Today I am sharing with you the tools I use on my MacBook. I've used Windows and Linux platforms for years. One of the reasons I use a MacBook is because it has a Shell like Linux. The other reason is that Mac OS X is stable, does not crash or getting slower like Windows with time.
Angry IP Scanner (free)
This is an IP scanner than can scan a whole IP subnet to find hosts that respond. It can also do port scans.
Mac OS X does not have a registry like Windows and application management is quite easy. Several applications are standalone and you can uninstall them simply by dragging them in the trash bin. Other applications are installed with libraries in several spots on your hard drive. This is where AppZapper comes to play. Il will do a clean uninstall of all related libraries for a given app.
As a consultant I bill my time to my clients. Billings does just that. You fill a time sheet associated to a specific project in Billings and then create an invoice. I also use Billings for personal projects where I can measure the time I spend on specific tasks.
bitcricket IP Calculator (free)
Everyone needs an IP calculator of some kind. Bitcricket runs on OS X and supports both IPv4 and IPv6.
Chmox (free)
Strange name Chmox ? I use this tool to read technical manuals in Microsoft Help File format. These have the .CHM extension.
CoRD (free)
This tool is the best remote desktop I fouind on OS X for managing RDP sessions with a Windows Server. See my previous post for details.
DropBox (free)
I love the concept of being able to access my critical files and applications from the cloud. Quite useful when you have several machines (or virtual machines). Besides, with Dropbox, you can share files with others.
FileMerge (free)
FileMerge is part of OS X. This tool compares two text files and displays the differences. You can launch it directly from SpotLight.
FileZilla (free)
You need a good FTP client ? FileZilla is the one, It also supports various secure file transfer protocols: sftp, ftps, ftpes
FireFox (free)
You know this one, don't you ?
GNS3 (free)
GNS is a front-end GUI to Dynamips / Dynagen. I use GNS3 to simulate a Cisco router network. Very useful for proof of concept stuff.
iReasoning MIB Browser (free)
If you need a free MIB browser, iReasoning makes it for you. It supports both SNMPv1 and SNMPv2. Note that SNMPv3 support is available but requires a license.
iStumbler (free)
WiFi scanners are something I find useful sometimes. iStumbler is simple and easy to use. It will sense the bonjour and BlueTooth devices. Signal levels and noise are only listed as percent value, no dBm notation.
KeePassX (free)
I use KeePassX since I always used KeePass on Linux and Windows. This password management utility can synchronize with a remote server.
KisMac (free)
Another WiFi scanner with packet injection capabilities, as long you use the correct WiFi adapter.
Every MacBook has a Firewall feature that inspects inbound traffic (to the MacBook). LittleSnitch inspects outbound traffic and installs rules to let the traffic out your MacBook after you allowed it explicitly.
MacPorts (free)
MacPorts brings to your MacBook a whole set of Linux tools that were ported to the OS X. All these tools are available from the command Shell. For more information, see my previous blog post.
MacVim (free)
If you are like me with a Linux background, you like the vi editor. MacVim is an OS X implementation of vi with a graphical interface.
If you create blogs you will appreciate MarsEdit. You can create your posts offline and decide to post them on your blog at your leisure. MarsEdit is similar to Microsoft Windows Live Writer. It supports Blogger, WortPress, TypePad and others.
No comment here, except that I really appreciate a native Excel and PowerPoint on my MacBook.
muCommander (free)
Do you like using Finder ? I don't. muCommander is a cross-platform file manager. It is fast and can be used with one hand, no mouse clicks required !! It reminds me Altap Salamander on Windows.
Some people really don't get it. Mega BITS and Mega BYTES is something different. So far, NetMonitor is the only application on OS X that provides me traffic measurements in Mega BITS !!! I am from the telco world and I think in bits per second.
Sidekick is a nice companion to NetMonitor that displays network traffic by protocol, source/destination IP address, in/out speed, in/out data, etc.
NMAP / Zenmap (free)
You need a real IP scanner ? Nmap is the king of all. Optionally, you can download Zenmap as a graphical front-end to NMAP.
I use Nipper to audit Cisco IOS router configurations as well as Cisco ASA/FWSM firewall configurations. Nipper also supports various kinds of gear such as Juniper, Netgear, McCaffee Firewall, etc.
This is where I generate ideas about everything. Because I think in outline, I like laying down my ideas in an outline format.
OmniFocus is my task management tool of choice. It is also a place where I can take extensive notes about each task, collect URLs, web clippings, directly from my browser.
There is no Visio available under OS X. The closest thing I found is OmniGraffle, which does pretty good. It can import and display complex Visio diagrams (to some extent)
PaintBrush (free)
Idem as PaintBrush under Windows.
I use PathFinder as a permanent replacement to Finder. It is feature rich and has lots of smarts embedded into it.
SecureCRT has been with me for over 10 years in Windows platforms and it recently became available under OS X !! The best SSH/Telnet/Serial client !
With OS X you can use Spaces to virtualize your screen into multiple screens. With SizeUp, you can manage each screen real estate with keyboard shortcuts. For instance, you can split you screen between two, four or more windows, horizontally or vertically. You can also move one window from one space to another (virtual screen).
SlidePad (free)
Handy little notepad app that remains hidden until you move your cursor near the screen edge, where it pops out.
Taking screen dumps with Snagit is easy. If you spend time with documentation or blogging, it is worth spending some bucks on Snagit.
Ever since I got my MacBook, I've been looking for a text editor similar to Notepad++ or TextPad on Windows. TextMate is the only text editor on OS X that sports a tabbed interface.
TrueCrypt (free)
TrueCrypt is a cross-platform tool you can use to encrypt portions of your hard drive and store sensitive data. I've used it on Linux and Windows.
VLC (free)
You need to play that .avi or .wmv video on your MacBook ? VLC is your answer. VLC is cross-platform and runs on Linux and Windows too.
I use VMWare Fusion to virtualize all my Linux (Ubuntu, CentOS, BackTrack) and Windows (Win2003 server, Win2008 server)
WiFi Scanner (free)
My favorite WiFi scanner on OS X. If performs well and displays RSSI and noise values in dBm units.
WireShark (free)
Wireshark is a great tool to capture and analyze data packets on the wire. No comments here except that I would like to see a native OS X version of WireShark in the future instead of an X11 port.
Xee (free)
I use Xee to browse and display pictures. I have been looking something similar to IrfanView for Windows without luck.
ZTerm (free)
I use Zterm to connect to the serial port of various Cisco gear (routers, switches, firewalls, WLC Controllers). It works fine with Cables Unlimited USB to DB9M Serial Adapter.
Well, that's a quick tour of the tools I use on my MacBook Pro. Please let me know if you have any question about these and I would appreciate your feedback about the tools you use !
