Tips

macOS

macOS tips.

Homebrew

1. Installation: Follow instructions at https://brew.sh/
2. Install the usual suspects: brew install coreutils iterm2 keepassxc vscodium duckduckgo fd jq git
3. Common usage:

    brew cleanup -ns                    # See what you'd be cleaning up 
    brew cleanup -s                     # Clean it all up, including cache
    brew remove  <package name>         # Uninstall/remove
    brew uninstall <package name>       # Uninstall/remove
    brew leaves                         # List all installed top-level packages, that are not dependencies
    brew list                           # List all install packages
    brew deps --tree --installed        # List all with deps
   

4. Uninstalling: Review link before running!: /usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/uninstall)"

Mac Migration

• Update hostname:

    sudo scutil --set HostName <new_name>
    sudo scutil --set LocalHostName <new_name>
    sudo scutil --set ComputerName <new_name>
    dscacheutil -flushcache`
  

• Install Homebrew
• iTerm2: Use the saved preferences under ~/data/etc/iTerm2/
• KeePassXC:
  • Important, ensure KeePassXC is NOT running on both
  • On SRC: cd && data/etc/bakup_kpxc 1
  • On DST: cd && data/etc/bakup_kpxc 2
• VSCodium
  • On SRC: cd && tar czf codium.tar.gz Library/Application\ Support/VSCodium
  • Copy codium.tar.gz to $HOME
  • On DST: cd && tar xzf codium.tar.gz
• Install others:

    brew install ffmpeg dos2unix pwgen nmap iperf3 gnutls python go
    brew install imagemagick appcleaner kindle youtube-dl
  

• Switch to BASH: chsh -s /bin/bash
• Update screencapture behaviour: ./tools/macos/screencapture

BASHRC

• .bashrc for a user:

ExitFunc() { sh ~/.bash_logout ; } # Save ~/.bash_logout with "history -c"
trap ExitFunc EXIT
export GOPATH=~/go
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin:$GOPATH/bin:$GOROOT/bin
export HISTCONTROL=ignoreboth  # Ignore both duplicates and space-prefixed commands
export HISTIGNORE='ls:cd:ll:h' # Ignore these commands
export EDITOR=vi
export Grn='\e[1;32m' Rst='\e[0m' # Green color and reset
export PS1="\[$Grn\]\u@\h:\W\[$Rst\]$ "
alias ls='gls -N --color -h --group-directories-first'
alias ll='ls -ltr'
alias h='history'
alias vi='vim'
export GREP_COLOR='1;36' # Cyan
alias grep='grep --color'
alias myip="ifconfig | sed -En 's/127.0.0.1//;s/.*inet (addr:)?(([0-9]*\.){3}[0-9]*).*/\2/p'"
alias pwgen='pwgen -s1 14 6'
alias code='/Applications/VSCodium.app/Contents/Resources/app/bin/codium'
export BASH_SILENCE_DEPRECATION_WARNING=1
export HOMEBREW_NO_ANALYTICS=1    # Disable homebrew Google Analytics collection

• .bashrc for root:

ExitFunc() { sh ~/.bash_logout ; } # Save ~/.bash_logout with "history -c"
trap ExitFunc EXIT
export BASH_SILENCE_DEPRECATION_WARNING=1
export HISTCONTROL=ignoreboth
export HISTIGNORE='ls:cd:ll:h'
export EDITOR=vi
export Red='\e[1;31m' Rst='\e[0m' # Red color and reset
export PS1="\[$Red\]\u@\h:\W\[$Rst\]$ "
alias ls='gls -N --color -h --group-directories-first'
alias ll='ls -ltr'
alias h='history'
alias vi='vim'
export GREP_COLOR='1;36' # Cyan
alias grep='grep --color'
alias myip="ifconfig | sed -En 's/127.0.0.1//;s/.*inet (addr:)?(([0-9]*\.){3}[0-9]*).*/\2/p'"

Network Quality

Check network quality => networkQuality -v

Useful CLI Site

Awesome macOS Command-Line = https://git.herrbischoff.com/awesome-macos-command-line/about/

Export iCloud Photos Locally

Use iCloud Photo Downloader Python utility - icloudpd. It downloads all photos from your iCloud account via the CLI. This means all photos as well as all videos.

mkdir photos
icloud -d photos -u <your-icloud-id>

then follow prompts.

