Using programs and commands that do not have a graphical user interface (GUI) but are rather controlled by typing text commands into a terminal program, or shell.
4
votes
3answers
286 views
How to stream radio from the command line?
There is an iMac in our lab at university, running Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.
It is never used, so we have taken to using it to play music, as we can SSH to it, and it does not require any permissions to ...
1
vote
2answers
130 views
Why does the Dock executable not yield any useful strings, unlike other OS X apps?
When I run the strings command on the executable file in most OS X apps (•.app/Contents/MacOS/•), I get a list of routine names, possible hidden preferences, etc. When I run the command on the Dock ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
How does 'stuck' (in results of 'top') relate to 'not responding' (in Activity Monitor), 'spin' or 'hang'?
In results of top commands, I sometimes see stuck.
Apple's top(1) OS X Manual Page does not explain this use of the word.
How, if it all, does stuck relate to the following?
not responding – ...
2
votes
3answers
251 views
How to determine out what Wi-Fi channel is used from the command line?
If I hold Alt/Option and click the Airport icon at the top, I get a bunch of extra data about the access point I'm connected to.
Most interestingly for me right now is the Wi-Fi channel. ifconfig ...
15
votes
5answers
15k views
How to always show menubar with fullscreen apps?
Does anyone know if it is possible to keep the menubar in Mac OS Lion visible for fullscreen apps instead of hidden until hovered over with a mouse or trackpad?
I imagine there's some Terminal ...
1
vote
2answers
325 views
Rsync Backup Script
I'm having some issues backing up some data.
Basically, I have FileVault enabled on my Macbook Pro and want to backup a folder I use - however, I don't want to use Time Machine (at work, I have one ...
5
votes
1answer
141 views
How to pipe output of 'say' to another command
'say' has both -o and -n arguments for various ways to direct the output, but I don't see any way to simply pipe the output to another command (say, sox). Is this a limitation of say, or is there a ...
0
votes
0answers
111 views
Changing a users desktop picture in terminal
just for fun, I'm trying to change the desktop picture in another account on my iMac (10.6.8) using a terminal command.
Is this possible?
Thanks
20
votes
4answers
30k views
Can I open files in TextEdit from the Terminal in Mac OS X?
I frequently find that a terminal command to open a file in TextEdit would be very handy. Does such a command exist on Mac OS X?
0
votes
2answers
257 views
Executing program through Terminal
I have Sage (math program) and I want to execute it through terminal.
I know I can go to the directory and execute it with -
open Sage.app
But would I really want to do is simply type sage in ...
1
vote
1answer
193 views
Why doesn't the screen command source my .profile?
When I start a new screen, the aliases that I have set in my ~/.profile do not seem to be sourced.
Does anyone know where I can change this or which file is actually read when starting a new screen?
0
votes
1answer
512 views
How to create OS X Server Admin firewall rules using ip address groups by command line?
The (Lion) Server Admin.app has a nice ability to apply firewall rules to ip address groups without having to edit ipfw config files.
But having to enter large and long lists of IP addresses using ...
2
votes
3answers
393 views
Getting a list of currently running processes
I'd like to get a list of all the applications currently running on my machine using the command line. It should be similar to what you get when you open up Activity Monitor and choose to save the ...
1
vote
3answers
1k views
Matlab on the command line error in Lion
I constantly get this warning in Matlab, which I run on the command line:
This process is attempting to exclude an item from Time Machine by path without administrator privileges. This is not ...
1
vote
1answer
696 views
How do I get a Unix Executable File to run from anywhere, like Java or Git?
I've just created my first Command Line Tool in Xcode.
What do I have to do, or where do I have to put the final output file, so that I can run it from anywhere from within terminal, without having ...
0
votes
0answers
137 views
Import and export chapter markers from garage band or using command line tool
I want to be able to import and export chapter markers to and from a garage band podcast.
There are several possibilities:
Use apple script to do this within garage band
Use a command line tool to ...
3
votes
1answer
78 views
What's the “@”mark at the file description?
