This guide walks you through setting up a shared Mac build node for your team in 2026. Whether you need Node.js, Xcode, or CI runners on a remote Mac Mini, these steps will get your team building in one place.
Prerequisites & Provisioning
Provision a Mac Mini (M2 or M4 recommended) on MacPull. Enable SSH and VNC for access. Install Xcode Command Line Tools or full Xcode if you build iOS/macOS apps. For Node.js, use a version manager such as nvm so multiple projects can coexist.
Terminal
# Install nvm and Node LTS curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.1/install.sh | bash nvm install --lts node -v && npm -v
CI & Shared Usage
Use a single Mac node as a shared runner for GitHub Actions or GitLab CI. Create a dedicated CI user, install your runner, and restrict access with SSH keys or tokens. This keeps build environments consistent and avoids "works on my machine" issues.
Get Your Team a Shared Mac Node
Rent a Mac Mini by the month. SSH, VNC, and root-style control. Perfect for build nodes and CI.