Manuals Apple could include:Apple's Introduction for Support People (gone?!) is a good user introduction. They get a little more technical in Inside Mac OS X. OS X Solutions Guidebook on making the most of OS X's features. Movie series: Orientation to OS X.
The Terminal & shell/GUI integrationThe Terminal application, which gets you the Unix shell (aka command line) is in Utilities in Applications, or as they say in Unix: /Application/Utilities To change future Terminal windows' transparency (0=invisible, 1=opaque) -- in a shell, type this (on one line, change the 0.85 as preferred) then return:
In some shell text editors, option-clicking moves the cursor to where you click. ShellShell is a GUI for many shell commands; AEShell lets you activate them from Applescript. osascript is a shell command for running AppleScripts ("man osascript" to learn more). From the shell, to "double-click" something, type (the single quotes keep the shell from reading any spaces in your files' names as separating several files):
Note, any apps launched will have permissions of the current user in that shell. Try this in particular (the . in Unix refers to the folder you're in):
Drag a folder to the Terminal icon in the Dock,with option and command keys held down: a new shell is opened, set to that folder. Your command line prompt can be useful, or outrageous; read this Slashdot discussion on command line prompts. bash 2.0.5 simple install (or here) Bash is an alternative shell to tcsh; look in Terminal's Preferences, the shell tab. There's a bash FAQ. Single-user mode--Enter ">console" in the login window. Or, during start-up, hold down command-S (or option-shift-L for a read-only mode). Or type 'sudo shutdown now' in the Terminal, and OS X will shut down to single-user mode. When you're done, 'logout' or 'reboot'. PerformanceDefragment the disk the OS X system is on. AlSoft's PlusOptimizer (free with DiskWarrior) or the Norton Utilities work. Get 300MB+ RAM if you can. SpeedMeUpPro is a graphical interface to updating your prebinding (a Unix speed-things-up manever). Put your swap file on another disk Turn off File Sharing. Switch Displays to 1000s of colors. SoftwareLicenses [diveintoosx.org] Running a program twice: Charlie Stross shows us how to run multiple copies of a program at the same time, just "run the binary buried inside the application in ./Contents/MacOS/ using the shell, it launches a fresh copy of the program." To translate that a little, go to the Terminal program, navigate your way to the application you want to run again, "cd" inside the application, and then inside Contents/MacOS. If you "ls" then you'll see that there's only one file, generally with the same name as the application. Just type in that name and return, and a second copy will start bouncing in your Dock. |
Others' links/tipsOS X wiki: Dive into OS X Feel free to copy things there from here, i know i will.OS X Hints - 100s of Qs & As Mike Bombich's tips and software Jeff's OS X links a "Things Unix" OSX page |
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OS X ApplicationsBesides these, most old Mac software runs in the OS 9.x Classic environment. And we have access to shell & X Window apps! Big lists: Jeff's appslist | Stepwise Softrak | MacOrchard | VersionTracker | SourceFourge Web browsers -- iCab, OmniWeb, Opera; Chimera, Mozilla, & Netscape, (yes, 3 browsers from one project; for even more, see Fizzilla) From shell: lynx is the old standard, but links does tables and frames! (download 0.95, or links 0.96 from forked.net -- there's several home pages and a manual) What monopoly? E-mail -- Use Eudora Mailbox Cleaner to convert from Eudora to the included Mail program, or keep using Eudora 5 (and see Email Magician). Other mail can be converted to Mail with Email Alchemy. Graphics -- GraphicConverter; also try the GIMP. Text -- BBEdit is one of several good text editors; emacs comes with your system, and is cool because of all the modes, etc. -- besides, i took a month of Lisp in, oh, 1988. Word processor -- AbiWord is a free word processor that opens Word files (requires X Window System). Otherwise, what to do with Word files? antiword converts them to PostScript; DOCtor is a graphical front end for it, but i prefer AntiWordService (enables TextEdit to open Word files). Spreadsheet -- Try FlexiSheet or Mariner, or Gnumeric (needs X Window System; available in fink) Newsreader -- MT-Newswatcher, Thoth, NewsWatcher-X Telnet -- use 'ssh' in the shell. RssReader -- Aggregators for reading sites' news feeds. Instant messaging -- Fire -- works with IRC, Yahoo, MSN, AOL (sometimes), and Jabber! Sound edit/convert -- Audacity (they plan to but don't yet import snd files; SoundApp does) Music -- Apple's iTunes costs nothing, but if you like simple you might like MacAmp Lite X. File sharing -- MacPhex is a Gnutella client; FrogBlast is one good Hotline client; good old FTP is in the shell of course. |
