[TribeLeader]

I just read through several of the "maintenance" threads, but didn't read anything about Automator Actions: Maintenance.

Anyone use it, or have any thoughts about it (for routine maintenance)?

[TheSpaz]

I made an Automator Action to clean out my Font Caches because at work (when working with fonts a lot all day) sometimes the font cache gets corrupted by a nasty font or something. It usually pretty much does the trick for me. Quite useful.

[TribeLeader]

I'm not familiar enough with the routine maintenance applications (MacJanitor, etc.), but how do you think this automator action compares? Does it do enough? Or, would you just go with one of the other applications? If so, which one? Thanks.

[TETENAL]

You don't need any of these "maintenance" applications. Mac OS X is self-maintainning.

[SoBayJake]

Originally Posted by TETENAL

You don't need any of these "maintenance" applications. Mac OS X is self-maintainning.

I see these comments all the time, and that's not exactly true.

Yes, while there are automatic scripts in OS X to do things daily, weekly, monthly, there are other things that do help.

Did you look at the link? Right on the page that was linked above, the first choice it "Repair Permissions." That's one of the FIRST things everyone suggests when there's a problem. I realize its only a few clicks to get there, but this allows more than that. I'm not sure what all caches are cleared, but that can have an impact on things too, which is not something OS X will do on its own. Nor will OS X verify preference files on the fly all the time. It (the maintenance script) won't tell you if the preference file is "correct" for that application, but it will tell you if its bad XML. But that's better than the app crashing on startup.

-Jake

[TETENAL]

Originally Posted by SoBayJake

Right on the page that was linked above, the first choice it "Repair Permissions." That's one of the FIRST things everyone suggests when there's a problem.

"Repair Permissions" is the first thing that is suggested because it is easy to suggest, not because it is the cause of most problems. It certainly doesn't have to be done regularly. Ditto with caches. Clearing a corrupt cache may be a fix if you actually have a problem, but to do it regularly is counterproductive. I certainly don't want a maintence app have my LaunchServices cache cleared all the time for example. I never had a corrupt preferences files in 5 years using OS X.

[TribeLeader]

Originally Posted by TETENAL

You don't need any of these "maintenance" applications. Mac OS X is self-maintainning.

I've heard that as well. But my understanding is that that is only the case if the computer is on during some of the overnight hours, is that true?

So, I guess my question is: what's the best thing to do when your computer is asleep overnight?

[TETENAL]

Originally Posted by TribeLeader

I've heard that as well. But my understanding is that that is only the case if the computer is on during some of the overnight hours, is that true?

No, that's not true if you are using Tiger.

[CharlesS]

TETENAL is correct. If the computer is off or asleep during the overnight hours, launchd will just run the periodic scripts the next time the computer wakes/powers on. This is all in Apple's developer documentation, if you read through the man page for launchd.plist.

StartCalendarInterval <dictionary of integers>
This optional key causes the job to be started every calendar interval as
specified. Missing arguments are considered to be wildcard. The semantics
are much like crontab(5). Unlike cron which skips job invocations when
the computer is asleep, launchd will start the job the next time the com-
puter wakes up. If multiple intervals transpire before the computer is
woken, those events will be coalesced into one event upon wake from
sleep.

[kcmac]

OS X has really grown up since the early days. Listen up peeps. Tetenal and Charles are preachin' the word.

I used to be a believer of these maintenance apps until Onyx punched me in the mouth about Panther. Quit using it and guess what? My machine runs as good or better than ever. Same with permissions.

[TribeLeader]

Thanks for the up-to-date info, guys. I'm glad to hear it!