Recover Deleted Files

Use known recovery tools like testdisk and photorec that are part of the the popular System Rescue CD. Insert USB disk, or more dangerously, scan your OS HDD.

brew install testdisk
sudo photorec              # Then pick drive to scan, and destination folder for scanned files

Adding macOS Static Routes

# Check existing routes on "wifi" interface
networksetup -getadditionalroutes wifi

# Set permanently and verify an additional route
sudo networksetup -setadditionalroutes "wifi" 10.10.5.0 255.255.255.0 10.10.9.71
networksetup -getadditionalroutes wifi

# Remove permanently
sudo networksetup -setadditionalroutes "wifi"

# See also
netstat -rn                                              # Check routes
sudo route -n add -net 10.67.0.0/16 192.168.120.254      # Add a network route

Set Mac as Router

sudo sysctl -w net.inet.ip.forwarding=1                  # Enable IP forwarding

Install Ubuntu on a Mac

1. https://github.com/marcosfad/mbp-ubuntu [VERIFIED]
2. https://linuxnewbieguide.org/how-to-install-linux-on-a-macintosh-computer/
3. https://itsfoss.com/create-bootable-ubuntu-usb-drive-mac-os/
4. https://www.lifewire.com/dual-boot-linux-and-mac-os-4125733

If you update the kernel, remember to add the required drivers again. The easy way:

sudo apt install dkms
sudo apt install linux-headers-<mbp-kernel-release>-mbp linux-image-<mbp-kernel-release>-mbp
sudo git clone --branch mbp15 https://github.com/roadrunner2/macbook12-spi-driver.git /usr/src/apple-ibridge-0.1
sudo dkms install -m apple-ibridge -v 0.1 -k <mbp-kernel-release>-mbp
modprobe apple-ib-tb
modprobe apple-ib-als
sudo git clone --branch aur https://github.com/marcosfad/mbp2018-bridge-drv.git /usr/src/apple-bce-0.1
sudo dkms install -m apple-bce -v 0.1 -k <mbp-kernel-release>-mbp
modprobe apple-bce

For an alternate way see https://github.com/marcosfad/mbp-ubuntu/blob/master/files/chroot_build.sh

Dual-Booting macOS With Linux Without rEFInd

• https://askubuntu.com/questions/831161/dual-booting-os-x-or-macos-with-linux-without-refind

• If you booted into Ubuntu already

  cp /boot/efi/EFI/ubuntu/grubx64.efi /boot/efi/EFI/Boot/bootx64.efi
  # Note the destination filename changes
  

• Voila!

• Note that marcosfad/mbp-ubuntu did this automatically on a MacBookAir
  • latest kernel
  • Function keys
  • trackpad
  • wifi
  • BT

What TCP Ports Are Listening

sudo lsof -iTCP -sTCP:LISTEN -n -P    # List what TCP ports apps are listening on

Disk Speed

Use Blackmagic Disk Speed Test app https://malcont.net/2017/09/apfs-vs-hfs-benchmarks-on-2017-macbook-pro-with-macos-high-sierra/

Post-Upgrade OS Issues

• The error:

  xcrun: error: invalid active developer path (/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools), missing xcrun at: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin/xcrun
  

• The fix:

  xcode-select --install   # To accept Xcode License agreement
  

Turn Off IPV6

sudo networksetup -setv6off "Wi-Fi"
sudo networksetup -setv6off "Thunderbolt Ethernet"
sudo networksetup -setv6off "Ethernet"

To re- enable

sudo networksetup -setv6automatic "Wi-Fi"
sudo networksetup -setv6automatic "Thunderbolt Ethernet"
sudo networksetup -setv6automatic "Ethernet"

DNS

FLUSH
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder;sudo killall mDNSResponderHelper;sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

SHOW  
sudo networksetup -getdnsservers    "Wi-Fi"
sudo networksetup -getsearchdomains "Wi-Fi"
sudo networksetup -getdnsservers    "Thunderbolt Ethernet"
sudo networksetup -getsearchdomains "Thunderbolt Ethernet"

SET
sudo networksetup -getsearchdomains "Wi-Fi"
sudo networksetup -getsearchdomains "Thunderbolt Ethernet"
sudo networksetup -setsearchdomains "Wi-Fi" "advancemags.com aws.conde.io conde.io"
sudo networksetup -setsearchdomains "Thunderbolt Ethernet" "advancemags.com aws.conde.io conde.io"
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
sudo networksetup -getsearchdomains "Wi-Fi"
sudo networksetup -getsearchdomains "Thunderbolt Ethernet"

networksetup -listallnetworkservices

sudo networksetup -setdnsservers Wi-Fi empty
sudo networksetup -setdnsservers Wi-Fi 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

scutil --dns | grep 'nameserver\[[0-9]*\]'

