An A-Z Index of the Apple OS X command line

  alias     Create an alias •
 alloc     List used and free memory
 awk       Find and Replace text within file(s)
b
 basename  Convert a full pathname to just a folder path
 bash      Bourne-Again SHell
 bg        Send to background •
 bind      Display readline key and function bindings •
 bless     Set volume bootability and startup disk options.
 break     Exit from a For, While, Until or Select loop •
 builtin   Execute a shell builtin •
 bzip      Compress or decompress files
c
 cal       Display a calendar
 caller    Return the context of a subroutine call •
 case      Conditionally perform a command •
 cat       Display the contents of a file
 cd        Change Directory •
 chflags   Change a file or folder's flags
 chgrp     Change group ownership
 chmod     Change access permissions
 chown     Change file owner and group
 chroot    Run a command with a different root directory
 cksum     Print CRC checksum and byte counts
 clear     Clear terminal screen
 cmp       Compare two files
 comm      Compare two sorted files line by line
 command   Run a command (not a function) •
 complete  Edit a command completion [word/pattern/list] •
 continue  Resume the next iteration of a loop •
 cp        Copy one or more files to another location
 cron      Daemon to execute scheduled commands
 crontab   Schedule a command to run at a later date/time
 cut       Divide a file into several parts
d
 date      Display or change the date & time
 dc        Desk Calculator
 dd        Data Dump - Convert and copy a file
 declare   Declare variable & set attributes •
 defaults  Set preferences, show hidden files
 df        Display free disk space
 diff      Display the differences between two files
 diff3     Show differences among three files
 dig       DNS lookup
 dirname   Convert a full pathname to just a path
 dirs      Display list of remembered directories •
 diskutil  Disk utilities - Format, Verify, Repair
 disown    Unbind a job from the current login session •
 ditto     Copy files and folders
 dot_clean Remove dot-underscore files
 drutil    Interact with CD/DVD burners
 dscacheutil Query or flush the Directory Service/DNS cache
 dscl      Directory Service command line utility
 du        Estimate file space usage
e
 echo      Display message on screen •
 ed        A line-oriented text editor (edlin)
 enable    Enable and disable builtin shell commands •
 env       Set environment and run a utility
 eval      Evaluate several commands/arguments •
 exec      Execute a command •
 exit      Exit the shell •
 expand    Convert tabs to spaces
 expect    Programmed dialogue with interactive programs
           Also see AppleScript
 export    Set an environment variable •
 expr      Evaluate expressions
f
 false     Do nothing, unsuccessfully
 fc        Fix command (history)
 fdisk     Partition table manipulator for Darwin UFS/HFS/DOS
 fg        Send job to foreground •
 file      Determine file type
 find      Search for files that meet a desired criteria
 fmt       Reformat paragraph text
 fold      Wrap text to fit a specified width
 for       Loop command •
 fsck      Filesystem consistency check and repair
 fsaclctl  Filesystem enable/disable ACL support
 fs_usage  Filesystem usage (process/pathname)
 ftp       Internet file transfer program
g
 GetFileInfo Get attributes of HFS+ files
 getopt    Parse positional parameters
 getopts   Parse positional parameters •
 goto      Jump to label and continue execution
 grep      Search file(s) for lines that match a given pattern
 groups    Print group names a user is in
 gzip      Compress or decompress files
h
 hash      Refresh the cached/remembered location of commands •
 head      Display the first lines of a file
 hdiutil   Manipulate iso disk images
 history   Command History •
 hostname  Print or set system name
i
 id        Print user and group names/id's
 if        Conditionally perform a command •
 info      Help info
 install   Copy files and set attributes
j
 jobs      List active jobs •
 join      Join lines on a common field
k
 kextfind  List kernel extensions
 kickstart Configure Apple Remote Desktop
 kill      Stop a process from running
l
 l         List files in long format (ls -l)
 last      Indicate last logins of users and ttys
 launchctl Load or unload daemons/agents
 ll        List files in long format, showing invisible files (ls -la)
 less      Display output one screen at a time
 let       Evaluate expression •
 lipo      Convert a universal binary
 ln        Make links between files (hard links, symbolic links)
 local     Set a local (function) variable •
 locate    Find files
 logname   Print current login name
 login     log into the computer
 logout    Exit a login shell (bye) •
