The magic of folder icons in macOS

The magic of folder icons in macOS

If you use a Mac you probably noticed that most of the folders inside your home folder have an icon that matches it’s purpose; Documents, Downloads, Movies, Pictures etc… They are created by default when you setup a user account. A folder directly inside an accounts home folder is automatically given the document icon. Even the home folder itself has a custom icon.

Example of the default folder icons as they appear in the Dock…

… and in icon view in the Finder.

However there’s a folder that’s not created by default. If you do create it, you’ll get a custom icon automatically created for it too.

Just make a new folder in your home folder and name it Developer. As if by magic you’ll get this charming icon applied to it…

Developer folder icon.

Why a hammer? Well if you’ve used any of Apple’s developer tools since the days of Project Builder and Interface Builder up through Xcode you’ll know that it’s a common symbol in the iconography for building code.

Writing goals without having to write them

Writing goals without having to write them

“I’ll add it to my reading list”

“I’ll add it to my reading list”