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Shell & Unix helpEvery time you open a new Terminal window you are opening a new shell. Using the shell as interface to your computer generally involves typing in commands one line after another, also known as a command line interface. macosx.org has a command line interface tutorial. Terminal Basics also explains some of this Unix underside well. The Unix Gurus' Universe has a feast of resources for people beginning Unix. (and beyond). For fun and learning, read the Jargon File. Books (the paper kind): Unix System Administrator's Handbook, by Evi Nemeth (new, third edition, the purple book--was the red book) and/or O'Reilly's Unix System Administrator, by Frisch (the blue book). Also, O'Reilly's Unix Power Tools (the drill book). For more, look in Development. Being rootTo execute shell commands as if you were root (only from administrator accounts, such as the first one you created, and you'll have to enter the account's password):
Creating a root account (not needed for most users)1. Open Net Info Manager (in /Applications/Utilities). |
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PrintingCan't print? Do a print preview, save it as a .pdf file, reboot into Classic and print from Acrobat. StabilityTurn off "Load only when needed" in Classic's TCP/IP Control Panel. (Better yet, disable it altogether.) Start-up disksTo choose among startup disks, hold down option on start-up (unless you put OS 9 on the same partition as OS X, then you have to use the Startup Disk pane and control panel). Scripts for switching among startup disks. Graphical Unix documentation & tips:Most graphical Unix applications expect a three button mouse. You can get button 2 in XDarwin by command-clicking, and button 3 by option-clicking. (and these are both often worth trying) In general, typing in a window will only be possible when the mouse is over the window (can be changed in some window managers?). Printing can be a problem, but many programs can print to a PostScript file. Then open them with MacGhostView (download) and print them normally. |
Unix Applications, graphical and notJeff's Darwin
and X Window
apps Unix graphical applications generally require an X Window System (aka X11), and some other software. A version of XFree86 (free X11 software) has been developed for MacOS X; it's called XDarwin now (was XonX?). You uber-geeks can build XFree86 yourself. For the rest of us, Rob Griffiths' Solution Guide #1 explains how to install XDarwin and other things you'll need (if you want to start downloading get XDarwin, Fink, and FinkCommander). You will want a fast net connection (two alternatives: buy CDs with this software, or Tenon's proprietary X11). The Solution Guide is helpful, and better yet you can skip the first half -- up to "Task #2" -- because XDarwin now installs itself. Fink is a package manager. This isn't required to run Unix programs, but it does ease installations & updates of software it knows (graphical and command line). The Fink project has also generated excellent documentation, particularly for running X11. FinkCommander, a graphical front end for Fink; it has an iTunes-like live search for browsing hundreds of packages (e.g. spreadsheet: gnumeric, game: xgalaga). A window manager is required to use many graphical Unix programs, and the Solution Guide walks you through installing one: WindowMaker. There are many window managers to choose from. OroborOSX is a window manager specifically for XDarwin, and helps program windows to look and act more like regular OS X windows. The GIMP (home page, but you can install it with fink) -- the free Photoshop-competitor, one of many great programs available once you install an X Window System. MagicPoint for OS X -- Presentation software (no GUI for creating presentations). Make sure to install freetype2 with fink or FinkCommander first. Simon Cozens ported it; see the main MagicPoint home page too. CDs that easily install all the necessary software for some big Unix packages: the $25 macgimp.com CD; and OpenOSX (Office software with some print support, the Gimp, web tools & more, ~$30-$40 per CD). Downside: not integrated with Fink The GNU/Darwin project has a FreeBSD ports for Darwin CD (1000s of packages), and are generaly working to make GNU software available for Darwin (they have a complete Darwin distribution). They also have a system for porting to Darwin. The Redhat Package Manager has also been ported to OS X |