 lpr       Print files
 lprm      Remove jobs from the print queue
 lpstat    Printer status information
 ls        List information about file(s)
 lsregister Reset the Launch Services database
 lsbom     List a bill of materials file
 lsof      List open files
m
 man       Help manual
 mdfind    Spotlight search
 mdutil    Manage Spotlight metadata store
 mkdir     Create new folder(s)
 mkfifo    Make FIFOs (named pipes)
 more      Display output one screen at a time
 mount     Mount a file system
 mv        Move or rename files or directories
n
 net       Manage network resources
 netstat   Show network status
 networksetup Network and System Preferences
 nice      Set the priority of a command
 nohup     Run a command immune to hangups
 ntfs.util NTFS file system utility
o
 onintr    Control the action of a shell interrupt
 open      Open a file/folder/URL/Application
 osacompile Compile Applescript
 osascript Execute AppleScript
p
 passwd    Modify a user password
 paste     Merge lines of files
 pbcopy    Copy data to the clipboard
 pbpaste   Paste data from the Clipboard
 pico      Simple text editor
 ping      Test a network connection
 pkgutil   Query and manipulate installed packages
 plutil    Property list utility
 pmset     Power Management settings
 popd      Restore the previous value of the current directory •
 pr        Convert text files for printing
 printenv  Print environment variables
 printf    Format and print data •
 ps        Process status
 pushd     Save and then change the current directory
 pwd       Print Working Directory •
q
 quota     Display disk usage and limits
r
 rcp       Copy files between machines
 read      Read one line from standard input •
 readonly  Mark a variable or function as read-only •
 reboot    Stop and restart the system
 return    Exit a function •
 rev       Reverse lines of a file
 rm        Remove files
 rmdir     Remove folder(s)
 rpm       Remote Package Manager
 rsync     Remote file copy - Sync file tree (also RsyncX)
s
 say       Convert text to audible speech
 screen    Multiplex terminal, run remote shells via ssh
 screencapture Capture screen image to file or disk
 sdiff     Merge two files interactively
 security  Administer Keychains, keys, certificates and the Security framework
 sed       Stream Editor
 select    Generate a list of items •
 set       Set a shell variable = value •
 setfile   Set attributes of HFS+ files
 shift     Shift positional parameters •
 shopt     Set shell options •
 shutdown  Shutdown or restart OS X
 sleep     Delay for a specified time
 softwareupdate System software update tool
 sort      Sort text files
 source    Execute commands from a file •
 split     Split a file into fixed-size pieces
 stop      Stop a job or process
 su        Substitute user identity
 sudo      Execute a command as another user
 sum       Print a checksum for a file
 suspend   Suspend execution of this shell •
 sw_vers   Print Mac OS X operating system version
 system_profiler  Report system configuration
 systemsetup Computer and display system settings
t
 tail      Output the last part of files
 tar       Tape ARchiver
 tee       Redirect output to multiple files
 test      Condition evaluation •
 textutil  Manipulate text files in various formats (Doc,html,rtf)
 time      Measure Program Resource Use
 times     Print shell & shell process times •
 touch     Change file timestamps
 tr        Translate, squeeze, and/or delete characters
 trap      Execute a command when the shell receives a signal •
 traceroute Trace Route to Host
 true      Do nothing, successfully
 tty       Print filename of terminal on stdin
 type      Describe a command •
u
 ufs.util  Mount/unmount UFS file system
 ulimit    limit the use of system-wide resources •
 umask     Users file creation mask
 umount    Unmount a device
 unalias   Remove an alias •
 uname     Print system information
 unexpand  Convert spaces to tabs
 uniq      Uniquify files
 units     Convert units from one scale to another
 unset     Remove variable or function names •
 until     Loop command •
 users     Print login names of users currently logged in
 uuencode  Encode a binary file
 uudecode  Decode a file created by uuencode
 uuidgen   Generate a Unique ID (UUID/GUID)
 uucp      Unix to Unix copy
v
 vi        Text Editor
w
 wait      Wait for a process to complete •
 wc        Print byte, word, and line counts
 where     Report all known instances of a command
 which     Locate a program file in the user's path
 while     Loop command •
 who       Print all usernames currently logged on
 whoami    Print the current user id and name (`id -un')
 write     Send a message to another user
x
 xargs     Execute utility - passing arguments
 yes       Print a string until interrupted