Image Conversion

• JPEG

# Resize all files to 1024 pixels at their largest side (the other side proportionately)
for N in *.jpg ; do sips -Z 1024 $N ; done

# Lower resolution of all JPEG files by %20
for N in *.jpg ; do sips -s format jpeg -s formatOptions 20 $N -o ${N}.jpg ; done

# Convert all JPEG files in current directory to PDF, and vice-versa
for N in *.jpg ; do sips -s format pdf $N -o ${N}.pdf ; done
for N in *.pdf ; do sips -s format jpeg $N -o ${N}.jpg ; done

• PGN

  # Resize file in place by 60%, replaces original
  magick mogrify -resize 60% yul.png 
  

Clear ACL

As root

find . -flags uchg
find . -flags uchg -exec chflags nouchg {} \;

View Hardware Information

# NUMBER OF CPUs, etc. Equivalent commands to Linux's nproc and free, etc
sysctl -n hw.ncpu
python -c 'import multiprocessing as mp; print(mp.cpu_count())'
system_profiler SPHardwareDataType  # To see actual number of cores

sysctl hw.memsize
hw.memsize: 68719476736

sysctl hw.ncpu
hw.ncpu: 12

system_profiler SPHardwareDataType
Hardware:

    Hardware Overview:

      Model Name: Mac mini
      Model Identifier: Macmini8,1
      Processor Name: 6-Core Intel Core i7
      Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz
      Number of Processors: 1
      Total Number of Cores: 6
      L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
      L3 Cache: 12 MB
      Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled
      Memory: 64 GB
      Boot ROM Version: 1037.40.124.0.0 (iBridge: 17.16.11081.0.0,0)
      Serial Number (system): C07ZQ114JYW0
      Hardware UUID: B887018F-72F5-5B68-9B4B-3181F72D634F
      Activation Lock Status: Disabled

WiFi Info

networksetup -listpreferredwirelessnetworks en0       # List networks
sudo wdutil log -wifi                                 # disable wifi logging

Use iCloud For Login

sudo dscl . append /Users/someuser AuthenticationAuthority ";AppleID;leo@tek.uno"

Above will append the specific AppleID as an Authentication Authority to authenticate against. Restart your Mac Click on the Change Password in the Users & Groups preferences and you’ll see different behaviour dialog

• Reference
  • https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/reenable-icloud-password-login-os-x-el-capitan-10114-higher-herman?articleId=8846780083667873083

Restarting the Setup Assistant

Boot into Single User Mode ⌘ + S Mount the drive by typing /sbin/mount -uw / then ENTER Remove the Apple Setup Done file by typing rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone then ENTER Reboot by typing reboot then ENTER Complete the setup process, creating a new admin account

macOS VNC Trix

Enabling VNC connection to a Mac via SSH

Step A: Server side (SSH to your mac):
$ sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -configure -allowAccessFor -allUsers -privs -all
$ sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -configure -clientopts -setvnclegacy -vnclegacy yes
$ sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -configure -clientopts -setvncpw -vncpw [YourPwdHere]
$ sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -restart -agent -console

Step B: Install VNC Viewer on you PC then connect to Mac host using IP address.

Disk Trix

FORMAT
sudo newfs_msdos -F 16 /dev/disk2

BURN RAW IMAGE TO DISK
sudo dd -f image.raw /dev/disk2
brew install ddrescue
sudo ddrescue -f image.raw /dev/disk2

CREATE IMAGE FROM DISK
diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk2
sudo ddrescue -vS /dev/disk2 image.raw ddrescue.log

LIST ALL DISKS
diskutil list

LIST SUPPORTED FILESYSTEMS
diskutil listFilesystems

UNMOUNT DISK
diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk2

MOUNT/UNMOUNT NON-HYBRID ISO FILES : PUT IT ON /Volume/nonhybrid
hdiutil mount -quiet "nonhybrid.iso"
hdiutil unmount -quiet nonhybrid

