Customization Tips - OS X

Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
yrmt
Grey Hair Nixers
This is old, but I thought some users could use it.


Mac OS X Customization:





All of these are for Snow Leopard and might work on Lion :

1) The Desktop :

a) Bowtie: Allows you to control iTunes from desktop, there are a lot of themes and it can be really sexy! It also allows you to control iTunes with your iPhone or iPad. Here's a screen-shot:


link => http://bowtieapp.com/bowtie-1.3.1.zip

b ) Geektool: a conky for Mac OS X. Works with shell scripts:

[Image: geektool.JPG]

Link => http://www.macosxtips.co.uk/

-- Geektool Scripts :

- Here's a pictures of all the geektool scripts I have, if you want one of these, just ask !

[Image: MvvDu.png]

There are also other interesting scripts like weather with pictures, facebook statuses, etc.

c) DragThings:A second dock, highly customizable, and it can be really helpful:
http://www.dragthing.com/
[Image: SimpleOne_Dragthing_Theme_by_StefanKa.png]
theme here:http://stefanka.deviantart.com/art/SimpleOne-Dragthing-Theme-109860940

2) Dock:

Modify your dock :

In the "/system/library/coreservices/dock.app/contents/resources"
folder, the files scurve-l.png, scurve-m.png, scurve-xl.png, scurve-sm.png, separator.png
and the indicators.png can be replaced by new ones you can make with Photoshop or The GIMP.

Here's mine for example:

[Image: dockd.png]

I like it very simple.

Link => here are some great docks:
http://www.dockulicious.com/docks

Change Finder and Trash icons:



go to "/system/library/coreservices/dock.app/"

You will find a finder.png icon and trashempty.png & trashfull.png

Here's an example:

[Image: 01894_metaltrash.jpg]

By the way, you can modify everything in the dock,
3) Menubar:


a) Menustrip: Allows you to launch applications from the menu-bar:

[Image: menustrip.png]

Link => http://www.macpoweruser.com/menustrip/

b ) Istat Menus: Information in your menu-bar like CPU, temperature, etc.

[Image: istat.png]

Link => http://bjango.com/mac/istatmenus/

c) Menubar Customization:

You can invert the menu-bar colours and make it black.

[Image: menuf.png]

Link => http://blacktree-nocturne.googlecode.com....2.0.0.zip

You can hide the menu-bar:

[Image: hide-mac-menu-bar.jpg]

Link (paid) => http://itunes.apple.com/app/menu-eclipse...1409?mt=12

Here's another way, it wont work with finder, chrome but it's free !
Download:
=> http://www.culater.net/software/SIMBL/SIMBL.php
=> https://github.com/downloads/Crazor/Menu...c71ce6.zip
=> Unzip the menubarhider download, and place the MenuBarHider.bundle file into /Library/Application Support/SIMBL/Plugin folder.

4) Finder:

a) Get tabbed windows:

[Image: thumb-showcase-dual-mode.png]

Link => http://totalfinder.binaryage.com/

5) Login screen:

a) Change the login screen background: "/system/library/coreservices/DefaultDesktop.jpg"

Here's an example:
[Image: loginscreen.jpg]

The icons are there:

Code:
/System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/Resources/

You will find interesting icons, such as ShutDown.png which appears when you press shutdown button. you can modify it with these commands in the terminal:

- First you have to make a backup of the old one:

Code:
sudo mv /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/Resources/ShutDown.png /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/Resources/ShutDown-backup.png

- And then copy you new one: let's say it's called icon.png and is in your downloads dir:

Code:
mv ~/Downloads/icon.png /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/Resources/ShutDown.png

- Reboot and when logged, press shutdown button, you will see the difference.

- Here's mine:

[Image: shutdownbutton.png]

- I'm pretty sure you noticed you could change a lot of icons in that directory like restart, logout, sleep, forwardbutton... have fun !

6) Boot Screen:

Link => http://namedfork.net/bootxchanger

Here's an example:

[Image: booimage1.png?w=590&h=393]

7) Customize your Terminal:

Code:
/etc/bashrc

Here's a good guide on how to customize your ps1 variable:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Color_Bash_Prompt

Here's mine currently:

[Image: terma.png]

Here's my ps1

Code:
PS1='\[\e[0;34m\]┌──[\[\e[0;34m\]\[\e[0;31m\]\u\[\e[0;32m\]@\[\e[0;35m\]\h\[\e[0;34m\]]\[\e[m\]\[\e[0;34m\]──\[\e[0;34m\][\[\e[0;31m\]\w\[\e[m\]\[\e[0;34m\]] \n\[\e[0;34m\]└──\e[0;31m\]─ \[\e[m\]\[\e[0;32m\]'

Here's how to do it:
To modify your PS1, a variable you must edit the bash configuration file. It is non-user specific.
the file is in /etc/bashrc

Looks like this :
Code:
# System-wide .bashrc file for interactive bash(1) shells.
if [ -z "$PS1" ]; then
   return
fi

# PS1 ;)

PS1='\[\e[0;34m\]   ^  ^  \[\e[0;34m\]\[\e[0;31m\]\u\[\e[0;32m\]@\[\e[0;  $

# Make bash check its window size after a process completes

shopt -s checkwinsize

# Some of my aliases
alias ls='ls -GalF'
alias rmy='rm -rf'
alias bashrc='sudo nano /etc/bashrc'
alias tar='tar -xzdf'
alias bash_completion='nano /etc/bash_completion'
....
open this text file with root permissions:
Code:
sudo nano /etc/bashrc

and then ctrl+x to exit and enter to save

8) Iterm:it's a great replacement for the terminal.
http://www.iterm2.com/#/section/home

It's easily customizable, can be split vertically and horizontally and can be used full screen;
Here's how mine looks like:
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5956/scrotc.png
vim - mpd/ncmpcpp - weechat-curses ...
Ask if you have questions !

Then copypaste my ps1 or modify it as you wish.
CrossFold
Long time nixers
Makes me want to buy a Mac!
zygotb
Long time nixers
Once again, Beastie shows us how it's done.
yrmt
Grey Hair Nixers
That thread is old :P I will update it some time
benwaffle
Members
(23-04-2013, 08:51 AM)Beastie Wrote: That thread is old :P I will update it some time
bumping for an update
yrmt
Grey Hair Nixers
I'm writing a big guide with Phyrne on how OS X so I don't think I'll ever update this thread.
benwaffle
Members
Can i check it out and possibly help out?
yrmt
Grey Hair Nixers
Of course
benwaffle
Members
(02-06-2013, 05:53 PM)Beastie Wrote: Of course

where might i find it?
yrmt
Grey Hair Nixers
Now right now, wait a few days when phyrne comes back from Scotland.
benwaffle
Members
any progress???
yrmt
Grey Hair Nixers
Yes, we finished a brainstorming a few days ago. We need to take some time to progress more.
dionysus
Members
Bump for interest
yrmt
Grey Hair Nixers
The project has been moving slowly but surely, don't worry.
Mafia
Long time nixers
How to customize a mac:
Remove everything but the shell, throw the innards away and put something decent inside the shell.
Wabam! You have yourself a sweet ass custom mac.
yrmt
Grey Hair Nixers
It's also about having alternatives for the graphical stuff on Mac OS X like the system preferences.
Mafia
Long time nixers
(04-07-2013, 09:42 PM)Beastie Wrote: It's also about having alternatives for the graphical stuff on Mac OS X like the system preferences.
I joke my friend.