The Command Line for Mac OS X: Fixing the Tough Stuff W/Unix

The Mac command line offers a faster, easier way to accomplish many tasks. It's also the medium for many commands that aren't accessible using the GUI. The Mac OS X Command Line is a clear, concise, tutorial-style introduction to all the major functionality provided by the command line. It's also packed with information the experienced users need, including little-known shortcuts and several chapters devoted to advanced topics. This is a book to get you started, but also a book you won’t soon outgrow.

Coverage includes:

• Using Terminal, the gateway to the command line
• Making Terminal easier to use with shortcuts
• Configuring your shell: bash and tcsh
• Navigating your file system in Terminal
• Moving and copying files from the command line
• Accessing hidden files with Terminal
• Editing configuration files with command-line text editor
• Finding any kind of file or content using simple commands
• Printing from the command line
• Archiving, compressing, and decompressing files
• Managing users, groups, and permissions
• Accessing network volumes and the Internet using simple commands
• Managing programs and processes
• Using system maintenance commands

Chapter 1: A Guided Tour of the Command Line.

Chapter 2: Using Terminal.

Interlude 1: Command Syntax.

Chapter 3: Getting Help while in Terminal.

Interlude 2: Names and Paths.

Chapter 4: Navigating the File System.

Interlude 3: Redirecting Input and Output.

Chapter 5: Working with Files and Directories.

Interlude 4: Cloning Your Mac OS X Startup Volume.

Chapter 6: Saving Time on the Command Line.

Interlude 5: The Versatile open Command.

Chapter 7: Finding Files, Directories, and Everything Else.

Interlude 6: Wildcards and Globbing.

Chapter 8: Viewing Files.

Chapter 9: Editing Text.

Chapter 10: Printing.

Chapter 11: Compressing, Decompressing, and Archiving Files.

Chapter 12: Working with Users, Groups, and Permissions.

Interlude 7: Using sudo.

Chapter 13: Using the Network.

Chapter 14: Managing Programs and Processes.

Chapter 15: System Maintenance from the Command Line.

Interlude 8: Using the Developer Tools.

Chapter 16: Configuring the Shell.

Interlude 9: Automating Commands.

Appendix A: Further Reading.

Index.