MOUNTING HYBRID ISO FILES (usually Linux CDs)
hdiutil attach -quiet -noverify -nomount "centos.iso"
diskutil list   # To capture the /dev/diskX identifier above was mapped to
sudo mkdir /Volumes/centos
sudo mount_cd9660 /dev/diskX /Volumes/centos
...
sudo umount /Volumes/centos && diskutil eject /dev/diskX
sudo rmdir /Volumes/centos

Convert ISO to IMG

hdiutil convert ubuntu-20.04-desktop-amd64.iso -format UDRW -o ubuntu-20.04-desktop-amd64
# Will automatically add the .dmg extension = ubuntu-20.04-desktop-amd64.dmg

Obliterate a Disk Partition

WARNING: You better know what you’re doing! From recovery Terminal: gpt destroy /dev/disk1

Homebrew Personal Tap

See https://github.com/lencap/homebrew-tools

• Create a tap repo on GitHub. The repo should be named homebrew-{mytapname}, where {mytapname} is the name you want to give your tap (which will contain all your Homebrew formulae). I call mine ‘tools’, so:

  My tap repo    = <https://github.com/lencap/homebrew-tools>
  My tap name    = `lencap/tools`
  Sample install = `brew install lencap/tools/awslogin`
  

• Tar and upload your formula binary somewhere. Using the GitHub Releases feature of this very same repo is a good place because of its proximity to the source code. A good naming convention for your tar file is {appname}-{version}.tar.gz, e.g. delta-0.5.0.tar.gz. This allows Homebrew to infer your app’s version. Create the gzipped file and generate SHA rum:

  tar czf awsinfo-2.0.11.tar.gz awsinfo
  shasum -a 256 awsinfo-2.0.11.tar.gz
  

• In your tap repo, create a Formula for your app, using the URL and SHA from above. This is a ruby file of the format {appname}.rb. For example:

  class Awsinfo < Formula
    desc "AWS CLI Information Utility"
    homepage "https://github.com/lencap/awsinfo"
    url "https://github.com/lencap/awsinfo/releases/download/2.0.11/awsinfo-2.0.11.tar.gz"
    sha256 "ee0604e10a0eebaec8e8389287d17b0d9e91b12873189e00572abbd77d5aba2a"  
    version "2.0.11"
    bottle :unneeded
    def install
      bin.install "awsinfo"
    end
    test do
      system "#{bin}/awsinfo -h"
    end
  end
  

• Also check out the Formula API for all the things you can do with your formula, like a post_install command.
• Commit and push your tap repo to GitHub.
• Voila! Now users can install your app easily with: brew install lencap/tools/awsinfo

Install MS PowerShell

See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/setup/installing-powershell-core-on-macos?view=powershell-6

brew install powershell 
pwsh                                          # Test
brew update && brew upgrade powershell        # Upgrade

Create macOS USB Installer

• Download latest macOS installer via the App Store
  • Quit without continuing installation!
  • May take a while
• Format a +16GB size USB
  • Name = Untitled
  • Format = Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
  • Scheme = GUID Partition Map
  • Security Options = Fastest

• sudo "/System/Volumes/Data/Applications/Install macOS Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia" --volume /Volumes/Untitled Path will differ based on macOS version name

• Right click and EJECT

Startup Keys

• For newer Apple Silicon CPU machines: Switch on your Mac device with the Power Button and do not stop pressing the power button until you see a window that displays a list of drives connected to your Mac.

• For older Apple Intel CPU machines:

  Options-Command-R    Boot into Recovery Mode with latest OS for this hardware
  Command-R            Boot into Recovery Mode with original OS
  Options              Access Mac Startup Manager
  C                    Boot from USB/CD
  N                    NetBoot
  Shift                Safe Boot
  Command-V            Verbose Mode
  Command-S            Single User Mode
  Command-Option-P-R   Reset PRAM
  T                    Enable Target Disk Mode
  

Systems Updates

CHECK EXISTING   system_profiler SPInstallHistoryDataType | grep -A5 MRTConfigData
SPECIFIC         softwareupdate -i MRTConfigData_10_14-1.45 --include-config-data
ALL              softwareupdate -ia --include-config-data

DVD Copying

Insert DVD
diskutil list                                                 # To identify disk =  /dev/disk4
diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk4                               # Unmount
sudo dd if=/dev/disk4 of=dvd_1.iso bs=2048 status=progress    # Record DVD into dvd_1.iso
diskutil eject /dev/disk4                                     # Eject disk