An A-Z Index of the Bash command line for Linux

  alias    Create an alias
 apropos  Search Help manual pages (man -k)
 apt-get  Search for and install software packages (Debian)
 aspell   Spell Checker
 awk      Find and Replace text, database sort/validate/index
b
 bash     GNU Bourne-Again SHell
 bc       Arbitrary precision calculator language
 bg       Send to background
 break    Exit from a loop
 builtin  Run a shell builtin
 bzip2    Compress or decompress named file(s)
c
 cal      Display a calendar
 case     Conditionally perform a command
 cat      Display the contents of a file
 cd       Change Directory
 cfdisk   Partition table manipulator for Linux
 chgrp    Change group ownership
 chmod    Change access permissions
 chown    Change file owner and group
 chroot   Run a command with a different root directory
 chkconfig System services (runlevel)
 cksum    Print CRC checksum and byte counts
 clear    Clear terminal screen
 cmp      Compare two files
 comm     Compare two sorted files line by line
 command  Run a command - ignoring shell functions
 continue Resume the next iteration of a loop
 cp       Copy one or more files to another location
 cron     Daemon to execute scheduled commands
 crontab  Schedule a command to run at a later time
 csplit   Split a file into context-determined pieces
 cut      Divide a file into several parts
d
 date     Display or change the date & time
 dc       Desk Calculator
 dd       Convert and copy a file, write disk headers, boot records
 ddrescue Data recovery tool
 declare  Declare variables and give them attributes
 df       Display free disk space
 diff     Display the differences between two files
 diff3    Show differences among three files
 dig      DNS lookup
 dir      Briefly list directory contents
 dircolors Colour setup for `ls'
 dirname  Convert a full pathname to just a path
 dirs     Display list of remembered directories
 dmesg    Print kernel & driver messages
 du       Estimate file space usage
e
 echo     Display message on screen
 egrep    Search file(s) for lines that match an extended expression
 eject    Eject removable media
 enable   Enable and disable builtin shell commands
 env      Environment variables
 ethtool  Ethernet card settings
 eval     Evaluate several commands/arguments
 exec     Execute a command
 exit     Exit the shell
 expect   Automate arbitrary applications accessed over a terminal
 expand   Convert tabs to spaces
 export   Set an environment variable
 expr     Evaluate expressions
f
 false    Do nothing, unsuccessfully
 fdformat Low-level format a floppy disk
 fdisk    Partition table manipulator for Linux
 fg       Send job to foreground
 fgrep    Search file(s) for lines that match a fixed string
 file     Determine file type
 find     Search for files that meet a desired criteria
 fmt      Reformat paragraph text
 fold     Wrap text to fit a specified width.
 for      Expand words, and execute commands
 format   Format disks or tapes
 free     Display memory usage
 fsck     File system consistency check and repair
 ftp      File Transfer Protocol
 function Define Function Macros
 fuser    Identify/kill the process that is accessing a file
g
 gawk     Find and Replace text within file(s)
 getopts  Parse positional parameters
 grep     Search file(s) for lines that match a given pattern
 groups   Print group names a user is in
 gzip     Compress or decompress named file(s)
h
 hash     Remember the full pathname of a name argument
 head     Output the first part of file(s)
 history  Command History
 hostname Print or set system name
i
 id       Print user and group id's
 if       Conditionally perform a command
 ifconfig Configure a network interface
 ifdown   Stop a network interface
 ifup     Start a network interface up
 import   Capture an X server screen and save the image to file
 install  Copy files and set attributes
j
 join     Join lines on a common field
k
 kill     Stop a process from running
 killall  Kill processes by name
l
 less     Display output one screen at a time
 let      Perform arithmetic on shell variables
 ln       Make links between files
 local    Create variables
 locate   Find files
 logname  Print current login name
 logout   Exit a login shell
 look     Display lines beginning with a given string
 lpc      Line printer control program
 lpr      Off line print
 lprint   Print a file
 lprintd  Abort a print job
 lprintq  List the print queue
 lprm     Remove jobs from the print queue
 ls       List information about file(s)
 lsof     List open files
m
 make     Recompile a group of programs
 man      Help manual
 mkdir    Create new folder(s)
 mkfifo   Make FIFOs (named pipes)
 mkisofs  Create an hybrid ISO9660/JOLIET/HFS filesystem