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SecurityThe system only looks at the first eight characters of your password. Brick House is a GUI to configure your firewall. (check out the author's other great software as well). MacGPG brings GnuPG (encryption software) to OS X; there are also tools to integrate it with Eudora, etc. |
FontsDrop them into /Library/Fonts. TypeTable is a simple, free font browser. |
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ForumsDive Into OS X -- a wiki for OS X OS X Hints -- clear questions and answers. Info-Mac digest (also available as comp.sys.mac.digest) comp.sys.mac.system MacSlash and Slashdot (is there a particular BSD or better yet Darwin one?) The Macintosh Guy's mailing lists ChatEFNet #macosx,
and (help and commiseration with your OS X disasters, and company and celebration in the successes) More resourcesOS X FAQ (unofficial) ScreensaversYou can't enjoy OS X without the Maya Screensavers (SpiroScales is mouse-controllable!). Subsume software also has some neat ones. Alternatively, you could run a screensaver that helps biologists learn how proteins are made, or search for signals from aliens with SETI@home (but not in power-starved areas like California, please). |
NewsForwarding Address OS X -- group weblog on OS X Stepwise is a long-time OS X site. Macintouch has reader reports on OS X (and a new search for it). MacNN has osx.macnn.com. Tidbits is weekly (no overwhelm...) Palm OS synchingPalm's desktop software for OS X is now available. Even if you don't have a Palm OS handheld, it's a decent free personal information manager. I still use SyncBuddy (formerly PalmBuddy), because it lets me look at the files on the Palm directly and transfer them back and forth. The Finder's ToolbarSet it to Show only text or icons and it becomes reasonably thin. You can drag *anything* (apps, folders) into the toolbar when customizing it (menu View...Customize Toolbar...) Then you can drag anything onto those things. You used tabbed folders at the bottom of the screen in OS 9 or 8? Try putting those folders in the toolbar. When you want one, do command-N for new window in the Finder, then click on it. |
InterfaceThe Finder can undo many actions! The trick to using drag & drop in TextEdit, Stickies, and some other Cocoa apps is to click and hold a second before dragging. You can open any folder you've opened recently; look in the Go menu. Virtual screens -- Space Prefling puts your System Preferences in a Dock menu. ClassicSpy shows and toggles Classic's current status. To hide all an app's windows: option-double-click on any window's title bar. Elsewhere on this page: The Dock -- moving it, other tips A bunch of particular tweaks are possible with TinkerTool and HaxManager. For further tinkering, PrefEdit edits programs' Preference files (in plist resources in XML formats, by the way--here's the Apple TIL on plist, and "man defaults" helps too). Miss tabbed windows at the bottom of your screen? PopUpX (and this may be coming in 10.2 anyway) The Control Strip? OpenStrip Application menu at upper-right? ASM If you're willing to hack a little, you can run the entire OS 9 Finder under OS X. But remember, the Finder toolbars (drag in your own folders and files while customizing) and half the dock (i dragged in Favorites--it's my apple menu) can be whatever you want. MenuExtras are replacing control strip-type controls, we'll get there... Someday maybe we'll drag-and-drop files/folders/tools among Apple's dock and GNOME/KDE panels :-). Two options i wish Apple would bring back: double-clicking to "windowshade" windows rather than minimizing them to Dock (try WindowShade X), and the customizeable Apple menu (see FruitMenu or ClassicMenu). "Cosmetic" changesIcons -- XIcons, icons@MacNN, IconFactory Alert sounds are AIFF format (SoundApp will convert from snd); copy them (as root) to: /System/Library/Sounds/ Or if you don't want them available to other users, put them in: ~/Library/Audio/Sounds/ To stop fonts from anti-aliasing:
