Re: CGIs with OSX
Re: CGIs with OSX
- Subject: Re: CGIs with OSX
- From: Chris Nebel <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 11:47:17 -0800
- Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.
Timothy Bates wrote:
>
On 3/25/01 7:24 PM, "Chris Nebel" <email@hidden> wrote:
>
> Mac OS X tries to discourage logging in as root because it's very dangerous
>
> and opens you up to all sorts of potential damage. In general, simply being
>
> an administrative user will let you do what you need to.
>
Note the step backwards here: we used to be able to control our machines as
>
end users, and be secure. Now we can be secure or control our machine.
You're assuming that you need to be root to control your machine. For 99.9% of
users, this simply isn't the case -- being an administrative user gives you all
the control you need, maintains reasonable security, and won't let you screw up
your system too badly. (You'd be surprised how many support calls Apple gets
that turn out to be due to people doing a little "cleanup" on their system
folder.) Even for cases where you do need root privileges, you don't need to log
in as root to get them. That's why I mentioned "sudo" as a preferable
alternative -- it limits your liability.
Yes, there are improvements that could be made, but that's a nearly a given with
software. The feedback page <
http://www.apple.com/macosx/feedback/> is still
there -- send in your suggestions. (Please cc AppleScript-specific ones to
<
mailto:email@hidden>). You might also look into Mac OS X
Server, which comes with a lot of tools for server administration. And if you're
feeling *really* inspired, Mac OS X comes with development tools -- write your
own httpd.conf editor and make the world that much better!
--Chris Nebel
AppleScript Engineering