A shell script is a way to automate a task by using a command line (i.e. using Terminal to access the underlying UNIX system in Max OS X). A simple "program" can be written that uses command line ...

One of the most convenient ways to manipulate information in scripts is to store it in an array. Arrays facilitate looping through lists of related values, keeping track of an ever changing number of ...

Why, when people were trying to get me to switch from Windows to a Mac, did no one tell me about AppleScript? Sure, a stable OS with Unix shell access and a sophisticated UI are nice. But a scripting ...

Oh happy day! I got an e-mail from a reader with a shell script question that didn't appear to be homework from a programming class or anything to do with hacking passwords. The reader wrote: I am ...

GUIs are great—we wouldn’t want to live without them. But if you’re a Mac or Linux user and you want to get the most out of your operating system (and your keystrokes), you owe it to yourself to get ...

For Linux users, the command line is a celebrated part of our entire experience. Unlike other popular operating systems, where the command line is a scary proposition for all but the most experienced ...