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Working with files, terminal and AI on a Mac.
The best SSH client for a Mac: what you notice after a week
Choosing the best Mac SSH client: what the built-in client already does, what connection managers add, current prices, and the four things that decide it.
The best terminal for a Mac: what to compare before you switch
Searching for the best terminal for Mac returns a ranking. The five things that actually differ between them, what each one costs, and the switching cost that lists leave out.
Bulk rename files on a Mac: a naming rule you can repeat
How to bulk rename files on a Mac with Finder, zsh or a dedicated app, plus the naming rule that keeps sorting correct and the places renames quietly break.
Change the default app for a file type on a Mac: making it stick
How to change the default app for a file type on a Mac, why the setting is stored per content type rather than per extension, and the five reasons it comes undone.
ChatGPT and your local files: what leaves the Mac and what stays
Three routes exist between ChatGPT and local files on a Mac: upload, an authorised connection, and an agent running on the machine. What each one sends, and the limits that apply.
Chat with PDF files on a Mac: what the model needs from them
To chat with pdf files reliably, check the text layer, the page limits and the upload route first. What the tools do to a document, and where answers go wrong.
Check file permissions on a Mac: reading the letters in the row
How to check file permissions on a Mac from the terminal and from Get Info, what the letters and octal numbers mean, and which refusals have nothing to do with them.
Check a folder size on a Mac: reading the number Finder hides
How to check a folder size on a Mac in Finder and in the terminal, why the three numbers disagree, and which one actually matches the space the volume lost.