Ask HN: Creative uses for a macOS server?

3 points by pchm 4y ago ↗ HN

I have an unused mac that I want to put to work and I'm looking for inspiration. So far the only examples I've found are the typical home server stuff:

- plex/media server

- remote backup

- file sharing/sync

But I'm more interested in scriptable use cases that can't be covered by a Linux server, e.g.:

- Xcode builds

- headless browser service (puppeteer) for website screenshots (for apple emoji & font rendering)

- automated screenshots/screencasts (via screencapture & apple script)

- iCloud file organization (e.g. with Hazel.app)

I'm sure there are many more possibilities, so... if you have a macOS server, what do you use it for?

4 comments

[ 5.7 ms ] story [ 19.8 ms ] thread

ralmidani 4y ago ↗

I got my Mac Mini last year with 10 Gig Ethernet in case I later decided to convert it to a server. A build server sounds interesting, can Xcode be scripted to run without a UI?

toast0 4y ago ↗

FYI, macOS can't deal with SYN floods, unless they added things recently. The tcp they forked from FreeBSD in the early 2000s didn't get sensible syn flooding protections until a few months after they forked. So, I wouldn't recommend exposing it directly as a public service.

ohiovr 4y ago ↗

If recent enough rent it as a remote desktop for people wanting to build ios projects.

ksec 4y ago ↗

iOS Time Capsule.

It is the thing that I wanted forever.

iCloud Cache. I am not sure if this feature is still available. But in the old macOS server you could have iCloud cache and App update all on macOS Server so your iPhone and iPad will get update from macOS server instead.