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. Through the Terminal, a user can see the underlying, otherwise-hidden UNIX directories. 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. 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.Ĭhapters 3 and 4 handle understanding of the UNIX filesystem, administration and superuser access, privileges, handling external volumes, file and directory names and the like. 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.Ĭhapters 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. 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.Īs 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. This 3rd edition of the book has a better audience focus than previous editions. 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.

Most of the content would not interest the traditional programmer, Linux, BSD, or other UNIX jockey, however. 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.' For Spencerian's take on why, read on for the rest of his review. 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.

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