Interesting Mac OS X Configuration Tips

Why

Yes you can google and find many more results like the following:
MacLife.com -8 Finder Terminal Hacks
Mac OS X Tips - Terminal Commands For Hidden Settings
But these are the ones I use almost all the time when working on Mac Systems.  So I thought I would compile them here as there are only a few.

Tips

Show all files in Finder

The following allows you to show all files in a directory from the GUI.  I am a full on Terminal Fan, but some times it's just faster to do it the easy way.
Show All Files
sudo defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES
Hide Hidden Files
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles NO

Add Quit to Finder

Trust me on this one, one day you will need to quit the Finder.
Can Quit Finder
sudo defaults write com.apple.finder QuitMenuItem 1
Can Not Quit Finder
sudo defaults write com.apple.finder QuitMenuItem 0
Restart the finder by using Option+Right Click (Or Two Finger on Touch Pad Click) on the Finder Icon. Click Relaunch.

Show full path in Finder title bar

It makes moving from the Finder GUI to the Terminal so much easier.
Path in Finder Title
defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool YES
Remove Path from Finder Title
defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool NO
Restart the finder by using Option+Right Click (Or Two Finger on Touch Pad Click) on the Finder Icon. Click Relaunch.

Verbose Boot

This one give you more of a Linux Style Kernel boot so you can see the steps that OS X's Kernel is taking.
You can hold Command+V during boot. 

Or
Set your kernel to always boot Verbosely by doing the following in a terminal.
sudo nvram boot-args="-v"

You can also
sudo nano /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist
Now add -v between <string> and </string>.
Save Changes.

Mac OS X Safe Mode

Hold the Shift key while booting.  I have messed up kernel flags so bad in the past that Single User mode (Hold Command+S during boot) would not even boot.  This mode would using default kernel settings.

Mac OS X Startup Manager

Hold the Option key (fitting no?) during boot to load the Startup Manager.  This will allow you to chose a Startup Disk, Flash Drive, Firewire Drive or CD to boot from.  Handy if you forgot to use the Startup Disk utility before rebooting.



“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
Proverbs 11:2