UNIX for Mac OS X: Visual QuickPro Guide (Visual QuickPro Guides) [Paperback]

Matisse Enzer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201795353 | ISBN-13: 978-0201795356 | Publication Date: December 3, 2002

With Mac OS X, Apple has completely rebuilt the Macintosh operating system from the ground up--and yes, it's Unix that's running this new Mac OS. Mac users can now use the terminal command line to write a Perl script, automate batch commands, run an Apache server, use sendmail, and grep to their heart's delight. And alternately, many experienced Unix programmers are thrilled to be able to write shell scripts on the Mac platform. Unix for Mac OS X: Visual QuickPro Guide shows readers how to configure their Unix environment, navigate permissions, directories and files, run handy Unix utilities, configure and run the Apache Web server, and much more. In addition, readers will learn how to protect their files with Unix's security tools, and how to fix their Macs when things go wrong.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

With Mac OS X, Apple has completely rebuilt the Macintosh operating system from the ground up--and yes, it's Unix that's running this new Mac OS. Mac users can now use the terminal command line to write a Perl script, automate batch commands, run an Apache server, use sendmail, and grep to their heart's delight. And alternately, many experienced Unix programmers are thrilled to be able to write shell scripts on the Mac platform. Unix for Mac OS X: Visual QuickPro Guide shows readers how to configure their Unix environment, navigate permissions, directories and files, run handy Unix utilities, configure and run the Apache Web server, and much more. In addition, readers will learn how to protect their files with Unix's security tools, and how to fix their Macs when things go wrong.

About the Author

Matisse Enzer studied architecture at the Cooper Union in New York City and with renowned architect Christopher Alexander (A Pattern Language) in California. Matisse worked at The WELL during the time it became one of the very first online communities to connect to the Internet. Since 1994 he's worked as a self-employed Internet consultant, designing and building a wide variety of systems. This is his first book for Peachpit Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press (December 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201795353
• ISBN-13: 978-0201795356
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,352,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Mac OS X UNIX

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Matisse Enzer Gets It -- This is a great book, February 7, 2003

By 

Rob A. Frei (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: UNIX for Mac OS X: Visual QuickPro Guide (Visual QuickPro Guides) (Paperback)

I'm on a quest to learn Perl to write CGI scripts and I want to do it all on my Mac using the wonderful tools that come with OS X. One problem, I haven't used Unix in years (since college) and even then I couldn't do much more than navigate around using "ls" on the command line. Suffice it to say that I am very much a "newbie".

I looked at all of the books in this category and chose this one by Matisse Enzer. My instincts were right on -- this is a great book.

It is well written, well organized and very easy to follow. It is both a book that you can sit down and read as well as a useful reference. The logical path that Matisse takes the reader through to learn the essential Unix invocations and other mystical Unix-spellcraft makes learning a pleasure!

In less than a week, I was able to configure my Apache server and the powerful Sendmail program included with OS X. This goes well beyond the basics that are also inluded in the book (there is a lot of great beginner stuff). Matisse helped me to absord the fundamentals quickly so I was able to move onto more advanced subjects without wasting any time.

I am definitely a beginner when it comes to Unix, however, Matisse lays the concepts out so well, I already feel confident taking on more advanced Unix projects.

Get this -- when I did run into a snag, I went to the Apple help forums to get an answer. Guess who answered my post that same day? Thats right, Matisse Enzer. He did everything but autograph my book -- which I am still working on ;)

Buy this book -- you won't be sorry.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Depth and Good Size, January 15, 2003

By 

tanzer13 "Danielle" (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: UNIX for Mac OS X: Visual QuickPro Guide (Visual QuickPro Guides) (Paperback)

I am a MacAddict and I attended a UNIX based school so when Mac OS X was announced I was very happy. It actually sparked my interest in learning more about Unix. I know a bunch of the "simple" commands and am comfortable with a shell. I bought Mac OS X Unleashed for 10.1 last year and it had a very good section on Unix. I have browsed the 10.2 Unleashed and it is also good. However, it's one big honkin' book. So, I was on the lookout for a MacOSX Unix only book and happened upon this one. As the author states in her "review" it is the most in depth beginner's guide to Unix in the MacOSX realm; even compared to O'Reilly's MacOSX Unix books. It has PeachPit's expected depth at beginner level yet is a QuickPro book so it's even more powerful than a QuickStart title. It combines the right amounts of understandability, book size, and depth of any I've come across so far. You want to dabble in Unix for OS X or take the first steps to being a Unix King? Then this book is a great choice.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comments from the author, December 13, 2002

By 

J. M. Enzer "Black Rock Citizen" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: UNIX for Mac OS X: Visual QuickPro Guide (Visual QuickPro Guides) (Paperback)

Hi folks, I wanted to add my commenst here to clarify who this book is for and what you can expect from it.

"Unix for Mac OS X" is a very intense beginner's guide to Unix. The book assumes NO prior experience with Unix. It does assume you are an enthusiastic and adventurous type (or you wouldn't be bothering with Unix in the first place.) The book provides a great deal more detail then any other beginner-level Unix book I am aware of and I hope that people will use it as a solid starting point to go even deeper into Unix, which is an excellent platform for collaborative computing.