 mknod    Make block or character special files
 more     Display output one screen at a time
 mount    Mount a file system
 mtools   Manipulate MS-DOS files
 mv       Move or rename files or directories
 mmv      Mass Move and rename (files)
n
 netstat  Networking information
 nice     Set the priority of a command or job
 nl       Number lines and write files
 nohup    Run a command immune to hangups
 nslookup Query Internet name servers interactively
o
 open     Open a file in its default application
 op       Operator access
p
 passwd   Modify a user password
 paste    Merge lines of files
 pathchk  Check file name portability
 ping     Test a network connection
 pkill    Stop processes from running
 popd     Restore the previous value of the current directory
 pr       Prepare files for printing
 printcap Printer capability database
 printenv Print environment variables
 printf   Format and print data
 ps       Process status
 pushd    Save and then change the current directory
 pwd      Print Working Directory
q
 quota    Display disk usage and limits
 quotacheck Scan a file system for disk usage
 quotactl Set disk quotas
r
 ram      ram disk device
 rcp      Copy files between two machines
 read     read a line from standard input
 readonly Mark variables/functions as readonly
 reboot   Reboot the system
 renice   Alter priority of running processes
 remsync  Synchronize remote files via email
 return   Exit a shell function
 rev      Reverse lines of a file
 rm       Remove files
 rmdir    Remove folder(s)
 rsync    Remote file copy (Synchronize file trees)
s
 screen   Multiplex terminal, run remote shells via ssh
 scp      Secure copy (remote file copy)
 sdiff    Merge two files interactively
 sed      Stream Editor
 select   Accept keyboard input
 seq      Print numeric sequences
 set      Manipulate shell variables and functions
 sftp     Secure File Transfer Program
 shift    Shift positional parameters
 shopt    Shell Options
 shutdown Shutdown or restart linux
 sleep    Delay for a specified time
 slocate  Find files
 sort     Sort text files
 source   Run commands from a file `.'
 split    Split a file into fixed-size pieces
 ssh      Secure Shell client (remote login program)
 strace   Trace system calls and signals
 su       Substitute user identity
 sudo     Execute a command as another user
 sum      Print a checksum for a file
 symlink  Make a new name for a file
 sync     Synchronize data on disk with memory
t
 tail     Output the last part of files
 tar      Tape ARchiver
 tee      Redirect output to multiple files
 test     Evaluate a conditional expression
 time     Measure Program running time
 times    User and system times
 touch    Change file timestamps
 top      List processes running on the system
 traceroute Trace Route to Host
 trap     Run a command when a signal is set(bourne)
 tr       Translate, squeeze, and/or delete characters
 true     Do nothing, successfully
 tsort    Topological sort
 tty      Print filename of terminal on stdin
 type     Describe a command
u
 ulimit   Limit user resources
 umask    Users file creation mask
 umount   Unmount a device
 unalias  Remove an alias
 uname    Print system information
 unexpand Convert spaces to tabs
 uniq     Uniquify files
 units    Convert units from one scale to another
 unset    Remove variable or function names
 unshar   Unpack shell archive scripts
 until    Execute commands (until error)
 useradd  Create new user account
 usermod  Modify user account
 users    List users currently logged in
 uuencode Encode a binary file
 uudecode Decode a file created by uuencode
v
 v        Verbosely list directory contents (`ls -l -b')
 vdir     Verbosely list directory contents (`ls -l -b')
 vi       Text Editor
 vmstat   Report virtual memory statistics
w
 watch    Execute/display a program periodically
 wc       Print byte, word, and line counts
 whereis  Report all known instances of a command   
 which    Locate a program file in the user's path.
 while    Execute commands
 who      Print all usernames currently logged in
 whoami   Print the current user id and name (`id -un')
 Wget     Retrieve web pages or files via HTTP, HTTPS or FTP
 write    Send a message to another user
x
 xargs    Execute utility, passing constructed argument list(s)
 yes      Print a string until interrupted
 .        Run a command script in the current shell
 ###      Comment / Remark

Top 50 Terminal Commands

Terminal

Hey

Terminal is Mac OS X way into the command line world. It is designed for you to typing in specific commands that you would not be able to do otherwise. This is great for customizing your Mac and unveiling hidden features. It is also a good way to destroy you system because you screwed something up.

