macOS

Last update: February 3, 2023

I'm a macOS user, and I like this operating system because it is based on UNIX and thus has great command line support.

Show hidden files

Shift + Command + .

Special startup modes

Start up in single-user, verbose mode or target mode:

Shut down your Mac if it is on.
Press the power button to start the computer.
Immediately press and hold the one of the following:
- the Command + s key for single-user mode
- the Command + v key for verbose mode
- the t key (no command for this one) for target mode

single user mode is also called root mode

Check encryption status

diskutil cs list | grep Conversion

macOS specific command

say "a sentence"
echo "copy that" | pbcopy # Copy in clipboard from the term
pbpaste # Past from clipboard
mdfind # Find files
tput bel # Make the term beep
hdiutil attach /path/to/diskimage.dmg # mount disk image

Change the time between two time machine saves

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

Brew

The Missing Package Manager for macOS (or Linux)

Brew basic commands:

brew doctor
brew search ***
brew info ***
brew help

A list of brew packages I use

ack
imagemagick
mosh
exiftool
ffmpeg
wget
fswatch

Disable IPv6 from the command line

This trick has been important for me as it fix a docker-compose network crash.

If your active network is WiFi enter the following command:
networksetup -setv6off Wi-Fi
If you are on Ethernet:
networksetup -setv6off Ethernet
To re-enable IPv6, you need to replace setv6off to setv6automatic (the default state in macOS), for example:
networksetup -setv6automatic Wi-Fi

List of opinionated App I use or like

1Password
Ableton Live
Adobe Photoshop
Android Studio
Backblaze
BetterTouchTool
Docker
Electrum
FileZilla
Firefox
GrandPerspective
ImageOptim
iStat Menus
Jumpcut
LibreOffice
Max
Meld
Steam
Subtitles
The Unarchiver
Transmission
VirtualBox
Visual Studio Code
VLC
Vysor
Xcode
Audacity
Audio Hijack Pro
Gephi
OpenEmu
Vosyr