I installed princexml for Mac. With ls -alF, I have -rwxr-xr-x@ 1 prosseek admin 14190120 Jun 8 16:11 prince*. What's the meaning of @ in -rwxr-xr-x@?
And when I tried to execute the binary, I got ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Creating a virtual serial port
I'm trying to create a pair of virtual serial ports on my mac. This is fairly easy to do with many shareware programs on a PC. I figured there would be some uber-powerful shell command to do this in ...
2
votes
4answers
1k views
How to find all files that are larger than 1GB on the Mac HD?
It seems that either one of these commands can be used:
sudo find / -size +1G
sudo find / -type f -size +1G
But when it gets to /Volumes, it actually look at all the back up files by Time Machine ...
4
votes
1answer
221 views
Why does my Terminal command line screw up like this? (bash's fault?)
When I use the command line history ( CtrlR , CtrlP )
The command line screws up like this:
The cursor is supposedly located at the end of the line ( just pressed CtrlE )
If I press enter, just ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Installing gcc without admin?
Is there a place to install command line programs on OSX without an admin password? I've tried /bin and /usr/bin, and I have permission for neither. Like a ~/Applications, but for the command line.
0
votes
1answer
200 views
Printopia (AirPrint): turn it on/off via command line?
I love Printopia - this allows my iDevices to print to a printer attached to my Mac. The problem is I usually don't leave it on all the time. Whenever I want to print from my phone, I'd turn it on via ...
4
votes
3answers
231 views
Detect single-user mode from the command line
Is there a way to detect single-user mode in OSX (Lion, specifically) from the command line?
I've tried who -r, which returns 3 in either standard or single-user mode.
I've also tried nvram ...
1
vote
1answer
232 views
How do I make a shortcut command in terminal?
I want to have ll as a shortcut for ls -ll. How can I add it to my Termianl application? I use iTerm as my primary Terminal application. I wish there was a single line command solution for it.
4
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the difference between .bash_profile and .bashrc?
To make an alias for the Terminal in OS X, you can either put the aliases in .bash_profile or .bashrc. What is the difference between the two and why would I choose to put aliases in one and not the ...
1
vote
1answer
663 views
Darwin/Linux/Unix command line email client that supports iCloud?
I need to access my iCloud email from a command line.
Is there a command line client for Mac OS X (and/or Linux and/or Unix) that can connect to Apple's (I assume it is IMAP) servers?
1
vote
1answer
69 views
Make a file a Stationery pad via command line
Is there a way to set make a file into a Stationery pad from the command line?
You can do it by clicking "Get info" on a file and checking the box, but I would like to do it without clicking.
An ...
1
vote
1answer
539 views
Ejecting USB drive via AppleScript does not make drive power down
On startup, I eject my external USB disks with the following AppleScript:
try
do shell script "diskutil eject \"/Volumes/USB Backup\""
end try
This works as expected: the drive powers down. ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
How to change tap to click using “defaults write” from command line?
I want to change the trackpad tap-to-click property from the command line. Graphically, I can do it by clicking System Preferences -> Trackpad -> Tap to Click. How can I do it from the command line?
...
1
vote
1answer
223 views
Switching terminal styles in iTerm 2
Recently I've been trying to become more efficient at the command line, and stumbled upon iTerm 2 a couple days ago. One feature of iTerm 2 is that windows can appear from the top of the screen, so ...
3
votes
1answer
239 views
Printing the current date/time with sub-second precision
GNU date(1) understands the %N format spec, which outputs nanoseconds, so:
$ date +%H:%m:%S.%N
outputs 19:10:03.725196000
BSD date doesn't understand %N. How can I print the current time with ...
0
votes
0answers
738 views
How to remove group membership from user using the Lion Terminal?
How to remove a self created daemon user named '_denyhosts' from group 1025(workgroup), 403(com.apple.sharepoint.group.2), 404(com.apple.sharepoint.group.3) and 405(com.apple.sharepoint.group.4) using ...
0
votes
1answer
778 views
jDownloader-like command line tool or lightweight GUI App?
