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
2answers
420 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 ...
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 ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
Can Mac App Store installs & upgrades be automated?
How can I script installing or upgrading apps from the Mac App Store? I'd prefer command line tools, but AppleScript or some other API would suffice.
Relevant puzzle pieces:
installer: note ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
How do I speed up new Terminal tab loading time?
How can i speed up the terminal startup in Lion?
I'm not referring to the startup of the Terminal application, but to the startup terminal windows, like when i open a new tab.
I don't have anything ...
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 ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Monitor a folder for changes, and run a command when a change is detected
Is there a simple way to automatically run a (Terminal) command every time a file is changed in a specific folder?
This should be possible via the command line, or a system built-in application, no ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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
988 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
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
325 views
Command line brightness (Lion) [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can I dim the screen from Terminal?
Is there a command I can execute to modify screen brightness? Interested to see if the min/max are hardware or software ...
0
votes
1answer
2k views
Foolproof way of extracting .pkg files
I know there are some paid GUI tools that let you do this, but I'm not interested in those.
Currently, I'm doing this:
gzcat Contents/Archive.pax.gz | pax -r
However, there are some pkg files that ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Is there a way to minimize open windows from the command line in OS X Lion?
Just wondering if there is a way to retrieve open windows and minimize them from the command line in Lion?
I have an AppleScript that does this, but it kind of slow, so wanted to know if there was ...
0
votes
1answer
172 views
NAS recommendation [closed]
I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a 4-bay NAS with AFP/TimeMachine support and the ability for me to install s3cmd (a utility for simple S3 syncing).
The reason I ask is simple: just having a ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
.tar files on OS X Lion
How am I supposed to deal with .tar files with OS X Lion? I'm trying to install Ruby Version Manager, but Lion is throwing a fit about not being able to expand the tar file. This isn't the first time ...
2
votes
1answer
576 views
2
votes
1answer
389 views
How can I kill or refresh Desktop Wallpaper with a Terminal command?
Is there a command for refreshing the Display Settings? Or, in specific, refreshing the Desktop Wallpaper?
4
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I add all users to Print Administrator group but not full administrator?
Gordon Davisson offered a solution to a "standalone user" in another question
I'm facing the same issue in an office environment.
Printer paused and System Administrator needs to be called to enter ...
1
vote
2answers
280 views
How do you list items with and without labels from the terminal?
Is there a command that can tell the label status (labels as applied in the info menu in the finder cmd+i) of an item from the command-line in OS X? Essentially, I just want to list all the items with ...
4
votes
1answer
185 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 ...
4
votes
4answers
15k views
How can I list all user accounts in the terminal?
How can I list all local user accounts (whether logged in or NOT so 'users' or 'who' is no good) in the terminal on a mac? OS X version is 10.6.8.
I have seen this suggested - dscacheutil -q group
...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
238 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
153 views
Signals sent to command-line programs when exiting terminal.app
When using tmux, if I CMD-W, or otherwise quite out of terminal, my tmux session persists, as it should. However, it still lists itself as "attached", whereas on other platforms, (e.g. Ubuntu) when ...
4
votes
1answer
166 views
Command line utility to create screenshot
Is there some command line utility to create a screenshot of the my screen and store it as png? (Preferably one in the system, without need to install anything new)
3
votes
1answer
394 views
How do I find the current Mission Control space number from the command line?
Is there any way to determine the number of the currently active Mission Control space/desktop in Mac OS X Lion from the command line?
1
vote
1answer
212 views
Correct syntax for bash grep function?
I'm trying to set up a function to make certain grep command easier.
gr() { grep -r --include=*.\{m,h,xib\} $1 \* ; }
The end result should be a recursive grep of all *.m, *.h, and *.xib files, for ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Ubuntu-like bash completion in Mac OS X?
I work in the terminal a fair bit, and one thing I really miss from the servers I usually work on is the comprehensive autocompletion bash provides on Ubuntu servers.
Are there any readymade tools ...
9
votes
3answers
337 views
What is the “+” mark at the end of file description?
When I execute 'ls -al~', I see + marks, and it prevents me from moving/deleting files.
drwxr-xr-x+ 5 prosseek admin 170 Oct 5 03:43 Desktop
drwxr-xr-x+ 17 prosseek admin 578 Sep 25 ...
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
Using locate.updatedb doesn't work in Lion
A week ago I upgraded to Lion from Snow Leopard. I want to use the locate command, but the locate database has not been built yet. So I tried running
sudo launchctl -w ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Copy to network share using local disk cache in Mac OS X Lion
I'm using rsync in Mac OS X Lion to copy a backup directory from my local HD to a network mounted share (local LAN). My goal is to archive the local backup to the network drive, thereby freeing up ...
7
votes
2answers
706 views
AirDrop: How to access AirDrop from command line?
I was looking for an option to use Airdrop to sync a set of directories between two computers.
I want to achieve this wirelessly(hence chose Airdrop w/o having the computers connect on a network or ...
20
votes
4answers
29k 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?
7
votes
1answer
259 views
How can I log into the desktop environment as Root on a new mac running 10.6 or 10.7 without creating a user account?
Under Mac OS 10.5, you could boot a fresh-out-of-the-box Mac into single user mode, mount /, set the root password, and touch .AppleSetupDone - this would allow you to log into the desktop environment ...
27
votes
7answers
11k views
What is the difference between iTerm2 and Terminal?
I keep hearing that iTerm2 is much better than Terminal. I downloaded iTerm2 today and played around with it, but I couldn't see what is so much better about iTerm2. iTerm2 seemed just like Terminal.
...
4
votes
2answers
997 views
How do you record audio from command line with osx?
I've tried ffmpeg but there is no /dev/dsp device.
7
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the difference between .command, .tool, and .sh file extensions?
I saw a couple of questions about executing command line scripts? I saw that the .command and .tool extensions were mentioned. I have always used .sh. What is the difference between these different ...
3
votes
2answers
556 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.
4
votes
1answer
10k views
How do I remove a user via single user mode in 10.7?
I occasionally will setup a user's machine that has been in for repair beyond the simple re-install of the OS. For example: install a new hd, install the OS, create a user, install updates and then ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
How do I change back from MacPorts Python to system default version?
I used MacPorts to install a newer version of Python on my system (10.5.8 PPC), and then used the MacPorts select command to change the default invoked version of Python to the MP version. Now I want ...
3
votes
2answers
201 views
Is there a way to provide a sort order to an mdfind query?
In trying to get a list of all music files from a particular album using mdfind I see that the files aren't necessarily returned in any order. I'd prefer album/track order if possible, but can't find ...
0
votes
1answer
488 views
Is it possible to switch from Safe Mode to Normal and back without a reboot?
Since 10.6.3, Apple has decided change the AppleIntelCPUManagement kexts, which leave me stuck with a kernel_task that pegs out at 135-185%, generating a lot of heat.
Anyway, since I doubt anyone has ...
4
votes
3answers
626 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
4k views
How to initiate VPN conection from command line?
I would like to save some mouse clicks and keystrokes by initiating VPN connection from command line. Is there tool for this in Mac OS X? Ideally, it should accept VPN connection name and password and ...
2
votes
3answers
249 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
459 views
How can I initiate a modem connection from the command line?
I am looking for a way to initiate a PPP connection with my EVDO modem from the command line instead of having to go to System Preferences -> Network and hit "Connect".
7
votes
4answers
995 views
What's the best way to install command line utilities such as GIT?
I'm a Windows/Linux guy that just got my Macbook Air. I do web dev, and am currently trying to setup this machine for some on-the-go development.
After some research attempts, I'm wondering: what's ...
