mac/.claude/handoffs/2026-09-15-194209-mac-setup-shipped.md

Handoff: [TASK_TITLE - replace this]

Session Metadata

• Created: 2026-09-15 19:42:09
• Project: /home/claude/bin/mac
• Branch: master
• Session duration: [estimate how long you worked]

Recent Commits (for context)

• 617fc78 docs: reconcile CLAUDE.md/DECISIONS with what shipped (sudo approach, rrsync, set -e lessons)
• d622cf6 fix: chmod 600 the ssh Include file (ssh rejects group-writable config)
• d7205a9 fix: pass pubkey to tank-side.sh via env, not ssh command arg
• af51e0c fix: make SparkFun removal and launchd bootstrap non-fatal under set -e
• 39f61f4 fix: unattended sudo via temporary NOPASSWD drop-in with triple cleanup

Handoff Chain

• Continues from: None (fresh start)
• Supersedes: None

This is the first handoff for this task.

Current State Summary

Bootstrapped ~/bin/mac from scratch: scaffolded the project, SSH'd into Seth's new MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 32GB, macOS 26.2 Tahoe), brainstormed + specced + planned a debloat/Linux-feel/Ableton-first setup, then implemented and RAN it end-to-end. scripts/run.sh applied cleanly (exit 0, idempotent on re-run), and the tank backup path is proven working with rrsync jailing + sanoid history. Remaining work is entirely Seth's GUI-only manual checklist and installing Ableton Live — no more code needed to ship the base setup.

Codebase Understanding

Architecture Overview

Managed over SSH from steel141: scripts/run.sh rsyncs the repo to ~/mac on the Mac, installs a TEMPORARY NOPASSWD sudoers drop-in (so Homebrew's long, child-spawning install has sudo), runs scripts/setup.sh there, removes the drop-in, pulls defaults backups to .backup/mac/. setup.sh is idempotent: each section prints [skip] or [set]. Config files (bashrc, kitty.conf, ssh_homelab) live in config/ and are included by marker lines in the real dotfiles, so editing the repo edits the machine. Backup = launchd nightly rsync of ~/Music/Ableton+~/Documents to pve173:/tank/backups/mac, key rrsync-jailed, sanoid tank_media template for history.

Critical Files

File	Purpose	Relevance
scripts/run.sh	steel141 entry point (rsync+sudo drop-in+setup+cleanup)	run as scripts/run.sh [--no-tank]; needs $HOMELAB_PASSWORD
scripts/setup.sh	on-Mac idempotent configurator	2nd run = all [skip]
scripts/_install_sudoers.sh	installs temp NOPASSWD drop-in (validated)	password piped to stdin
scripts/backup.sh	nightly rsync to tank	/opt/homebrew/bin/rsync, rrsync remote
scripts/tank-side.sh	pve173: dataset+sanoid+rrsync key	PUB via env, not arg
docs/manual-checklist.md	GUI-only Tahoe steps for Seth	the remaining work
docs/reference/inventory-2026-09-15.md	pre-change baseline	"was X stock?"

Key Patterns Discovered

• set -euo pipefail everywhere; optional/cosmetic steps MUST be || warn or they abort the run (learned the hard way — SparkFun + launchctl bootstrap).
• SSH runs on macOS are NON-login: source ~/.bash_profile before expecting GNU PATH.
• ssh Include files must be chmod 600 (rsync -a brings over group-writable 664, which ssh rejects).
• Passing args through ssh host 'cmd' -- "$X" re-splits on spaces remotely; pass via env instead.
• defaults/pmset backed up to ~/.mac-setup-backup/ before writes; pulled to .backup/mac/.