I use jDownloader which works great, but takes a lot of time to load and surprisingly takes a lot of time also to start and stop downloads.
I'd like to have a similar functionality* but with a ...
1
vote
2answers
67 views
Save and restore data with command line
I will zip a file with a password. Then, I will write a script and ask:
if (have the password saved) {
unzip file
} else {
ask password
save password
unzip file
}
I want the user ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
How to control AirPort wireless radio from the command line?
I want to know how to control (specifically turn off) the networking (specifically AirPort - I want to turn off the radio) from the command line (specifically from bash in Terminal.app, being run by ...
4
votes
1answer
187 views
How do I set an icon for a directory via the CLI? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Changing a file or folder icon using the Terminal
This is a continuation of this thread from Super User. The question is how to set an icon on a directory. At first I ...
0
votes
3answers
3k views
Access Applications directory in Terminal
I'm really new to command line and I'm trying to access my Applications directory within Terminal.
By default, I am stuck in my user directory but Applications is a child of the "Macintosh HD".
...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Command Line Tools fail to install OSX Lion 10.7.3 Xcode 4.3
I'm trying to install the command line tools to get gcc, make, and other goodies after a Lion upgrade. I went to preferences/Downloads in XCode and attempted to install the command line tools. At the ...
5
votes
1answer
458 views
How can I update iTunes Match from the command line?
I use iTunes Match to access my iTunes library at work. I added some new music to my library (back at home) recently, but I forgot to run the "Update iTunes Match" command to ensure that the songs ...
4
votes
2answers
422 views
Is there a better way to shutdown/restart OSX?
Whenever I want to shutdown/restart OSX I click on the menu, select shutdown, and then click the box for not saving the session, and then click OK. Then there's always at least one program that ...
4
votes
3answers
4k views
Use MacVim as standard Terminal?
I used to love the terminal.app for many reasons.
I especially liked the way I could navigate to a file and edit using vim it all in one app, without having to leave the keyboard.
But, since the ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Installing command line GNU utils
I've recently started using MacBook Pro with OSX, after years of developing under Ubuntu.
I often use GNU command line tools like make and watch. How do I install these on my Mac?
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Is there a more-accurate indicator of an app download's progress than what appears in Launchpad?
While downloading an application from the Mac App Store, you are presented with a progress indicator in Launchpad, like so:
For a large install (like Xcode, as shown) this doesn't provide a ...
0
votes
2answers
235 views
Run java bundled in .app from command-line
The question is how do I run some application written in java and bundled into .app package from command-line?
The main purpose of this is to run an application under JDK7. So I will start it with ...
3
votes
2answers
567 views
Disk utility in command line
I'm looking for the CLI equivalent of "Check disk" and "repair disk" in Disk Utility. I think fsck is involved but I don't know with which options, and if it's the only program run.
3
votes
2answers
740 views
Package command line tools into an automator script or app?
I'd like to know if there's a way I could package compiled command line tools together as part of an automator script or an app.
Let's say, for example, I want to use a command line tool called foo ...
1
vote
1answer
132 views
macbook - low power from the command line
I often (for example on the train) want to put my macbook into a state that will maximise the amount of time I have before the battery runs out - so far example I'll switch off the bluetooth, then ...
2
votes
2answers
111 views
Open app in current directory when another app with the same name exists, from command line
I have an app name foo.app I want to open from command line (using open).
My folder structure is like this:
~
+---bar
+--- foo.app
+---baz
+--- foo.app
I want to open the app located in ...
4
votes
3answers
629 views
How do I delete a locked, invisible file in the Trash?
On an external disk (that contains a clone), the /.Trashes/501/Users/myusername/Desktop folder contains (within some subfolders) a locked invisible file that I cannot delete. The whole folder starting ...
2
votes
2answers
174 views
How to investigate fragmentation of one file?
I'd like to see if one of my file is "all over the place", ie fragmented in little pieces at different locations on my hard drive.
I'm not looking for a software like iDefrag but rather a command ...
