Nick M Cummins

System preferences can be set on macOS using the defaults command. For example, say I wish set the Prevent sleep setting that can be set through the System Preferences interface, but instead via command line.

If your settings match those in the screenshot above, running defaults read /Library/Preferences/com.apple.PowerManagement.plist in the terminal should output

{
    "AC Power" =     {
        "Automatic Restart On Power Loss" = 1;
        DarkWakeBackgroundTasks = 1;
        "Disk Sleep Timer" = 180;
        "Display Sleep Timer" = 5;
        "Display Sleep Uses Dim" = 1;
        GPUSwitch = 2;
        "System Sleep Timer" = 15;
        "Wake On LAN" = 1;
    };
    "Battery Power" =     {
        "Automatic Restart On Power Loss" = 1;
        DarkWakeBackgroundTasks = 0;
        "Disk Sleep Timer" = 180;
        "Display Sleep Timer" = 5;
        "Display Sleep Uses Dim" = 1;
        GPUSwitch = 2;
        ReduceBrightness = 1;
        "System Sleep Timer" = 10;
        "Wake On LAN" = 1;
    };
    SystemPowerSettings =     {
        DestroyFVKeyOnStandby = 0;
        "Update DarkWakeBG Setting" = 1;
    };
}

To set System Sleep Timer to 0, run /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set 'AC Power':'System Sleep Timer' 0" /Library/Preferences/com.apple.PowerManagement.plist. Now running the original defaults read command will output

{
    "AC Power" =     {
        "Automatic Restart On Power Loss" = 1;
        DarkWakeBackgroundTasks = 1;
        "Disk Sleep Timer" = 180;
        "Display Sleep Timer" = 5;
        "Display Sleep Uses Dim" = 1;
        GPUSwitch = 2;
        "System Sleep Timer" = 0;
        "Wake On LAN" = 1;
    };
    "Battery Power" =     {
        "Automatic Restart On Power Loss" = 1;
        DarkWakeBackgroundTasks = 0;
        "Disk Sleep Timer" = 180;
        "Display Sleep Timer" = 5;
        "Display Sleep Uses Dim" = 1;
        GPUSwitch = 2;
        ReduceBrightness = 1;
        "System Sleep Timer" = 10;
        "Wake On LAN" = 1;
    };
    SystemPowerSettings =     {
        DestroyFVKeyOnStandby = 0;
        "Update DarkWakeBG Setting" = 1;
    };
}

Now opening the System Preferences will reveal the updated value.

One thing that bothers me about macOS is the lack of the side-by-side “window snapping” functionality that is built into any modern version of Windows and in many Linux windows managers. I often see co-workers manually dragging and re-arranging windows on their screen. BetterSnapTool is a $2.99 app that does exactly this, and much more.

1. Download a fresh copy of VMware Workstation Player for Windows or Linux from the official VMware site. The free trial of this product has no expiration if used for non-commercial purposes.
2. You’ll need to unlock your installation of VMware to use Mac operating system as a guest following these instructions (external link).
3. On a computer running an official/genuine instance of OS X, download macOS High Sierra from the App Store:
   
4. Once the download completes, open the Terminal application, and either save a new file with the following contents,

    #!/bin/bash
   # Mount the installer image
   hdiutil attach /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/macOS-High-Sierra
   
   # Create the macOS-HighSierra Blank ISO Image of 7316mb with a Single Partition - Apple Partition Map
   hdiutil create -o /tmp/macOS-HighSierra-Base.cdr -size 7316m -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J
   
   # Mount the macOS High Sierra Blank ISO Image
   hdiutil attach /tmp/macOS-HighSierra-Base.cdr.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/install_build
   
   # Restore the Base System into the macOS High Sierra Blank ISO Image
   asr restore -source /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/SharedSupport/BaseSystem.dmg -target /Volumes/install_build -noprompt -noverify -erase
   
   # Remove Package link and replace with actual files
   rm /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/System/Installation/Packages
   cp -R /Volumes/macOS-High-Sierra/Packages /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/System/Installation
   
   # Unmount the installer image
   hdiutil detach /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/
   
   # Unmount the macOS High Sierra ISO Image
   hdiutil detach /Volumes/macOS-High-Sierra/
   
   mv /tmp/macOS-HighSierra-Base.cdr.dmg /tmp/BaseSystem.dmg
   
   # Restore the macOS High Sierra Installer's BaseSystem.dmg into file system and place custom BaseSystem.dmg into the root
   hdiutil create -o /tmp/macOS-HighSierra.cdr -size 8965m -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J
   hdiutil attach /tmp/macOS-HighSierra.cdr.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/install_build
   asr restore -source /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/SharedSupport/BaseSystem.dmg -target /Volumes/install_build -noprompt -noverify -erase
   cp /tmp/BaseSystem.dmg /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System
   hdiutil detach /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/
   
   # Convert the macOS-Sierra ISO Image to ISO/CD master
   hdiutil convert /tmp/macOS-HighSierra.cdr.dmg -format UDTO -o /tmp/macOS-HighSierra.iso
   
   # Rename the macOS-Sierra ISO Image and move it to the desktop
   mv /tmp/macOS-HighSierra.iso.cdr ~/Desktop/macOS-HighSierra.iso
   rm /tmp/macOS-HighSierra.cdr.dmg

   or run

   curl https://www.nickmcummins.com/make-macos-high-sierra-iso.sh > /tmp/make-macos-high-sierra-iso.sh

   and then execute it by running sudo chmod +x /tmp/make-macos-high-sierra-iso.sh && /tmp/make-make-macos-high-sierra-iso.sh. Once completed, you should see a file named macOS-High-Sierra.iso on your desktop.

5. Now boot up VMware Player and create a new virtual machine using the File dialog. Using the iso disk image we just created, and with macOS 10.13 selected as the guest os, finish the setup for your new image.
   
6. You’ll need to erase the virtual hard disk medium as seen in the following screenshots.
   
7. Now you will be able to proceed with the installation. Once completed, you should be all ready to enjoy your new macOS High Sierra vm!