OSX Tools

[Eric Guo]

I am a Mac user (OSX 10.13.6 High Sierra) and I am going to upgrade to OSX Catalina eventually, but I'm waiting on that.
In the meantime, I am practically certifiable in the latest version of Lego Digital Designer. However, I've never been quite satisfied with its semi-lack of the newest useful bricks (I have no care for the gimmick pieces), as well as old lost-to-time bricks. I have gone on a download bonanza for the past hour and a half since I found out that LDraw is a thing. I also noticed that many of these things cut off at OSX Snow Leopard at the latest, so… yeah. I'm wondering if anybody here knows the MOST UPDATED and LEAST BUGGY software that operates similarly to LDD but through LDraw.
I was relieved to find that there were recent posts on this forum.
Which of these compressed files (on the attached image) are most necessary, and/or which ones would be completely useless to me?
 https://forums.ldraw.org/attachment.php?aid=4161

From my experience using both, Bricklink Studio operates as close to LDD as any modern software is going to get. According to the website, it's compatible with OSX.  BL Studio also has its own "parts designer" app that allows you to import LDraw .dat files if the official Studio library doesn't have the part yet, as well as a proprietary GPU renderer. It's supported as a service of the Bricklink site, and so it should be around for a while.

Mecabricks.com is a web-based LCAD software. I don't use it but I've skimmed it a bit due to FOMO. The way you move bricks is noticeably different, to the point where they really emphasize it in the tutorial. However, you can add light sources and volumetrics in-app, something that you would have to add post-process in other software. The dev monetizes it by renting access to a pre-configured render farm, and based on his twitter feed he's pretty active in keeping it up to date, for now.

Ah, the burden of choice! Hope this helps.