Volume Number: 25
Issue Number: 09
Column Tag: Editorial

From the Editor, September 2009

September?!? I'm not sure about you, but this year seems to have gone by so quickly. Similarly, despite the amount of time we've been looking at and hearing about Snow Leopard, I feel it breathing down my neck a bit. Are you ready? Next month, we'll have plenty of Snow Leopard coverage. This month keeps filling you with the knowledge that you need to do you job now. And there's a lot to know!

The Mac in the Shell column once again focuses on Python, with a special emphasis on manipulating plist files. Because they're so prolific on OS X, understanding plist files is a journey that every developer and Sys Admin should undertake.

If you're responsible for managing site-wide software licenses, you probably either already use Sassafras' KeyServer, or you've heard about it and are very curious. If you have been struggling to make license management easier, Criss Myers shows you what KeyServer can do for you and how to do it.

In the Road to Code, Dave Dribin covers a topic that, externally, the people using your software will take for granted: copy and paste. Read on and see what it looks like from the other side and how to implement these essential operations.

Attention, attention: if you're at all hazy on how launchd can be used to run jobs for you, this month's MacEnterprise column is a must read. Greg Neagle offers up some recipes for launchd plists that get you through most common use cases.

Casper is increasingly showing up as the management tool for Mac shops. It is an excellent suite of tools, but there are certainly some nice tricks that you can press into service that aren't always completely obvious. In, "Extending the Casper Suite with Dummy Packages," Miles A. Leacy shows one such way to make managing Macs easier.

MacTech has covered Microsoft's Sharepoint in the past. In a mixed Windows and Mac environment, plus the latest service pack for Office 2008, SharePoint can provide a workflow and storage mechanism that's currently tough to rival. There's plenty to do, though, in terms of Sharepoint setup and customization. Penelope Coventry introduces you to SharePoint Designer for those times where some extra customization will send you over the top.

Michele Hjörleifsson brings us the final piece in his "Demystifying PKI" series. This is where it all comes together. Struggle with digital certificates and other public keys no more.

We're really happy to feature Jeff Vogel in this month's MacTech Spotlight. A long-time Mac developer, he and the crew at Spider Web Software keep us entertained with role playing games. There have been times when there has been a dearth of RPGs-or games of any sort-on the Mac, but Jeff has kept the fires burning in that category for over 15 years.

As always, please let us know your thoughts and feedback at letters@mactech.com. Enjoy the issue, and we'll see you-and Snow Leopard-next month.

Edward Marczak,

Executive Editor