything: your Brewfile, your shell configuration, your SSH config, and your infrastructure code.

A Typical Week

Monday morning starts with checking monitoring dashboards and reviewing weekend alerts. You open Warp with split panes: one connected to the production cluster via kubectl, another tailing application logs, a third running terraform plan against staging. Midweek is deployment work — authoring Helm charts and Terraform modules in VS Code, testing locally against OrbStack's Kubernetes cluster before pushing to CI. You validate API contracts with Postman collections that run automatically in your pipeline. Thursday focuses on reliability: reviewing error budgets, adjusting autoscaling thresholds, and updating runbooks. Friday is infrastructure housekeeping — rotating secrets, updating base images, running security scans, and ensuring your Brewfile and dotfiles are current for the team.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using Docker Desktop instead of OrbStack — it consumes significantly more RAM and CPU, slowing down your Mac during intensive container workflows.

Not maintaining a team Brewfile — new engineers waste a full day manually installing kubectl, helm, terraform, and other CLI tools.

Running `terraform apply` without `terraform plan` first — always preview infrastructure changes before executing them in any environment.

Ignoring terminal multiplexing — managing six SSH sessions in separate windows is chaotic compared to tmux or Warp split panes.

Hardcoding environment variables instead of using a secrets manager — this leads to credential leaks in Git history and configuration drift.

Pro Tips

Use OrbStack's built-in Kubernetes instead of minikube or kind — it starts instantly and shares Docker images without extra registry configuration.

Set up Warp's workflow feature to save multi-step commands like deployment sequences — execute complex operations with a single shortcut.

Install kubectx and kubens via Homebrew for instant context and namespace switching — it eliminates typos in long kubectl commands.

Use mise to manage multiple Terraform versions across projects — different infrastructure repos often require different Terraform versions.

Configure VS Code's Remote SSH extension to edit files directly on servers — faster than syncing files back and forth for quick fixes.

DevOps Engineers FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about DevOps Engineers

OrbStack is the best container runtime for Mac in 2026. It starts containers in under two seconds, uses 50% less memory than Docker Desktop, runs natively on Apple Silicon, and includes a built-in Kubernetes cluster. Docker Desktop remains viable for enterprise teams needing Docker Business features, but OrbStack is superior for individual developer productivity and resource efficiency.