What I have done is crawl the web look of the Top 50 Terminal commands. These commands are designed to make you make look cooler, act quicker or be generally useful. I have tried to keep commands down to one line, so they are simple and effective to use. Each item will include a description of what it does as well as an appropriate picture is necessary. Many of these commands appear as seperate posts all over the web, but never in one big list. I have tried to keep the amount of sudo commands down to a minimum as this can easily destroy your system. Especially if you go sudoing every thing. I have tried to give the best description I can, if you have a problem leave a comment and I will see if I can solve it. The list is in no particular order. Most of the commands can be reverted by replacing YES with NO and 1 with 0, the opposite. Most of these commands are Leopard compatible and many may not work on Tiger. Try them and see what happens.

1) 2D Dock

This quite a popular hack for the people running Leopard and don’t like the 3D feel. It changes the 3D dock to a flat 2D version. To enter copy and past the following code.

defaults write com.apple.dock no-glass -boolean YES
killall Dock

2) Gradient Behind A Stack Item

One of my favourite hacks that enables you to put a small gradient behind an icon. I think this should be enabled by default.

defaults write com.apple.dock mouse-over-hilte-stack -boolean YES
killall Dock

3) Add A Message To The Login Window

This little Terminal command enables you to add a message of your choice to the Login window. Pretty cool and deserved a screenshot if I new how to take on while not logged in. Warning it’s a sudo command which can be dangerous.

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow LoginwindowText "Your Message"

Replace “Your Message” with the message of your choice, don’t make it to long. If you want to revert it do the following.

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow LoginwindowText ""

4) Add An Exposè Button To The Desktop

If you have reconfigured the F9 and F10 keys to something different you may want to use exposè. This hack adds a bigish blue button onto the desktop to enable you to use exposè. Clicking on it shows all the windows from one application (F10 default), option clicking it shows all windows (F9 default).

defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-floater -bool YES
killall Dock

5) Address Book Debug Menu

If you have some trouble with Address Book it may be useful to open up the debug menu as well as this use some of the hidden features. Make sure address book is closed first before applying the code. If you want to revert it remove YES in the string.

defaults write com.apple.addressbook ABShowDebugMenu -bool YES

6) Increase Dock Magnification Size

This little hack lets you increase the size of the magnification of the dock icons. Don’t go past 512.

defaults write com.apple.dock largesize -int 512

7) Increase Desktop Icon Size

If you want massive icons on you desktop this little hack lets you increase the icons to 512 pixels x 512 pixels. This is massive, may slow down on older machines. I don’t think it goes larger than 512.

defaults write com.apple.finder DesktopViewOptions -dict IconSize -integer 512
killall Finder

8) Changing the Format Of Screen Shots

If you use the screen shot function, you may want to change the format of the images, this is not easily done normally. Where jpg is in the code you can change this to the format your want, png bmp gif etc. You need to log out and back in again, or restart for the changes to take effect.

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg

9) Change The Login Picture

If you get a bored of the space picture used on the login screen, you can change it with this little bit of code. Change the file location in the second half of the string to the exact file location of your chosen picture.

defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow DesktopPicture "/System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/Resources/vortex.png"


10) Change The Loading Bar In Safari To A Pie Chart

This is a Safari 3 hack, so it might not work. This changes the blue bar that goes across the address bar into a small blue pie chart. Insert false instead of true to reverse.

defaults write com.apple.Safari DebugUsePieProgressIndicator -bool true

11) Clear The Open With Menu

If you right click on a file you can open it with many applications. Sometimes your OS can get a little confused and list many applications. This is to clear this list and start again. The code below is all on one line.