Work Completed

Tasks Finished

• Project scaffolded, repo git.sethpc.xyz/Seth/mac, ssh mac alias
• Inventory captured (pre-change)
• Design spec + implementation plan written
• Brewfile, setup.sh, run.sh, backup.sh, tank-side.sh, checklist written
• run.sh applied on the Mac (exit 0), verified idempotent
• Linux feel verified: bash 5.3.20, GNU sed, ip, hostname mac, tools in /opt/homebrew
• DAW power profile, Dock=2 apps, defaults all applied
• Tank backup proven: rrsync restriction enforced, upload + --delete + sanoid snapshots working

Files Modified

File	Changes	Rationale
[no modified files detected]

Decisions Made

Decision	Options Considered	Rationale
Temp NOPASSWD sudoers over pty password injection	Seth chose it; pty inject raced & hung 14 min	see DECISIONS.md
rrsync-jailed backup key	laptop key must not be unrestricted root on tank	enforced & proven
bash5 / no Cmd-swap / Rectangle / rsync-not-TimeMachine	Linux feel + DAW safety	DECISIONS.md

Pending Work

Immediate Next Steps

1. Hand Seth docs/manual-checklist.md — the GUI-only steps (iCloud Drive Desktop&Documents OFF, DAW Focus, app first-launch grants for Rectangle/kitty/Tailscale, Screen Time/Handoff off).
2. Install Ableton Live 12 from ableton.com, then re-run scripts/run.sh --no-tank so the Dock picks up Live (setup.sh only adds it if /Applications/Ableton Live 12*.app exists).
3. Once an audio interface is attached: set it in Live > Settings > Audio (48kHz/128 buffer), verify no sleep/notifications during a 15-min AC session with DAW Focus on. Also unresolved: Traktor S4 MK1 macOS support (NI dropped it years ago) — verify before assuming it works as a Live controller.

Blockers/Open Questions

• None blocking. Open: S4 MK1 macOS controller support unverified; audio interface not yet chosen/attached.
• FileVault is ON — after any reboot, ssh mac is dead until someone types the password at the lid.

Deferred Items

• SparkFun PPP service left (macOS refuses removal of sole service on a port; harmless).
• Tailscale not yet logged in (GUI). AeroSpace tiling deferred (Rectangle chosen).
• Suite/third-party sample packs: in-app + SMB copy from Milkie, on the checklist.

Context for Resuming Agent

Important Context

The base setup is DONE and verified — do NOT re-run destructively or reconfigure. scripts/run.sh is idempotent and safe to re-run (it re-installs/removes the temp sudoers drop-in each time). Everything left is Seth's GUI checklist + Ableton install. If ssh mac fails, first suspect a reboot (FileVault locks SSH until password entry at the lid), not a config problem. Never leave /etc/sudoers.d/mac-setup behind — run.sh removes it three ways, but if a run is force-killed mid-way, verify with ssh mac 'test -e /etc/sudoers.d/mac-setup && echo BAD || echo ok'.

Assumptions Made

• Seth is physically at the Mac (enabled Remote Login mid-session).
• $HOMELAB_PASSWORD is the Mac's login/sudo password (verified — it worked).
• The Mac stays on AC while producing (power profile only changes AC, not battery).

Potential Gotchas

• pkill -f 'ssh ... mac' will kill your OWN session (matched my command line once — cost a retry).
• SSH is non-login: GNU tools/PATH need source ~/.bash_profile.
• A fast test passing does NOT mean it's reliable — the pty password inject passed a 20s test then hung 14 min live.

Environment State

Tools/Services Used

• ssh mac (192.168.0.94, key auth), ssh pve173 (tank host). Homebrew at /opt/homebrew.
• backup launchd: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/xyz.sethpc.mac-backup.plist (03:30 nightly).

Active Processes

• Backup launchd agent loaded (idle until 03:30). sanoid.timer active on pve173.
• No leftover background jobs from this session (drop-in removed, self-destruct sleepers killed).

Environment Variables

• HOMELAB_PASSWORD (in claude's env on steel141; used by run.sh and cleanup).

Related Resources

• docs/plans/2026-09-15-mac-setup-design.md (spec), docs/plans/2026-09-15-mac-setup-plan.md (plan)
• docs/manual-checklist.md (remaining work), docs/reference/inventory-2026-09-15.md (baseline)
• DECISIONS.md (why), ~/bin/ableton/ (Wine attempt archive, sibling project)

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Security Reminder: Before finalizing, run validate_handoff.py to check for accidental secret exposure.