6 ms·

However I may feel about iPhoneOS, Mac OS X is a beast that nothing else can compare to. At least for a consumer unix experience where everything just works.

knieveltech 16y ago
For values of "everything just works" that don't include standard developer tools. Getting a new macbook into configuration for (for example) web development is a PITA compared to any distro I've used that came with a decent package installer (apt, yum) out of the box. You have to hack up the damned keyboard settings just to get home and end keys to work.
- apphacker 16y ago
  Install xcode + mac ports? True about the terminal settings I guess, especially if you use screen + irssi.
- SoftwareMaven 16y ago
  That is because you are trying to use your Mac like it's a Linux box. Use the OS X keyboard shortcuts (which happen to be the same as Emacs, Ctrl-A and Ctrl-E respectively) and grab MAMP and you are good to go.
  - earcar 16y ago
    You don't even have to grab MAMP or Xcode, since Apache, PHP, Ruby, Python, emacs and vim come preinstalled with OS X. So you just have to get the database server. Until you have to compile something.
    - kscaldef 16y ago
      I don't see the difficulty with compiling. Just get out your install disk, open up the optional installs, install XCode. You now have all the standard Unix developer tools (in addition to the XCode app, which you don't have to use).
      - jrockway 16y ago
        Discs still exist? I haven't installed an OS from a disc in years. And I haven't installed a compiler from one ... ever.
        apphacker 16y ago
        You can download xcode too, you just need an apple developer account. I prefer downloading than going hunting for my Mac OS X disc.
      - earcar 16y ago
        I agree, I don't see it either. The whole point of my previous comment was to show that OS X ships with so many things that you don't have to install anything to start programming in PHP, Python or Ruby. "Until you have to compile something" refers to the fact that this claim doesn't hold anymore when you have to compile, for example, a native extension to those languages.
    - butterfi 16y ago
      Honestly, do yourself a favor and check out MAMP. It works great and won't gack the next time apple updates php, mysql, etc. I even kicked in and bought MAMP Pro and its arguably the biggest time saver on my laptop.
    - rimantas 16y ago
      It also comes with sqlite.
  - masterj 16y ago
    Mapping Caps Lock to Control helps. Now I find myself trying to do it on my Windows box at work vs reaching way over to the home and end buttons.
    - SoftwareMaven 16y ago
      I can't work on any machine that doesn't have this done. Of course, I always have Emacs open, so convenient ctrl access is critical. :)
- eli 16y ago
  Might I suggest running a VMWare image with the same flavor of linux that your production server uses? I've been using this set up happily for years. As a bonus you can copy the dev image to other developers or use it to set up larger dev server.

knieveltech 16y ago

For values of "everything just works" that don't include standard developer tools. Getting a new macbook into configuration for (for example) web development is a PITA compared to any distro I've used that came with a decent package installer (apt, yum) out of the box. You have to hack up the damned keyboard settings just to get home and end keys to work.

apphacker 16y ago
Install xcode + mac ports? True about the terminal settings I guess, especially if you use screen + irssi.
SoftwareMaven 16y ago
That is because you are trying to use your Mac like it's a Linux box. Use the OS X keyboard shortcuts (which happen to be the same as Emacs, Ctrl-A and Ctrl-E respectively) and grab MAMP and you are good to go.
- earcar 16y ago
  You don't even have to grab MAMP or Xcode, since Apache, PHP, Ruby, Python, emacs and vim come preinstalled with OS X. So you just have to get the database server. Until you have to compile something.
  - kscaldef 16y ago
    I don't see the difficulty with compiling. Just get out your install disk, open up the optional installs, install XCode. You now have all the standard Unix developer tools (in addition to the XCode app, which you don't have to use).
    - jrockway 16y ago
      Discs still exist? I haven't installed an OS from a disc in years. And I haven't installed a compiler from one ... ever.
      - apphacker 16y ago
        You can download xcode too, you just need an apple developer account. I prefer downloading than going hunting for my Mac OS X disc.
    - earcar 16y ago
      I agree, I don't see it either. The whole point of my previous comment was to show that OS X ships with so many things that you don't have to install anything to start programming in PHP, Python or Ruby. "Until you have to compile something" refers to the fact that this claim doesn't hold anymore when you have to compile, for example, a native extension to those languages.
  - butterfi 16y ago
    Honestly, do yourself a favor and check out MAMP. It works great and won't gack the next time apple updates php, mysql, etc. I even kicked in and bought MAMP Pro and its arguably the biggest time saver on my laptop.
  - rimantas 16y ago
    It also comes with sqlite.
- masterj 16y ago
  Mapping Caps Lock to Control helps. Now I find myself trying to do it on my Windows box at work vs reaching way over to the home and end buttons.
  - SoftwareMaven 16y ago
    I can't work on any machine that doesn't have this done. Of course, I always have Emacs open, so convenient ctrl access is critical. :)
eli 16y ago
Might I suggest running a VMWare image with the same flavor of linux that your production server uses? I've been using this set up happily for years. As a bonus you can copy the dev image to other developers or use it to set up larger dev server.