...all on one line in the shell. The same with NO sets it back. I thought i'd like this, but the result is a skinny and thus hard-to-read font (sigh). Don't like all the shadows in the interface? Try ShadowKiller. If you can find Theminator you can make serious appearance changes. |
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More dock tipsIf you command-click on an item in the dock (or an item in a dock menu), then the folder holding that item will be opened. You can drag documents to applications on the dock and if the document is the right type the application will open it. Hold down option and command when you let go, and the app will try and open it even if it's not the right type. Dragging any folder to the Terminal app (hold down option and command) opens up a new window with the directory set to that folder. In the menu you get when you click and hold on an app, there's a "Quit" item. Pressing the option key makes it into a "Force Quit" item. In the Finder, and many other apps, command-option-d toggles the dock to hide or not. Command-tab (or shift-command-tab) will make it pop out as long as you hold command down. TinkerTool lets you make the active application's black triangle turn blue, put the Trash can on the desktop, among other funky settings. |
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NetworkingMacOS X 10.1 added some compatibility with Windows and old MacOS disk sharing. IPNetShareX lets you share your Intenet connection with other computers on your local network. Add a hosts file -- Apple instructions, MacWrite's, or just use Hostal. OSXvnc is a server that lets you control your computer from any other computer on the net, using a VNC client. (VNC stands for Virtual Network Computing., and even the Newton has a client & server!) NetInfo handles all networking information. There's a NetInfo Tech Info Library note, and Apple has a big PDF on it on the OS X Server page (download). Apache manual (on your disk, turn on web serving first) Graham Orndorff has put together detailed instructions to getting and setting up Postfix, a mail server improving on sendmail. NFSManager is a GUI for Network File System services. DevelopmentDarwin core resources | Darwin docs project | Macintosh Developer (Dr. Dobb's) -- broken? Cocoa developmentCocoaDevCentral is explicitly for newbies (how un-elitist!). CocoaDev is a Wiki on Cocoa. CocoaBrowser is an excellent interface to your Cocoa documentation. One book: Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X. Camelbones (docs) let's you write Cocoa software in Perl, and Dan Sugalski is writing Programming Cocoa Applications with Perl for O'Reilly. Also available for GUI development are Squeak and RealBasic. osxgnu.org: making OS X packages More languages, db/web toolsAppleScript is frequently upgraded again. The AppleScript Sourcebook has an incredible list of AppleScript resources. With AEShell, AppleScript can do shell commands. Conversely, osashell is a shell command for running AppleScripts. acgi dispatcher lets you use AppleScripts as CGIs. One book: AppleScript in a Nutshell. Frontier for OS X is available to Frontier subscribers. There's a shell command tool for Frontier (with a free license?). OS X comes with Perl. The MacPerl group is working on something, probably Perl/Aqua stuff and more. MacPython knows the GUI; there's also a Python for OS X Unix. Installing Zope 2.4 & Python 2.1 Marc Liyanage has put together a great page with OS X packages and related tools for (my- and Postgre-) SQL, and PHP. installing your own Apache etc.: ScriptGUI conveniently runs and edits Unix (e.g., Perl, shell, etc.) scripts. Tcl/Tk is available. |
Automatic updatesIf you want automatic updates off, look in the System Preferences, Software Update pane (and the QuickTime pane!). |
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UtilitiesMaxMenus puts menus in corners, the unused menubar area and more, and assign key commands to any item in a menu just by typing the key combination. Now, my OS X experience is complete. WristSaver forces you to take a break from your computer once in a while. Carbon Copy Cloner makes copies of your disks. In particular it can make a working copy of a system disk. MacJanitor lets you manually run OS X's daily, weekly and monthly maintenance routines, which may not be running if your computer isn't on all the time. (Brian Hill has written a host of other useful utilities.) Cronnix is a graphical interface for scheduling things with cron (standard Unix software scheduler). SigSoftware crafts great software, including: plaintext drawing and