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Here are a few tips to help you increase productivity using Mac OS X.

Grab the developer's tools to get:

1. Shark - performance analysis
2. Xcode - coding and documentation tool
3. FileMerge - file diff / comparison tool
4. gcc - compiler/debugger

Take note of these Macintosh OS X innovations:

1. Track Performance: Turn your Seconds in your menubar: System Prefs > Date & Time
2. Have a cheap, clean workspace - Enable Fast User Switching: System Prefs > Accounts > Login Options
3. Apple + D gets you to Desktop in any modal dialog
4. Middle-Click for Exposé: System Prefs > Exposé
5. Yes, there is Right-Click - you can use Control + Click on a machine with only one mouse button
6. Import preferences and files from another machine during install: Target Disk Mode - Hold down T during startup
   This is the way to install on a machine with no DVD drive:
   1. Restart target machine to Target Disk Mode.
   2. Mount target machine and Install DVD.
   3. Start install process, DVD will ask you to choose partition on target machine.
   4. Restart when done, disconnecting target machine after chime.
7. Apple + K to connect to server from Finder
8. Samba (smb://) is faster, but Apple File Protocol (afp://) always works

Here are several excellent Macintosh applications that will streamline your testing and general productivity:

• Adium - multi-client chat application, free beta
• Quicksilver - essential - allows realtime searching and launching via keyboard shortcut, free beta that mimics "Spotlight" in Tiger
• iPulse - essential - allows realtime status on processes, memory usage, disk usage and other stats in one small view, free trial
• xScope - useful - provides zoom, guides, and other pixel-related tools for UI Inspection of entire screen, free trial
• SnapsProX - screenshot app that works just like SnagIt

Watch this space for more Mac tips and tricks.

March 11, 2005