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/
LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister
-kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user

12) Change The Delay When Dragging Windows In Spaces

This simple hack changes the delay time it takes to drag windows around in spaces, its currently set to 0.75

defaults write com.apple.dock workspaces-edge-delay -float 0.5

13) Disable Dashboard

If you don’t want or like the dashboard running you can disable it. Change YES to NO to enable it again.

defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -boolean YES
killall Dock

14) Enable Double Scroll Arrows

This little hack enables the double arrow set for up and down, left or right, to be at both ends of the scroll bar. Handy if you like the double arrows. Use System Preferences to reset.

defaults write “Apple Global Domain” AppleScrollBarVariant DoubleBoth

15) Disable Tooltips In Safari

This quick little hack for Safari that removes the tooltips you get when you hover over certain elements.

defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitShowsURLsInToolTips 0

16) Increase The Dock Size

Command #6 enables you to change the magnification. This command enables you to change the size of the dock. Use the sliders in System Preferences to reduce this size. Don’t go larger 256.

defaults write com.apple.dock tilesize -int 256


17) Disable the Crash Dialog Box

This disables the quit dialog box when an application crashes. Type prompt to enable again.

defaults write com.apple.CrashReporter DialogType none

18)Drag A Widget Onto The Desktop

Probably one of the coolest hacks. This command enables widgets to be placed onto the desktop. Drag a widget around and press F12 to drag it onto the desktop. Repeat the process again to drag a widget back onto the dashboard. This may need you to log off or restart for it to take effect.

defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode YES

19) Enable Debug Menu In Safari

Adding debug menus to programs is great as you can access a whole range of features. This one is for Safari.

defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeDebugMenu 1

20) Enable The Path View In Finder

One of may favourite hacks as it lets you see the current path of the Finder window you are in. Its great if you work with a lot of windows.

defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool YES

21)Enable Time Machine On Unsupported Drives

Another favourite hack of mine, simply because it enable Time Machine to work on unsupported drives such as a NAS. Use with caution as it is unsupported.

defaults write com.apple.systempreferences TMShowUnsupportedNetworkVolumes 1

22) Enable Web Inspector

This is a very detailed web inspector that enables you to find out specific information about a page. It is accessible through the debug menu but this enables you to use it without. You can quickly access it through right-click.

defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitDeveloperExtras -bool true

23) Enable Debug in iCal

Another debug menu (I like debug menus) this time its for iCal. You need to restart iCal for the changes to take effect.

defaults write com.apple.iCal IncludeDebugMenu YES

24) Enable Quit In Finder

This is a very useful command for anyone who does a lot of fiddling and needs to quit Finder.

defaults write com.apple.finder QuitMenuItem -bool YES
killall Finder

25) Force Mail To Display In Plain Text

If you have problems with HTML emails or you just want emails to be displayed in plain text use the following command. You need to restart Mail for the changes to take effect. Replace with false to revert.

defaults write com.apple.mail PreferPlainText -bool TRUE

26) Increase Time Machine Backups

If you do a lot of work on you Mac, and you want time machine to back up more frequently you need to change the value. It is in seconds. The default is set to an hour which is 3600. Change this value to suit, half and hour is 1800 seconds.

sudo defaults write /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.backupd-auto StartInterval -int 1800

27) Kill A Process

Sometimes you just need a process to stop running. If you want to kill it in Terminal with out using Activity Monitor, find the process ID (In Activity Monitor) and then use the following command. Only really useful if you don’t like much clicking or are writing a program.

kill PID 478

28) Let Terminal Talk

If you are bored one day you can get Terminal to quickly talk anything back to you using the voice engine. Replace hello with anything you want.

say hello

29) Make Hidden Applications Icons Transparent

If you hide a lot of applications you can make there icons transparent in the dock. A very good visual clue.

defaults write com.apple.Dock showhidden -bool YES
killall Dock

30) Make The Dock Spring Loaded

Makes the dock spring loaded so you can open files or windows from within the dock.

defaults write com.apple.dock enable-spring-load-actions-on-all-items -boolean YES

31) Recent Applications Stack

This command creates a new stack in your dock so you can view the recently used Applications.

