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Macintosh Software

1. Mac OS X

   Mac OS X is available via a Caltech site license, for machines that are Caltech-owned (i.e. purchased with a grant). The site license is not valid for personal machines. Come by Robinson 11 to check out the CDs, or go to http://software.caltech.edu/

2. Microsoft Office

   Microsoft Office X is available via the Caltech site license. Come by Robinson 11 to check out the CD. If the machine is not owned by Caltech, then you will need to sign an agreement form.

3. Compilers

   Join the Apple Developer Connection at:
   

   http://developer.apple.com/
   Then log in, click on "Download Software", then "Mac OS X". Then download the latest "Mac OS X Developer Tools" for your version of Mac OS X. This is a ~300 MB file which can be unpacked, mounted, and then used to install the compilers and other tools. The compiler is gcc 3.x.

4. X11

   As of Mac OS X 10.3, Apple's port of X11 is included with the OS. It can also be downloaded from Apple's X11 web site.
   

   If you prefer a non-Apple version of X11, go to the web site:
   

   http://www.xdarwin.org/
   Follow the instructions to download and install XDarwin. It's very straightforward and provides an X server with its own root window, i.e. it does not have to display on top of the Mac OS Finder desktop.
   

   Also of potential interest is OroborOSX, an X11 environment for better integrating the look and feel of the X Window System with the standard Mac OS X window system.

5. GNU software

   Go to the web site:
   

   http://fink.sourceforge.net/
   The Fink project has compiled a lot of the GNU open source software for MacOS X, including Gnome, Emacs, the Gimp, etc. To install some of this, click on "Download", then install the basic Fink "Installer". To install software packages using the Fink installer, you will run:
   > sudo dselect
   It's a rather clumsy installer (IMHO), but it gets the job done. An easier GUI-based mechanism is provided by:
   Fink Commander

   Another source of GNU open source software is
   

   http://www.osxgnu.org/
   This site has also compiled a substantial number of GNU tools for Mac OS X, and packaged them in standard Mac OS X installers.

6. TeX

   For the latest version of TeX, you will want to visit:
   

   http://www.rna.nl/tex.html
   Download the "i-Installer" and use it to install the "TeX Foundation", "TeX Programs", and "Ghostscript" packages.

7. Astronomy software

   Many astronomy-related packages are becoming available in MacOS X, including things such as IRAF and ds9. Just go to their web pages and check it out.

8. Norton Antivirus

   Caltech has a site-license for this. Do not be fooled into thinking that Macs are immune! It can be downloaded from http://software.caltech.edu/.

9. Web software

   Mac OS X comes with Apple's Safari web browser.

   If you prefer a different browser, all of the major web browsers are available for MacOS X (currently), including:

   Netscape 7.x	http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/
   Internet Explorer 5.x	http://www.microsoft.com/mac/
   Opera 7	http://www.opera.com/
   Mozilla 1.x	http://www.mozilla.org/

   
   The command-line form of 'ssh' (OpenSSH) is included with Darwin and can be used from a Terminal. If you want a graphical form, then you might check out:
   

   MacSSH

   http://www.macssh.com/

   
   There are others as well.

10. MacOS X Updates

    Finally, be sure to regularly run the "Software Update" control panel under both MacOS 9 and X. This will keep your OS much more secure and bug-free.

11. More info

    Check out the web site:
    

    Mac OS X Hints

    http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20021230053007256

    
    for a brief intro to Mac OS X for Unix users.

    There is also a campus e-mail list mac-announce@caltech.edu which provides various Macintosh-related announcements at a level of about 1-2 messages per day. See the Caltech Mailing Lists web page for instructions on how to subscribe.
    Enjoy!