Compiling and installing Apache on Mac OS X

         OS X      apache · OS X

Update: instead of the completely manual method, I'd now recommend using the most excellent Homebrew. The “missing package manager for OS X” will automatically download and compile the latest version and verify the checksums, amongst other niceties. It's awesome, and only gaining more momentum. Original post: As you may already know, Apple bundles a version of Apache into Mac OS X. This httpd can be started in System Preferences > Sharing > Web Sharing.

SSH without a password: using public keys

         UNIX

If you're often logging remotely into UNIX-like machines using SSH, you may grow tired of having to type and retype your password each and every time. And even more so if you're running rsync, or any other service, over SSH. To make our life easier, we can establish a secured SSH connection between computers using public/private keys generated with OpenSSH. In this example, I'll say I want to connect to my server from my laptop.

Screenshots and OS X: capturing a single window

         OS X      minitip · OS X

One pretty awesomely simple thing under Mac OS is making great screenshots. You might already be familiar with Mac OS X's classical shortcuts for screenshots, Shift+Cmd+3 (full screen) and Shift+Cmd+4 (selection). But did you know you can shoot a single window without the hassle of selecting it from edge to edge, or worse, cropping from a full screenshot? Press Shift+Cmd+4, then press the space bar. A little camera appears, and allows you to capture the highlighted window of your choice.

A Keynote update is available. Would you like to open Software Update?

         OS X      keynote · OS X

This nice explicative window popped up last time I opened Keynote (iWork ‘09) : Why yes, I would love to, but when I open Software Update… No updates are available. What's happening there ? Well, it seems that OS X's Software Update only checks for /Applications/ to see if Apple applications (e.g. iWork, Aperture) are present on the system, and need upgrading. Which means that if you have some of these Apple applications located at any other place on your hard drive -in my case, being a subfolder-creating control freak, /Applications/Work/iWork ‘09/Keynote.