In NetworkChuck’s video titled “50 macOS Tips and Tricks Using Terminal (the last one is CRAZY!)”, you’ll learn all about the top 50 Mac OS terminal commands. The video covers a wide range of commands, such as making your MacBook talk, finding WiFi passwords, changing default settings, managing processes, and even downloading files using the terminal. NetworkChuck also introduces third-party software called Dashlane for managing passwords. Whether you’re a Mac OS or Linux user, these commands are applicable to both systems. Additionally, the video provides instructions on switching between different shell options and explores fun commands like playing Tetris in the terminal or turning text into ASCII art using the ‘toilet’ command. Overall, this video is a comprehensive guide to help you unleash the full potential of your Mac using the terminal.
Switching between Shell Options
Switching to Bash
Switching to Bash is a simple process that can greatly improve your productivity and accessibility in macOS. To switch to Bash, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “chsh -s /bin/bash” and press Enter.
- You will be prompted to enter your password. Once you’ve entered it, press Enter again.
- Close the Terminal application and reopen it.
- You are now using Bash as your default shell.
Switching to Zsh
If you prefer to use Zsh instead of Bash as your default shell in macOS, you can easily switch by following these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “brew install zsh” and press Enter to install Zsh.
- After the installation is complete, type the command “chsh -s /usr/local/bin/zsh” and press Enter.
- You will be prompted to enter your password. Once you’ve entered it, press Enter again.
- Close the Terminal application and reopen it.
- You are now using Zsh as your default shell.
Switching between Bash and Zsh is a matter of personal preference. Both shells have their own unique features and advantages, so feel free to explore both options and choose the one that suits you best.
MacOS Terminal Commands for Productivity
Make your MacBook talk
Did you know that you can make your MacBook talk through the terminal? This is a fun and useful feature that can be used for various purposes. To make your MacBook talk, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “say [text]” and press Enter. Replace [text] with the words or sentences you want your MacBook to say.
- Your MacBook will start speaking the text you entered.
This feature can be used to entertain, surprise, or even assist you in certain situations. Experiment with different texts and have fun with it!
Set an alarm using ‘leave’
In the terminal, you can set an alarm using the ‘leave’ command. This can be useful for reminding yourself of important tasks or deadlines. To set an alarm using ‘leave’, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “leave [time]” and press Enter. Replace [time] with the desired time in 24-hour format (e.g., 13:00 for 1:00 PM).
- The alarm will be set, and your Mac will display a message at the specified time to remind you.
Using the ‘leave’ command can help you stay organized and on top of your tasks. Give it a try and see how it can enhance your productivity.
View command history with ‘history’
The ‘history’ command in the terminal allows you to view a list of the commands you have previously entered. This can be helpful when you need to remember a specific command or check your command usage history. To view your command history, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “history” and press Enter.
- A list of your previously entered commands will be displayed, along with a line number for each command.
You can scroll through the history using the arrow keys on your keyboard or use the ‘clear’ command to clear the history.
MacOS Terminal Commands for System Management
Disable Gatekeeper
Gatekeeper is a security feature in macOS that helps protect your computer from malicious software. However, there may be instances where you need to disable Gatekeeper temporarily. To disable Gatekeeper, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “sudo spctl –master-disable” and press Enter.
- Enter your password when prompted and press Enter.
- Gatekeeper will be disabled, allowing you to install apps from outside the App Store.
It’s important to note that disabling Gatekeeper can expose your computer to potential security risks, so it’s recommended to re-enable it after completing your task.
Install ‘brew’ package manager
Homebrew, also known as ‘brew’, is a popular package manager for macOS. It allows you to easily install and manage various software packages on your Mac. To install brew, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “/bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)”” and press Enter.
- The installation process will begin, and you will be prompted to enter your password.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Once brew is installed, you can use it to install various software packages by typing commands such as “brew install [package name]”.
Shut down or restart your computer with ‘shut down’
The ‘shut down’ command in the terminal allows you to shut down or restart your computer without accessing the regular options in the Apple menu. To shut down or restart your computer using the ‘shut down’ command, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- To shut down your computer, type the command “sudo shutdown -h now” and press Enter.
- To restart your computer, type the command “sudo shutdown -r now” and press Enter.
- You will be prompted to enter your password. Once you’ve entered it, press Enter again.
Using the ‘shut down’ command can be a quicker and more convenient way to perform these actions without navigating through menus.
MacOS Terminal Commands for Network Management
Check IP address
To check the IP address of your Mac using the terminal, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “ifconfig en0 | grep ‘inet ‘ | awk ”” and press Enter.
- Your IP address will be displayed in the terminal.
This command retrieves the IP address associated with your Mac’s Wi-Fi connection. If you are using a different network interface, replace “en0” with the appropriate interface name (e.g., en1 for Ethernet).
Ping websites
The ‘ping’ command in the terminal allows you to check the network connection between your Mac and a specific website or IP address. To ping a website, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “ping [website]” and press Enter. Replace [website] with the URL or IP address of the website you want to ping.
- The terminal will display information about the ping, including the response time and any packets lost.
Pinging a website can help you diagnose network connectivity issues and determine if a website is accessible from your Mac.
Trace network routes
The ‘traceroute’ command in the terminal allows you to trace the network route between your Mac and a specific website or IP address. To trace network routes, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “traceroute [website]” and press Enter. Replace [website] with the URL or IP address you want to trace.
- The terminal will display a list of routers and their respective IP addresses that your data passes through on its way to the destination.
Tracing network routes can help you identify any network congestion or routing issues along the path to a specific destination.
Start a web server with ‘Python -m http.server’
If you need to quickly start a web server on your Mac to serve files or host a small website, you can use the ‘Python -m http.server’ command in the terminal. To start a web server, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Navigate to the directory where your files or website are located using the ‘cd’ command.
