COS 126: Mac OS X Installation Page

This documents instructs you on how to setup a C programming environment for your Macintosh computer. The instructions will deal with configuring one of the laptops purchased through SCI, although if you bought your own equipment you should be able to adapt the instructions below. All of the software below is either (i) shipped with your SCI computer, (ii) licensed by Princeton and can be downloaded for free, or (iii) freeware.

• If you bought your computer from SCI, you have Mac OS 9 installed. Too bad. You now need to upgrade to OS X. An OS X installation CD should be included with your SCI computer. OS X is a completely different operating system than OS 9, but it is an ideal programming environment. You will still be able to run OS 9 applications like MS Office.

• Boot up your computer using OS 9. Installation works best if you are already connected to the network.

• Insert the Mac OS X CD and click Install OS X. It's a Mac, so this will be a breeze.

• Most of the options should be self-explanatory (e.g., setting the date and time). For the username, we recommend using the same one as your email account. For email preferences, choose:

  email address:         username@princeton.edu
  incoming mail server:  imap.princeton.edu
  outgoing mail server:  smtp.princeton.edu
  

• If you are connected to the network, OS X should updated itself automatically to version 10.0.4 after installation. Otherwise, you can do this manually later on via System Preferences -> Software Update.

• Open a terminal window. You can find this under Go -> Applications -> Utilities. Drag the Terminal to your dock since you will be using it frequently.

• You should now have a "Terminal" window somewhere on the screen. It will have a command prompt that looks something like:

  [localhost:~] wayne% 

  You can enter a command by typing it in the Terminal window followed by the "Enter" or "Return" key.
• For your first command, type the text in bold at the command prompt:

  [localhost:~] wayne% pico .tcshrc

  Now, type in the following text and save the file with Ctrl-o.

  setenv PATH ${PATH}:.
  alias gcc126 'cc -ansi -pedantic -Wall -W -O'
  

  You probably won't be using the pico editor very often, but it's sometimes useful. (This adds the current directory to your path and tells the compiler to allow only legal ANSI C programs. If this sounds like gibberish, don't worry about it.)

• Now, close the Shell window - the customizations will take effect the next time you open a Shell window.

The Developer tools include a C compiler, debugger, and lots of other goodies.

• Install the Developer Tools from CD if you have access to one. Otherwise, go to connect.apple.com, become a free member of the Apple Development Connection, login, and download the Mac OS X Tools by choosing Download Software -> OS X -> Max OS X Version 10.1 Developer Tools. It's 187.1 MB so don't attempt this over a modem.

We recommend using Project Builder. It is included with the Developer Tools.

BBEdit is another popular text editor for the Mac. The "Lite" version is freeware. It can be downloaded from www.bbedit.com.

MacGSView is a program that allows you to view PostScript files. You will need such a program when we create graphics, starting in Assignment 2.

• Download and install the PostScript viewer MacGSView for OS X from www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost.

Acrobat Reader allows you to view pdf files. Many of the documents on our Web site are in this format. If you bought your computer from SCI, you probably have the OS 9 version of Acrobat installed. We recommend upgrading to the OS X version.

• Download and install the pdf viewer Acrobat Reader for OS X from www.adobe.com.

Fetch is an FTP client that allows you to transfer files to and from your computer. On many assignments we provide various sample code and data files which you will probably want to download.

• If you bought an SCI computer, you probably already have it installed. Otherwise, you can download it from from CIT's site.

Nifty telnet is a telnet and ssh client that allows you to login to a remote system such as arizona. If you plan to edit and compiler programs under OS X, you may not need this program.

• If you bought an SCI computer, you probably already have it installed. Otherwise, you can download it from from CIT's site.

Some of the in-class demos are in PowerPoint format.

• If you have MS Office, you don't need the viewer. Otherwise, you can download a free PowerPoint viewer from Microsoft.

It is automatically installed along with OS X.