Chapter 2. Getting Started

2. Getting Started

IN THIS CHAPTER

Conventions Used in This Book	18
Graphical Login	20
Textual Login	21
Curbing Your Power: Superuser/root/Administrator Access	23
Working with the Shell	23
Getting the Facts: Where to Find Documentation	27
man: Displaying the System Manual	28
info: Displaying Information About Utilities	30
More About Logging In	34
What to Do If You Cannot Log In	34

One way or another you are sitting in front of a screen that is connected to a computer that is running Mac OS X. You may be working with a graphical user interface (GUI) or a textual interface. This book is mostly about the textual, or command line, interface to Mac OS X. If you are working with a GUI, you will need to use a terminal emulator application such as Terminal to follow along with the examples in this book.

This chapter starts with a discussion of the typographical conventions used in this book, followed by a section on logging in on the system. Next there is a brief reminder about the powers of Superuser (root) and how to avoid making mistakes that will make your system inoperable or hard to work with. The chapter continues with a discussion of where to find more information about Mac OS X. It concludes with additional information on logging in, including how to change your password.

While heeding the warning about the dangers of misusing the powers of Superuser on page 23, feel free to experiment with your system: Give commands, create files, follow the examples in this book, and have fun.