table-making tools; translating filenames appropriately among Mac, Unix & PC; and more. I wouldn't have switched to OS X as early as i did without DropDrawers, which puts pop-out "drawers" at the edges of your screen. These drawers can contain applications, files, text, scripts, sounds, etc., and you can assign key commands to activate/insert them. VueScan lets you use many scanners. Change File/Folder Properties -- see and change Unix and Mac flags without going to the command line. (SuperGetInfo or xFiles better?) OmniDiskSweeper removes unneeded big files. CD Finder -- indexes file names etc. on CDs or other removable media so you can search them all at once. Analog -- analyze your web logs Synk -- Synchronize files between two Macs. ResExcellence points to more utilities. Resource editor -- Resource Knife Subsume software has some useful utilities (and an interesting ServiceWare license). GamesMacMAME is an emulator for many classic video games. TinyFugue -- MUD client in shell Mark Pazolli has several games up, Daleks and Jotto (a great word game) are part of his Anthology. He's also ported Glypha, an old Mac arcade game (like Joust). If you get graphical Unix going look for xgalaga in FinkCommander, and of course FreeCiv (among others). iColumns is one of those not-quite-like-Tetris games. Tetris is in emacs! Run emacs in the shell, then ESC, x, tetris RETURN (arrow keys to move, space to drop) To quit emacs: control-X, control-C. More MacOS SoftwareInfo-Mac archive -- freeware, shareware, and demos |
Crashed? What to do:Unless you had a kernel panic (which usually puts plain white text on your screen), Darwin is likely still alive. Try these: Log out -- Command-tab to the Finder, then command-shift-Q. If there's no visual feedback to let you know when you've gotten to the Finder, just alternate command-tab and command-shift-Q until you hear the hard disk doing a lot of work. or Kill problem processes -- Get to the shell -- through the Terminal app, or remote login from another computer on the network -- then type: ps -ax That shows all running processes, with their process numbers in the left column. Replacing # with the process number of whatever you think is causing the problem (repeat as necessary), type: kill # (Your TCP/IP address, needed for ssh or telnet, is in Network Preferences. Oh, and only if your machine has "Allow remote login" turned on in the Application pane of the Sharing Preferences will you be able to log in from another computer.) Locked filesFiles locked pre-OS 9 cannot be changed or deleted, even as root. Their Unix file flag "uchg" is set. This command unlocks such files:
or use Change File/Folder Properties Apps look like folders?To turn them back into applications, delete from ~/Library/Preferences: LSApplications Safest install (imho):1. Backup your existing, working OS 9 system and data somewhere
safe (or keep it, on a separate disk) Firmware RAM problemApple's March 2001 firmware updates cause the system to reject sub-spec RAM on some hardware. DIMMCheck checks your RAM in advance, DIMMFirstAid might fix it after (most vendors are honoring warranties). |
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This page created and maintained on and off since early-mid 2001 by John Abbe, mostly using PageMill under Classic OS 9 (in OS X). Can anyone recommend a good OS X visual HTML editor?
These items gratefully gathered mainly from the sources listed above (especially news), and my own experiences using OS X on a PowerBook G3 (Pismo) 400MHz used, stock except for 320MB memory.
Current judgement -- The 10.1 to 10.1.5 releases have made things even happier, especially when i keep my disk defragmented. Copying & pasting between native and Classic apps works flawlessly now, and the latest Eudora and web browsers rarely crash. Back in 10.0.2, i got infrequent hopeless slowdowns, CPU takeovers, and Dock failings. The Finder stopped crashing with 10.0.4. I 've only rebooted not by choice two or three times in many months now. Problems are generally solved with a logout and login.
And i mess around with beta or earlier software a lot.
All said, it is my main OS on my main machine, and has been for more than a year.
Additional credits: http://www.macplus.fr/
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I like OS X (among other reasons) because at least the Unix part is open source, which for example allowed someone to rapidly develop a fix for the dual-processor modem driver even though Apple was flailing on the problem.