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Learning Unix for Mac OS X Panther

Posted by timothy on from the twisty-little-passages dept.

Spencerian writes "Learning Unix for Mac OS X Panther is a good tool for those who are experienced with the original Mac OS or Mac OS X, but not the Unix command line. Most of the content would not interest the traditional programmer, Linux, BSD, or other UNIX jockey, however." For Spencerian's take on why, read on for the rest of his review. Learning Unix for Mac OS X Panther author Dave Taylor and Brian Jepson pages 168 publisher O'Reilly Publishing rating 8 reviewer Kevin Spencer ISBN 0596006179 summary Learning Unix for Mac OS X Panther is a good tool for those who are generally comfortable with the original Mac OS or Mac OS X, but not the Unix command line. Most of the content would not interest the traditional programmer, Linux, BSD, or other UNIX jockey, however. The Finder can't do it all, and it's a good idea to realize that today's Mac OS has more ways to force it to work than its original version. This 3rd edition of the book has a better audience focus than previous editions.

This book focuses on those of us in the Mac OS professional world who have become Unix system admins by default with the introduction of OS X, and could stand to have a handy UNIX reference nearby, particularly if the Finder freezes in Apple's latest version of their BSD/OpenStep blend of a UNIX operating system.

As the authors explain in the book, the best justification for understanding and using the UNIX components present is Mac OS X is the same as in any other UNIX-family operating system: power and control. The Finder (Mac OS X's graphical desktop manager) can't do everything, so this book provides information to help power users and technicians resolve issues, install software, or create an optimized experience, all through the Terminal.

Chapters 1 and 2 provide a very helpful tutorial on the Mac OS X Terminal application, from showing the benefits of customizing the Terminal, the concept of shells, UNIX command syntax, and other obscure but useful settings that strengthen the power of the application when accessing the BSD innards of Mac OS X. Arguably, these two chapters are the strongest guide on Mac OS X's Terminal application (as it relates to its UNIX roots) that I have seen in any Mac OS X book to date.

Chapters 3 and 4 handle understanding of the UNIX filesystem, administration and superuser access, privileges, handling external volumes, file and directory names and the like. Mac OS X, while a BSD at heart, doesn't map out everything in a traditional UNIX-style directory format--at least, not from the Finder's view. Through the Terminal, a user can see the underlying, otherwise-hidden UNIX directories. The authors go through some basic but very helpful situations such as changing file and owner permissions, which can be changed from the Finder with greater ease in Panther, but not with the same finesse as done from a command line.

The file management chapter moves readers through the classic commands for moving, editing, and copying files from the command line, which can be very helpful for administrators of Mac OS X systems who must attempt repairs by SSH, for instance, and don't have access to the usual graphical elements that generally make Mac OS usage so easy. The authors don't pick sides in the vi vs. pico debate, and just offer the basic instructions on how to use either for your editing.

The book continues with the same level of complexity that local system admins or power users require in issues such as printing via CUPS, handling processes that the Finder doesn't show, using the X11 application, using Fink (a Debian-style installation application) installing OpenOffice and GIMP, using FTP and secure shell, using Pine and Lynx, and more.

For a book of just 168 pages, the authors pack quite a bit on making a Mac OS X system work from its Terminal roots. New Mac OS X system administrators will find this book most useful, particularly if their UNIX experience is lacking or radically different from what Mac OS X presents. Experienced *NIX users who bought a new Mac may find the book a good intermediary to demonstrate how Mac OS X Panther differs from the *NIX boxen they've used in the past.

You can purchase Learning Unix for Mac OS X Panther from bn.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.

13 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. Pour me a fr0sty one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Fr0st hawt gr1ts covered in Natalie Pr0tman's Ackbar trap ps1t!

  2. Don't forget your $699 SCO License Fee by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    If you can't use their online form, call them!
    Their phone number is 1-888-GOLINUX or 1-801-765-4888


    Have fun and happy trolling!

  3. I'VE GOT A FP IN MY PANTS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    FLACCID PENIS

    FFF
    FfFff
    Fff
    ffFSegmentation fault. core dumped.

    1. Re:I'VE GOT A FP IN MY PANTS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      A Failure Haiku For You

      Hardly an eff pee
      You can't hit first with a stick
      You fucking fail it

  4. Linus on conference call next week by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Subject: Linux on Mac

    Wednesday, March 3, 11:00 AM EST

    1.800.818.5264 conf code 141144

  5. Debian by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic


    I think OS X rocks. Steve Jobs has done an excellent job of bringing Unix to the desktop. I also love Linux, so long as it is a useful distro like Fedora or Suse. But for heaven's sake don't waste your time learning Debian Linux. All other distros are moving to the 2.6 kernel, but Debian is just now getting ready to release Sarge with the 2.4 kernel. Talk about a day late and a dollar short.

  6. In Soviet Russia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    In Soviet Russia, panther LINUXES YOU!!!

  7. Re:very useful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Well. Well done you then. Seriously, was there a point to your post?

  8. YoU fail it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    serves to rEinforce for the project. Talk to one of 7he the political mess

  9. Re:The Finder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Maybe the Finder can, and maybe it can't, but Emacs can...

  10. Re:+5 insightful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Really? You think so?

  11. Re:very useful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Who gives a fuck about brains, do you have big tits?

  12. Re:very useful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Who gives a fuck about brains, do you have big tits?

    Yes I do. I also am 43 years old, weigh 250 lbs, and am the mother of 4 children. I'm also single, so if you're interested in hooking up, post your contact info. I'm horny and haven't had a good lay in a few weeks.