For Mac OS X, what are some useful utilities for troubleshooting and optimizing performance?
The following is a small sample of Mac OS X utilities available for download from the web. These utilities vary in their functionality, but in general they provide GUI alternatives to typing Unix commands in Mac OS X's Terminal application. To find more comprehensive lists of utilities available for download, see For Mac OS X, where can I download freeware, shareware, commercial software, and software updates?
Note: If you are unsure about what a particular utility does, it's probably best not to use it. Additionally, none of these utilities provide defragmenting options, as defragmenting is not necessary in OS X.
| Utility Name | Description | License |
|---|---|---|
| Cocktail | Cocktail is a general purpose utility for system maintenance and optimization. The free demo version expires after you have launched it 10 times. | Shareware ($14.95) |
| TinkerTool | TinkerTool allows you to change the functionality and look of interface elements in OS X, including Dock orientation and font anti-aliasing. | Freeware |
| MacJanitor | MacJanitor allows you to manually run maintenance scripts to delete accumulated log files in OS X's Unix subsystem. This is useful if your computer is not on during times (often in the early morning) when maintenance scripts are automatically run. | Freeware |
| ShellShell | ShellShell allows you to issue Unix commands to your computer in the form of pre-written macros. | Freeware (or "LegoWare", according to the author) |
| Pseudo | Pseudo is a drag-and-drop utility that allows you to temporarily run an application in OS X as another user, including the root user. | Shareware ($15) |
| xFiles | xFiles allows you to view and change the properties of files dragged on top of its interface. The editable information includes the filename, Unix permission, HFS+ type and creator, Posix owner and group, and modification date. | Shareware ($20) |
| Print Center Repair and Printer Setup Repair | Printer Setup Repair can fix a number of common problems with printing and the Printer Setup in OS X 10.3.x. Print Center Repair does the same for the Print Center in OS X 10.2.x and earlier. | Shareware ($10-$25) |
| XRay | XRay displays information about files and applications. It is similar to the Get Info utility built into Mac OS X, but has more functionality. | Shareware ($10) |
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Last modified on August 28, 2008.
Last modified on August 28, 2008.
