OnyX

OnyX

OnyX running on Mac OS X Snow Leopard with "Parameters" pane open.
Developer(s)	Joël Barrière
Stable release	Lion 2.4.0  (August 19, 2011; 2 months ago (2011-08-19)) Snow Leopard 2.3.0  (August 1, 2011; 3 months ago (2011-08-01)) Leopard 2.0.6  (August 31, 2009; 2 years ago (2009-08-31)) Tiger 1.8.6  (December 15, 2007; 3 years ago (2007-12-15)) Panther 1.5.3  (May 16, 2005; 6 years ago (2005-05-16)) Jaguar 1.3.1  (October 20, 2003; 8 years ago (2003-10-20)) [+/−]
Preview release	[+/−]
Operating system	Mac OS X
Available in	Multilingual
Type	Utilities, Maintenance, Optimization
License	Freeware
Website	Titanium Software

Developed by French developer Joël Barrière, OnyX is a popular^[1] 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.^[2] 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 system on the start-up volume
• Repair disk permissions
• 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 Spotlight 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 Xcode, 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.

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 Jaguar :OnyX version 1.3.1
• Mac OS X 10.3 Panther :OnyX version 1.5.3
• Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger :OnyX version 1.8.6
• Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard :OnyX version 2.0.6
• Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard :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.^[3]

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...

References

1. ^ CBS Interactive, CNET. "OnyX for Mac...More popular Maintenance & Optimization downloads". http://download.cnet.com/OnyX/3000-18512_4-10653022.html. Retrieved 2011-01-17. 
2. ^ Larry Loeb, Peachpit. "OnyX: Make OS X Spill the Beans". http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=380157. Retrieved 2007-01-24. 
3. ^ http://www.titanium.free.fr/download.php

External links

• Official Site in English
• Official Site in French
• OnyX at MacUpdate
• OnyX at CNET Download.com
• OnyX gets the Leopard Treatment
• OnyX, OS X Utility