Press Room

Press Release: September 24, 2008

Mac OS X for Unix Geeks--New from O'Reilly: Demystifying the Geekier Side of Mac OS X

Mac OS X for Unix Geeks Sebastopol, CA—If you're a developer or system administrator lured to Mac OS X because of its Unix roots, you'll quickly discover that performing Unix tasks on a Mac is different than what you're accustomed to. Mac OS X for Unix Geeks (O'Reilly, $34.99 USD) serves as a bridge between Apple's Darwin OS and the more traditional Unix systems. This clear, concise guide gives you a tour of Mac OS X's Unix shell in both Leopard and Tiger, and helps you find the facilities that replace or correspond to standard Unix utilities.

In this fourth edition, the authors have not only updated it for Mac OS X 10.5, but have tweaked the book to make it even greater than before. Co-author and O'Reilly editor Brian Jepson says, "Rich Rosen joined us as a co-author on this edition, and really fleshed out some of the later chapters of the book. For example, he added a section on Ruby to Chapter 17, 'Other Programming Languages,' and really worked over Chapter 15, 'Using Mac OS X as a Server.' Because of this, Ernie and I got to focus on some other areas of the book and we all feel that this edition is what this book's always wanted to be. I think the same could be said of Mac OS X Leopard--it's really grown into its skin, I mean, fur!"

You'll learn how to perform common Unix tasks in Mac OS X, such as using Directory Services instead of the standard Unix /etc/passwd and /etc/group, and you'll be able to compile code, link to libraries, and port Unix software using either Leopard and Tiger.

This book teaches you to:

  • Navigate the Terminal and understand how it differs from an xterm
  • Use Open Directory (LDAP) and NetInfo as well as Directory Services
  • Compile your code with GCC 4
  • Port Unix programs to Mac OS X with Fink
  • Use MacPorts to install free/open source software
  • Search through metadata with Spotlight's command-line utilities
  • Build the Darwin kernel

Mac OS X for Unix Geeks is the ideal survival guide to tame the Unix side of Leopard and Tiger. If you're a Unix geek with an interest in Mac OS X, you'll soon find that this book is invaluable.

For a review copy or more information please email [email protected]. Please include your delivery address and contact information.

Brian Jepson is an O'Reilly editor, programmer, and co-author of Mac OS X Panther for Unix Geeks and Learning Unix for Mac OS X Panther. 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. You can follow Brian's blog here.

Ernest E. Rothman is a Professor of Mathematics at Salve Regina University (SRU) in Newport, Rhode Island and coauthor of Mac OS X Tiger For Unix Geeks.

Rich Rosen has been actively working with Macs for over twenty years, currently using a Mac Mini as his home server, an iMac as the centerpiece of his home recording studio, and a MacBook for live musical performance and writing. Rich has collaborated on Web Application Architecture: Principles, Protocols & Practices and is a co-author of the fourth edition of Mac OS X for Unix Geeks.

Additional Resources:
For more information about the book, including table of contents, index, author bios, and cover graphic, see: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9780596520625

Mac OS X for Unix Geeks, Fourth Edition
Ernest E. Rothman , Brian Jepson , Rich Rosen
ISBN: 9780596520625, 426 pages, Book Price: $34.99 USD, £21.99 GBP
PDF Price: $27.99 USD

[email protected]
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000


About O’Reilly

O’Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O’Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying “faint signals” from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.

Email a link to this press release