##use a lighter text rendering style
defaults write -g AppleFontSmoothing -int 1
defaults write -g NSScrollAnimationEnabled -bool false
defaults write -g NSAutomaticWindowAnimationsEnabled -bool false
defaults write -g QLPanelAnimationDuration -float 0
defaults write -g NSDocumentSaveNewDocumentsToCloud -bool false
defaults write -g NSShowAppCentricOpenPanelInsteadOfUntitledFile -bool false
defaults write -g NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool true
defaults write -g PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool true
defaults write -g NSAllowContinuousSpellChecking -bool false
defaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling -float 5.0
defaults write -g NSTextInsertionPointBlinkPeriodOff -float 0
defaults write -g NSTextInsertionPointBlinkPeriodOn -float 999999999999
en_US_POSIX corresponds to the "United States (Computer)" setting that was shown in System Preferences in 10.8 and earlier.
defaults write -g AppleTextBreakLocale en_US_POSIX
defaults write -g NSTextShowsControlCharacters -bool true
defaults write -g WebKitDeveloperExtras -bool true
defaults write -g NSAutoscrollResponseMultiplier -float 3
defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true
defaults write com.apple.CrashReporter DialogType none
this does not disable the warnings shown when opening an application for the first time
defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices LSQuarantine -bool false
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages skip-verify -bool true
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages auto-fsck -bool true
defaults write com.apple.archiveutility dearchive-reveal-after -bool false
defaults write com.apple.finder OpenWindowForNewRemovableDisk -bool false
defaults write com.apple.Safari com.apple.Safari.ContentPageGroupIdentifier.WebKit2StandardFontFamily Georgia
defaults write com.apple.Safari com.apple.Safari.ContentPageGroupIdentifier.WebKit2DefaultFontSize 16
defaults write com.apple.Safari com.apple.Safari.ContentPageGroupIdentifier.WebKit2FixedFontFamily Menlo
defaults write com.apple.Safari com.apple.Safari.ContentPageGroupIdentifier.WebKit2DefaultFixedFontSize 14
defaults write net.sourceforge.skim-app.skim SKUseLegacyFullScreen -bool true
defaults write net.sourceforge.skim-app.skim SKHideClosedFullScreenSidePanels -bool true