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So, you're trying to use the Terminal app on macOS, eh? Maybe you're unfamiliar with the terminal, with macOS, or both? Well, here are some pointers for you, imaginary person and/or Sam! = Neat basics = ---- == {key tab} == Use the tab key all the time! Type as little as you actually have to, let tab autocomplete do all the heavy lifting! ---- == `cd` == Now of course, everyone and their dog knows you use the `cd` command to change directories. But did you know that if you just run `cd` without any arguments, it returns you to your home directory? Ah, exquisitely lazy! Particularly useful on macOS, since the Terminal generally //doesn't// actually start you in your home directory. ---- == `pushd` and `popd` == While most of the time one changes directories using `cd`, if you're going off to some other directory for a bit but planning on returning to where you currently are, `pushd` and `popd` can be quite useful. They're a classic [[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stack_(abstract_data_type) | stack ]], so for instance rather than ``` totally-real-mac:/some/place user$ cd /some/otherplace totally-real-mac:/some/otherplace user$ {do a buncha crap} totally-real-mac:/some/otherplace user$ cd /some/place totally-real-mac:/some/place user$ ``` just run ``` totally-real-mac:/some/place user$ pushd /some/otherplace totally-real-mac:/some/otherplace user$ {do a buncha crap} totally-real-mac:/some/otherplace user$ popd totally-real-mac:/some/place user$ ``` Obviously this isn't always that much more helpful than just using `cd`, but in some circumstances it can be quite nice! ---- == {key alt .} == In a normal Linux terminal, {key alt .} calls back up the last portion of the last command you typed. So for instance, if you just ran `touch somefile`, then typing `chmod +x ` and then press {key alt .}, viola, now you have `chmod +x somefile`! And you can tap {key .} multiple times to walk back through your history. This is really quite handy a lot of the time. Unfortunately on macOS this instead just prints a ≤ character. I hate you //so much//, Apple. There are two ways around this: 1. {nav Terminal > Preferences > Profiles} and checkmark "Use Option as Meta key". That fixes it entirely. 2. Use {key Escape .} instead. Unfortunately, this is not only more awkward but it's made even more awkward by requiring you to press `Esc` each time too, rather than just {key .} like with {key alt .}, so you should really just use option 1. ---- = Okay, now what? = == Install MacPorts == The Ruby brogrammers love [[ https://brew.sh/ | Homebrew ]], but frankly [[ https://www.macports.org/ | MacPorts ]] is probably better (as you might expect, when the other option is beloved by people who also love Ruby). == Play ambient noise that sounds like you're on the Enterprise D! == 1. Download [[ http://sourceforge.net/projects/sox/files/sox/14.4.2/sox-14.4.2-macosx.zip/download | the zip of the Mac version of SoX ]], or use MacPorts. 2. Just run the following command: ## For a downloaded and unzipped version: `./Downloads/sox-14.4.2/play -n -c2 synth whitenoise band -n 100 24 band -n 300 100 gain +10 | ./Downloads/sox-14.4.2/play -n -c2 synth whitenoise band -n 100 20 band -n 50 20 gain +25 fade h 1 864000 1` ## Via MacPorts: `play -n -c2 synth whitenoise band -n 100 24 band -n 300 100 gain +10 | play -n -c2 synth whitenoise band -n 100 20 band -n 50 20 gain +25 fade h 1 864000 1`