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diff --git a/memos/WM-077.txt b/memos/WM-077.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..73f202d --- /dev/null +++ b/memos/WM-077.txt @@ -0,0 +1,123 @@ + + + + + + + +Document: WM-077 P. Webb +Category: Operating Systems 2025.11.14 + + macOS (2025) + +Abstract + + Trying to make the best of things + +Body + + Apple’s macOS is in its Windows Vista era. + + You’d think that the people in charge of design at Apple would + remember the Vista era. After all, the point of the "I’m a Mac" + commercials[1] was to ridicule Microsoft and their shitty operating + system. Oh how the turns tabled. + + I’ve observed widespread dissatisaction about the state of computing + in my circles and it appears as if the Year of Desktop Linux is upon + us. But I’d go so far as to redeclare it as the **Era** of Desktop + Linux. From my friend elle[2]’s explorations with Linux to Valve + announcing the Gabecube[3] (an open‑system from a major company btw), + and the prevalence of people empowered by 3D printing and increased + affordability of components to creating their own cyberdecks, it + seems like a great change is afoot. + + I’m obsessed with the idea of user choice and customization so I’ve + been working on the technical feasability of such for systemSOFT[4]. + + Imagine if (nearly) every component of your operating system could + be swapped. + + Take time, for instance; the default component would have your + standard AM/PM or 24 hour configurability. Maybe you could even + toggle adherence to Daylight Saving Time. + + Maybe you’re sick of the status quo so you swap it with + Swatch/internet time. But then, what would the Date Modified column + look like in your directories? Or you could mix and match. + + Components would be required to have a CLI and API endpoints. + GUI optional. + + Anyhoo, more thinking is required to imagine what a "post‑desktop" + interface would look like. A personal data lake as the underlying + store with epheremal windows optimized for the content within, when + you need it, is what I’m trying to envision. + + --- + + A few weeks ago I was trying to change icons on macOS via IconChamp + but it doesn’t work on macOS Tahoe. After doing some digging, I came + upon a CLI called fileicon[5] that allows for customizing file/folder + icons. I then created a script to recursively change all folder icons + in a directory: + + ```sh + #!/bin/bash + # brew install fileicon + # chmod +x icons-in-folder.sh + + if [ -z "$1" ]; then + echo "Usage: $0 /path/to/folder [/path/to/icon.icns]" + exit 1 + fi + + TARGET_DIR="$1" + ICON_PATH="${2:-/Users/netopwibby/Icons/DESKTOP/Mantia/Forstall Folders/Plain — Folder.icns}" + + find "$TARGET_DIR" -type d -print0 | while IFS= read -r -d "" folder; do + fileicon set "$folder" "$ICON_PATH" + done + ``` + + You’ll have to change `ICON_PATH` to the **absolute** path of the + default icon you wish to use. I’m using the wonderful Forstall + Folders[6] by Louie Mantia. Also, this process is slow going but hey, + at least I can kinda get the functionality of IconChamp! That being + said, you could probably replicate its UI and easily wrap this script + in a GUI. Maybe I’ll do that, who knows. + + Thanks to damien[7], I learned of an app called Mousecape[8] that + changes your cursors[9] on macOS Tahoe!! Never heard of this app + before. Unfortunately, the default cursor doesn’t change for me but + all the other ones do. YMMV + + I would love if there was a way to replace Finder but that’s such an + integral part of macOS that it’s not possible. However, I’ve been + trying to spend more time inside of Marta[10], a native file manager + for macOS. The only thing I don’t like about it is that it only has + list view and I have to restart the app sometimes (because of Finder + operations not reflecting in Marta). + + --- + + I’m not giving up on MacBook but my Mac Studio is gonna be replaced + with a Linux box after I get a NAS to transfer all my stuff off it. + The discomfort I feel about using products of tech companies is + offset by the work myself and others are doing to make things better, + a little bit at a time. I’m looking forward to getting comfortable + with Linux and dogfooding my computing hardware concepts. In the + meantime I’m just tryna make do with what I got. 🕸️ + +References + + [1] <https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=i'm+a+mac+i'm+a+pc+vista> + [2] <https://ellesho.me/page/website/now/#serial-experiments> + [3] <https://store.steampowered.com/sale/hardware> + [4] <https://systemsoft.works> + [5] <https://github.com/mklement0/fileicon> + [6] <https://lmnt.me/blog/icons/forstall-folders.html> + [7] <https://social.erambert.me/@eramdam/115511297442666179> + [8] <https://github.com/AdamWawrzynkowskiGF/Mousecape-TahoeSupport/releases/tag/PreRelease-v01> + [9] <https://primmr.dev/projects/wii-pointer-cursors> + [10] <https://marta.sh> |