xeroply
03-11-2002, 12:45 AM
-Buy BrickHouse from its shareware developer and bundle it so we have a graphical firewall utility. Maybe make it part of the Setup Assistant or a new Security Assistant that also reviews your permissions and running services (telnet, FTP, etc.) for secureness.
-AppleScript security: the ability to lock scripts out of certain applications (including Terminal) and certain areas of the filesystem (user permissions do this somewhat but finer control would be nice), or make them ask for permission before doing certain things. A list of trusted scripts to exempt from this. AppleScript is even more pervasive than VB in Windows, and we've seen what can happen there.
-How about a Maintenance Assistant that does stuff like update prebinding, make sure regular cron tasks are getting run, etc. The average user shouldn't have to know all these tricks to speed up the system.
-Software Manager: looks at reciepts to determine what you've installed, lets you uninstall with a click. Can manage all shareware registration in a central location and will do license reporting for network admins. (And whatever happened to Apple's integrated Installer? Even Apple doesn't use it, opting instead for nasty shell scripts that delete partitions on accident.)
-Instant network administration. You should be able to buy a new Mac, plug it into a managed network, boot it up and pick a management profile in the Setup Assistant, and boom -- directory services are set up, users have access to all the right applications and prefs, etc.
-The NetInfo database should back itself up at regular intervals and offer to restore itself if it gets screwed up.
And I'm sure there are lots more. Any other ideas along the same lines?
-AppleScript security: the ability to lock scripts out of certain applications (including Terminal) and certain areas of the filesystem (user permissions do this somewhat but finer control would be nice), or make them ask for permission before doing certain things. A list of trusted scripts to exempt from this. AppleScript is even more pervasive than VB in Windows, and we've seen what can happen there.
-How about a Maintenance Assistant that does stuff like update prebinding, make sure regular cron tasks are getting run, etc. The average user shouldn't have to know all these tricks to speed up the system.
-Software Manager: looks at reciepts to determine what you've installed, lets you uninstall with a click. Can manage all shareware registration in a central location and will do license reporting for network admins. (And whatever happened to Apple's integrated Installer? Even Apple doesn't use it, opting instead for nasty shell scripts that delete partitions on accident.)
-Instant network administration. You should be able to buy a new Mac, plug it into a managed network, boot it up and pick a management profile in the Setup Assistant, and boom -- directory services are set up, users have access to all the right applications and prefs, etc.
-The NetInfo database should back itself up at regular intervals and offer to restore itself if it gets screwed up.
And I'm sure there are lots more. Any other ideas along the same lines?