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What is the function of terminal?

M

macrbest

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 16, 2013
15
0
I would like to find out what Terminal is used for. I have seen this program before and I do not have the sight idea what it is.
 
Terminal allows you to execute Unix commands from a command-line shell. Similar to the DOS prompt in Windows, just using a completely different (and superior) language.

If you don't know what you're doing, leave it alone.
 
Yup. It's very powerful and you could seriously screw up your system if you executed commands blindly (say, delete every file on your entire hard drive). However, it can be extremely handy for writing and running scripts, coding and compiling software, or just running commands that are more work to do using the GUI.

For example, here's a quick command that I could run from a Unix shell (which is what Terminal is):

> cp ~/pics/Cruise*.jpg /Archives/Photos

To do the same thing in Finder, I would need to open up my home folder, then the pics folder, then sort the files by type, then highlight all the ones that start with the word "Cruise", then open up another Finder window for Archives, then Photos, then drag and drop (and hit Option to copy, not move). One little command gets all that done super quick.

It's not for everyone, but if you want it, it's very powerful.
 
Good posts, I'll add a bit more...

The relevance of Terminal to non geeks is when you want to make a system configuration change, beyond what the standard/GUI interface allows.

Apple introduces some new default you don't like (or removed one you do like) and its not in system prefs, google it's name and chances are someone has published a fix you can paste into terminal.
 
Can you create a dedicated internet connection through terminal? I would also like to find out if you can speed up an internet connection through the use of a proxy server. If so, how do you set it up?
 
notjustjay said:
Yup. It's very powerful and you could seriously screw up your system if you executed commands blindly (say, delete every file on your entire hard drive).

It's not for everyone, but if you want it, it's very powerful.
Click to expand...

Terminal is a dark, scary place! For a total non-geek, like me, just the mention of Terminal causes the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up! Just knowing that there is very little I can do to screw up my computer elsewhere, but knowing I could cause terminal troubles in Terminal keeps me away.

It ain't called Terminal for nothing!:eek:

OK, and for real....those who have reasonable knowledge of what they are doing find Terminal very useful and efficient...just not me!:p

:D
 
I did not exactly get a straight answer as to whether or not it could be used to enhance internet connectivity.
 
Yes it can enhance internet connectivity, but you have to know exactly what you're doing and what needs to be done is different in every case.
 
macrbest said:
I did not exactly get a straight answer as to whether or not it could be used to enhance internet connectivity.
Click to expand...

It will be routed to you shortly, just enjoy some other tidbits of the www in between, like this for example.

You sometimes have to be patient for more than seven hours in order to receive the information you do not look for.

----------
Intell said:
Yes it can enhance internet connectivity, but you have to know exactly what you're doing and what needs to be done is different in every case.
Click to expand...

Basterd, always, always have to get into my way. Enjoy this then. :mad:
 
macrbest said:
I did not exactly get a straight answer as to whether or not it could be used to enhance internet connectivity.
Click to expand...
Yes and no, mainly because of ....
Intell said:
Yes it can enhance internet connectivity, but you have to know exactly what you're doing and what needs to be done is different in every case.
Click to expand...

Exactly. And most likely any "enhancement" would be not really worth it. Anything you can do on your Mac can be done via the Terminal. Start reading up on some basic navigation of the file structure via the terminal, it's really not that scary and it's pretty rare that you'd 'accidentally' delete or harm anything.
 
Intell said:
???:confused:??? I thought we were on friendly(-ish) terms? Too much of the happy juice perhaps? Oooo, pretty pictures...
Click to expand...

You have been around long enough to remember this SPECIFIC debacle. No more pretty pictures, as SU does not let me add more sites to its stupid list. Probably have to make bookmarks, oh, I hate those, I always make them, but always rm them later.
 
I wasn't aware that anyone still followed through with that posting. No harm done, I know you better than that. You get a little backslash, once you become one who knows nearly *. At least I'll keep you on young and alert.
 
There are many many things you can do from terminal, but if you don't know what you are doing you can create a terrible mess. Don't go monkeying around with terminal commands unless you really know what you are doing.

Terminal goes way way back to Multics and the earliest *NIX.
 
I am trying to undo a possible attempt from someone who may have change settings while my computer was logged in. If I reformat/reinstall snow leopard or upgrade to mountain lion would this clear any changed settings?
 
macrbest said:
I am trying to undo a possible attempt from someone who may have change settings while my computer was logged in.
Click to expand...
While Terminal is the tool for it, you could just use Console to look for the probably setting change and then use the normal method of whatever setting has been changed.

Check the Console for hints.

If I reformat/reinstall snow leopard or upgrade to mountain lion would this clear any changed settings?
Click to expand...
It is a bit drastic depending on the changed settings, but if you have to do so, do a CLEAN INSTALL.

To create a Clean Install (formerly known as Erase & Install) of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard (the 19 USD Upgrade DVD is a fully working retail version of Mac OS X and does not need a prior installation of Mac OS X on the Mac), follow one of the following guides:

For OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion:
 
macrbest said:
I am trying to undo a possible attempt from someone who may have change settings while my computer was logged in. If I reformat/reinstall snow leopard or upgrade to mountain lion would this clear any changed settings?
Click to expand...
Settings are mostly stored in .plist files inside the user account (<user>/Library/Preferences).
Reinstalling the OS is irrelevant and unnecessary, particularly if you would then restore your user account.

The easiest thing to do is to restore your hard drive/user account to a version from your backup from before the settings were changed.
You do have a backup, right?

And make sure no one can access your computer while you're away from it.
 
I unfortunately did not create a backup because I didn't have a spare drive to install it onto. After you type in man network then what?

For some reason when the other computer is on with the terminal application in the application bar my internet connection drops. How do you explain this? I don't like the feeling of having someone else determining when I use my computer.

They do not pay for the internet connection and do not have permission to do what ever it is that they setup.
 
macrbest said:
I unfortunately did not create a backup because I didn't have a spare drive to install it onto. After you type in man network then what?
Click to expand...

Man is Terminal is short for Manual, hence the Terminal code
Code: 
man networksetup
will show you how to setup the TCP/IP stack in OS X. This seems to be over your head so don't even try it.
 
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