- Type the command “python3 -m http.server [port]” and press Enter. Replace [port] with the desired port number (e.g., 8000).
- The web server will start, and you can access your files or website by opening a web browser and entering “localhost:[port]” in the address bar.
Starting a web server with Python can be useful for testing or sharing files within a local network.
MacOS Terminal Commands for File Management
Download files using ‘curl’
The ‘curl’ command in the terminal allows you to download files from the internet. To download a file using ‘curl’, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “curl -O [URL]” and press Enter. Replace [URL] with the URL of the file you want to download.
- The file will be downloaded to your current directory.
You can also specify a different name for the downloaded file by replacing “-O” with the desired file name.
Use the ‘right attic point’ for file storage
The ‘right attic point’ is a hidden directory in macOS that can be used as a storage location for files you want to keep but don’t need to access frequently. To access the ‘right attic point’, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “cd ~/” and press Enter.
- Type the command “ls -la” and press Enter to display all hidden directories.
- Look for the “.attic” directory and enter it by typing “cd .attic” and pressing Enter.
- You can now store files in the ‘right attic point’ by using the ‘cp’ or ‘mv’ commands.
The ‘right attic point’ provides a convenient way to store files without cluttering your regular directories.
Manage processes
The terminal allows you to manage and control running processes on your Mac. Here are some useful commands for managing processes:
- To view a list of running processes, type the command “ps -ef” and press Enter.
- To terminate a process, determine its process ID (PID) from the ‘ps -ef’ output and type the command “kill [PID]”.
- To shut down or restart your Mac using the terminal, type the command “sudo shutdown -h now” to shut down or “sudo shutdown -r now” to restart.
Managing processes through the terminal can give you more control and flexibility in handling system tasks.
MacOS Terminal Commands for Password Management
Using Dashlane for password management
Dashlane is a popular password management tool that can help you securely store and manage your passwords. To use Dashlane for password management, follow these steps:
- Visit the Dashlane website and download the application for macOS.
- Install Dashlane and create an account.
- Follow the prompts to import or create passwords for different websites and services.
- Dashlane will generate strong, unique passwords and automatically fill them in when you visit websites or login screens.
Dashlane provides a convenient and secure way to handle your passwords, ensuring you have strong and unique passwords for all your accounts.
Touch ID as pseudo password
If you have a MacBook with Touch ID, you can use it as a pseudo password for various tasks. To use Touch ID as a pseudo password, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “sudo nano /etc/pam.d/sudo” and press Enter.
- Enter your password when prompted and press Enter.
- Use the arrow keys to navigate to the line that starts with “auth sufficient pam_tid.so”.
- Uncomment this line by removing the ‘#’ character at the beginning of the line.
- Press Ctrl + X, then Y, and finally Enter to save the changes.
With this configuration, you can use Touch ID as a pseudo password for certain commands that require sudo privileges.
Installing and Using Third-Party Tools
Install and use ‘C matrix’ for a Matrix-style effect
‘C matrix’ is a third-party tool that creates a Matrix-style effect in the terminal. To install and use ‘C matrix’, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “brew install cmatrix” and press Enter to install ‘C matrix’.
- Once installation is complete, type the command “cmatrix” and press Enter.
- ‘C matrix’ will start displaying falling green characters, resembling the Matrix movie.
Using ‘C matrix’ can add a unique visual effect to your terminal and impress your friends!
Install and use ‘Askie Aquarium’ for a fish-themed animation
‘Askie Aquarium’ is another third-party tool that creates a fish-themed animation in the terminal. To install and use ‘Askie Aquarium’, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “brew install asciiquarium” and press Enter to install ‘Askie Aquarium’.
- Once installation is complete, type the command “asciiquarium” and press Enter.
- The terminal window will transform into an animated aquarium with swimming fish.
‘Askie Aquarium’ provides a fun and visually appealing way to enhance your terminal experience.
Install and use ‘toilet’ for ASCII character art
‘toilet’ is a third-party tool that allows you to create ASCII character art in the terminal. To install and use ‘toilet’, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “brew install toilet” and press Enter to install ‘toilet’.
- Once installation is complete, you can use ‘toilet’ to create ASCII art from text. For example, type the command “toilet Hello” and press Enter to create a colorful ASCII art representation of the word “Hello”.
‘toilet’ offers a creative way to personalize your terminal and add some colorful character art to your commands and messages.
Install and play Tetris in the terminal with ‘Sam t Tetris’
‘Sam t Tetris’ is a third-party tool that allows you to play the classic game Tetris directly in the terminal. To install and play Tetris with ‘Sam t Tetris’, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
- Type the command “brew install smattr/for-formulae/sam-t-tetris” and press Enter to install ‘Sam t Tetris’.
- Once installation is complete, type the command “tetrisk” and press Enter to start the game.
- Use the arrow keys to move and rotate the falling Tetris blocks and try to achieve the highest score possible.
Playing Tetris in the terminal can be a fun way to take a break and add some nostalgia to your Mac experience.
Conclusion
In this article, we covered the top 50 Mac OS terminal commands that can enhance your productivity and functionality. We explored various commands for switching between shell options, managing system settings and processes, network management, file management, password management, and even installing and using third-party tools.
By mastering these terminal commands, you can unlock the full potential of your Mac and perform a wide range of tasks with ease. Whether it’s making your MacBook talk, setting alarms, checking IP addresses, or manipulating files, the terminal provides a powerful interface for accomplishing these tasks efficiently.
Remember, the terminal is a versatile tool that allows you to perform complex operations, automate tasks, and explore the depths of your computer’s capabilities. Don’t be afraid to experiment, learn, and discover new ways to leverage the power of the terminal for your Mac. Happy Terminal-ing!