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-others -array-add '{ "tile-data" = { "list-type" = 1; }; "tile-type" = "recents-tile"; }'

32) Change The Arrows In iTunes

Normally the arrows in iTunes link to the music store, adding this command enables you to search your library. You need to click on the song first for the arrows to appear.

defaults write com.apple.iTunes invertStoreLinks -bool YES

33) Pin The Dock To The Left

This command pins the dock to the left hand side of the screen. I’m not sure what happens if you have the dock on the left or right edge. Replace start with middle to revert.

defaults write com.apple.dock pinning -string start

34) Pin The Dock To The Right

Exactly the same as above except it pins the dock to the right hand side of the screen.

defaults write com.apple.dock pinning -string end

35) Play Star Wars Episode IV

Using a simple telnet address you Terminal will connect in and play Star Wars Episode IV in its ASCII glory.

telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl

36) Quicklook A File

Quicklook is a great little application in Leopard. The command lets you quicklook a file right in Terminal. First you need to change the folder by using the “cd” command and then the folder you want. To enable this command to work you need to type the file name exactly.

qlmanage -p "Jaguar Aqua Graphite.jpg"

37) Disable The Spotlight Icon

This command removes the spotlight icon. Type 755 to re-enable it, instead of 0.

sudo chmod 0 /System/Library/CoreServices/Spotlight.app
killall Spotlight

38) Remove The Stripes In List View

A simple hack that removes the alternating stripes in list view in finder.

defaults write com.apple.finder FXListViewStripes -bool FALSE
killall Finder

39) Turn The Menu Bar White

If you don’t like the menu bar in its cool transparent glory you can change it so it appears white. This requires a password and you will need to restart you mac.

sudo defaults write /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.WindowServer 'EnvironmentVariables' -dict 'CI_NO_BACKGROUND_IMAGE' 1

40) Turn The Menu Bar Grey

If you don’t like the white version of the menu bar you can change it so it appears gret.

sudo defaults write /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.WindowServer 'EnvironmentVariables' -dict 'CI_NO_BACKGROUND_IMAGE' 0

41) Revert The Menu Bar Back To Default

If you prefer the transparent menu bar and you want it back type the following into Terminal.

sudo defaults delete /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.WindowServer 'EnvironmentVariables'

42) Set The Expanded Print Dialogue As Default

If you want access to a lot of the extra print menus on by default you can use the following command to enable you to do this. Requires restart.

defaults write -g PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool TRUE

43) Set The Expanded Save Dialogue As Default

Similar as the print dialogue this sets the save dialogue to the expanded view as default. Requires restart.

defaults write -g NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool TRUE

44) Set The Screen Saver As The Wallpaper

This command sets the currently selected screen saver as the desktop background. Use command + c or . to stop while in Terminal. Alternatively you can use wallsaver.

/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine -background

45) Set The History Limit In Safari To A Number Of Items

If you don’t want a massive history you can set it to a limited number of items. Change the number to suit.

defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitHistoryItemLimit 2000

46) Set The History Limit In Safari To A Number Of Days

Similar to the hack above you can set the number of days Safari keeps its history.

defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitHistoryAgeInDaysLimit 30

47) Show Hidden Files In Finder

A lot of the files in Finder are hidden. This is probably a wise choice by Apple as there are countless things you can screw up. But if you want to take a look at how many there are and what they are you can show them within Finder. Be careful as these files are needed by the system, if you screw something up don’t come complaining. Repeat the command with false to revert. The image above, click for larger version, show the amount of files there actually is, with these hidden there is only 4 shown normally.

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE

48) Skip Disk Image Verification

If you want to save some time you can skip the disk image verification for a disk image. Potentially risky as a whole load of things could go wrong without you knowing.

com.apple.frameworks.diskimages skip-verify TRUE

49) Show SubFolders In Graphical Format In Terminal

This is a very cool little hack that enables you to show an ASCII graphical view of sub folders. Use the cd command to change to a directory other wise the command will list every folder. For more information look here.

ls -R | grep ":$" | sed -e 's/:$//' -e 's/[^-][^\/]*\//--/g' -e 's/^/ /' -e 's/-/|/'

50) Speed Up Dialogue Boxes

Most dialogue boxes have a cool animation effect that looks cool. If you want to speed this up you can change the speed at which is renders so it appears almost instantly. The default is 0.2.

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSWindowResizeTime 0.01