Mac OSX Panther for Unix Geeks

With its rep for being the sort of machine that won't intimidate even the most inexperienced users, what's the appeal of the Mac® for hard-core geeks? The Mac has always been an efficient tool, pleasant to use and customize, and eminently hackable. But now with Mac OS® X's BSD core, many a Unix® developer has found it irresistible. The latest version of Mac OS X, called Panther, makes it even easier for users to delve into the underlying Unix operating system. In fact, you can port Linux® and Unix applications and run them side-by-side with your native Aqua® apps right on the Mac desktop.

Still, even experienced Unix users may find themselves in surprisingly unfamiliar territory as they set out to explore Mac OS X. Even if you know Macs through and through, Mac OS X Panther is unlike earlier Macs, and it's radically different from the Unix you've used before.

Enter Mac OS X Panther for Unix Geeks by Brian Jepson and Ernest E. Rothman, two Unix geeks who found themselves in the same place you are. The new edition of this book is your guide to figuring out the BSD Unix system and Panther-specific components that you may find challenging. This concise book will ease you into the Unix innards of Mac OS X Panther, covering such topics as:

• A quick overview of the Terminal application, including Terminal alternatives like iTerm and GLterm
• Understanding Open Directory (LDAP) and NetInfo
• Issues related to using the GNU C Compiler (GCC)
• Library linking and porting Unix software
• An overview of Mac OS X Panther's filesystem and startup processes
• Creating and installing packages using Fink and Darwin Ports
• Building the Darwin kernel
• Using the Apple® X11 distribution for running X Windows® applications on top of Mac OS X

If you find yourself disoriented by the new Mac environment, Mac OS X Panther for Unix Geeks will get you acclimated quickly to the foreign new areas of a familiar Unix landscape.

In this revision of Mac OS X for Unix Geeks (2003) recommended by Apple, two longtime Unix users offer guidance in making the most of the behind-the-scenes Unix side of Mac OS X. Appends information on the filesystem and tools. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Brian Jepson is an O'Reilly editor, programmer, co-author of all editions of Mac OS X for Unix Geeks, and co-author with Dave Taylor on the Jaguar and Panther editions of Learning Unix for Mac OS X. He's also a volunteer system administrator and all-around geek for AS220, a non-profit arts center in Providence, Rhode Island. AS220 gives Rhode Island artists uncensored and unjuried forums for their work. These forums include galleries, performance space, and publications. Brian sees to it that technology, especially free software, supports that mission.

Ernest Rothman is an Associate Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Mathematical Sciences Department at Salve Regina University (SRU). Like Brian, Ernie has co-authored every edition of Mac OS X for Unix Geeks. Ernie holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Brown University and held positions at the Cornell Theory Center in Ithaca, New York, before coming to SRU. His academic interests are in scientific computing, computational science, and applied mathematics education. As a long-time Unix aficionado, Ernie has enjoyed tinkering with Mac OS X since the day it was first released. You can keep abreast of his latest activities at http://homepage.mac.com/samchops.