OnyX
Encyclopedia
Developed by French developer Joël Barrière, OnyX is a popular freeware
utility
for Mac OS X
and is compatible with both PowerPC and Intel processors. As a multifunctional tool for maintenance and optimization, it can control many basic Unix
programs already built into OS X, including setting hidden preferences otherwise modified by using property list
editors and the command line. It has become a highly praised utility among many users in the Mac community, in part due to its extensive language support and excellent help files.
, Apple's software development environment (Cocoa + AppleScript Studio + Objective-C), OnyX is regularly updated by its author taking into consideration users' suggestions and requests. To do its job, the program uses OS X's standard Unix
utilities, allowing their control through a graphical user interface without needing the command line.
OnyX is freeware
.
Only the Snow Leopard and Lion builds are actively maintained. However, all previous versions in support of past operating systems are still available for download from the developer's website.
Version history and descriptions of unreleased versions in progress can be found at the Official Site in English and French:
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
utility
Utility software
Utility software is system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a computer. A single piece of utility software is usually called a utility or tool....
for Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
and is compatible with both PowerPC and Intel processors. As a multifunctional tool for maintenance and optimization, it can control many basic Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
programs already built into OS X, including setting hidden preferences otherwise modified by using property list
Property list
In the Mac OS X, iOS, NeXTSTEP, and GNUstep programming frameworks, property list files are files that store serialized objects. Property list files use the filename extension .plist, and thus are often referred to as p-list files....
editors and the command line. It has become a highly praised utility among many users in the Mac community, in part due to its extensive language support and excellent help files.
Features
- Verify S.M.A.R.T. status
- Verify the structure of the file systemFile systemA file system is a means to organize data expected to be retained after a program terminates by providing procedures to store, retrieve and update data, as well as manage the available space on the device which contain it. A file system organizes data in an efficient manner and is tuned to the...
on the start-up volume - Repair disk permissionsRepair permissionsRepairing disk permissions is a troubleshooting activity commonly associated with the Mac OS X operating system. The efficacy of repairing permissions to troubleshoot application errors has been debated.-Overview:...
- Check user and system .plist syntax
- Configure certain parameters hidden from the system and from certain applications
- Empty System, User, Internet, Font caches
- Force Empty the Trash
- Rebuild Launch Services
- Rebuild SpotlightSpotlight (software)Spotlight is a system-wide desktop search feature of Apple's Mac OS X operating system. Spotlight is a selection-based search system, which creates a virtual index of all items and files on the system. It is designed to allow the user to quickly locate a wide variety of items on the computer,...
and Mail indexes
Development
Created in 2003 by Joël Barrière, a.k.a. Titanium, the program was originally meant to address its creator's personal needs. Developed using XcodeXcode
Xcode is a suite of tools, developed by Apple, for developing software for Mac OS X and iOS. Xcode 4.2, the latest major version, is available on the Mac App Store for free for Mac OS X 10.7 , and on the Apple Developer Connection website for free to registered developers Xcode is a suite of tools,...
, Apple's software development environment (Cocoa + AppleScript Studio + Objective-C), OnyX is regularly updated by its author taking into consideration users' suggestions and requests. To do its job, the program uses OS X's standard Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
utilities, allowing their control through a graphical user interface without needing the command line.
OnyX is freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
.
Versions
OnyX versions are specific to each version of Mac OS X and are not backward compatible. The program will not work correctly if used with an OS for which it was not designed.- Mac OS X 10.2 JaguarMac OS X v10.2Mac OS X version 10.2 "Jaguar" is the third major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system. It superseded Mac OS X v10.1 code name Puma and preceded Mac OS X Panther...
:OnyX version 1.3.1 - Mac OS X 10.3 PantherMac OS X v10.3Mac OS X Panther is the fourth major release of Mac OS X, Apple’s desktop and server operating system. It followed Mac OS X v10.2 "Jaguar" and preceded Mac OS X Tiger...
:OnyX version 1.5.3 - Mac OS X 10.4 TigerMac OS X v10.4Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger is the fifth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Tiger was released to the public on 29 April 2005 for US$129.95 as the successor to Mac OS X Panther , which had been released 18 months earlier...
:OnyX version 1.8.6 - Mac OS X 10.5 LeopardMac OS X v10.5Mac OS X Leopard is the sixth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Leopard was released on 26 October 2007 as the successor of Tiger , and is available in two variants: a desktop version suitable for personal computers, and a...
:OnyX version 2.0.6 - Mac OS X 10.6 Snow LeopardMac OS X v10.6Mac OS X Snow Leopard is the seventh major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers.Snow Leopard was publicly unveiled on June 8, 2009 at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference...
:OnyX version 2.3.0 - Mac OS X 10.7 Lion :OnyX version 2.4.0
Only the Snow Leopard and Lion builds are actively maintained. However, all previous versions in support of past operating systems are still available for download from the developer's website.
Version history and descriptions of unreleased versions in progress can be found at the Official Site in English and French:
- Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard :OnyX history and version in progress...(if any)
- Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard :OnyX historique et version en cours...
- Mac OS X 10.7 Lion :OnyX history and version in progress...
- Mac OS X 10.7 Lion :OnyX historique et version en cours...