Configuring directives is a common task in various computing environments, often associated with setting up policies or rules that govern system behavior. While the term "directives" is more commonly used in web development (e.g., AngularJS directives) or in server configurations (e.g., Apache directives), the concept can be adapted to macOS in terms of configuring system preferences, security settings, and user policies.

In the Apple ecosystem, particularly macOS, the equivalent tasks involve configuring system settings, managing user profiles, and setting up security policies through tools like Terminal, configuration profiles, and mobile device management (MDM) solutions. These configurations are crucial for maintaining system security, optimizing performance, and ensuring a consistent user experience across multiple devices.

This article will guide you through various methods to configure system settings and policies on macOS, using Terminal commands and configuration profiles.

Examples:

1. Configuring System Preferences via Terminal

You can use the defaults command in Terminal to read, write, and delete macOS user defaults (preferences). Here’s how you can configure some basic settings:

• 
  

  Change the default screenshot location:

  
  

   defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ~/Screenshots
  
   killall SystemUIServer

  
  

  This command changes the default location for screenshots to a folder named "Screenshots" in the user's home directory.

  
  


• 
  

  Disable the startup chime:

  
  

   sudo nvram SystemAudioVolume=%80

  
  

  This command mutes the startup chime on macOS.

  
  

2. Creating and Deploying Configuration Profiles

Configuration profiles are XML files that define settings and policies for macOS devices. These profiles can be created using Apple's Profile Manager or third-party tools like JAMF.

• 
  

  Example of a configuration profile to disable iCloud Drive:

  
  

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
  
   <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0\.dtd">
  
   <plist version="1.0">
  
     <dict>
  
       <key>PayloadContent</key>
  
       <array>
  
         <dict>
  
           <key>PayloadType</key>
  
           <string>com.apple.ManagedClient.preferences</string>
  
           <key>PayloadVersion</key>
  
           <integer>1</integer>
  
           <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
  
           <string>com.example.disableicloud</string>
  
           <key>PayloadUUID</key>
  
           <string>12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012</string>
  
           <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
  
           <string>Disable iCloud Drive</string>
  
           <key>PayloadOrganization</key>
  
           <string>Example Corp</string>
  
           <key>PayloadScope</key>
  
           <string>User</string>
  
           <key>com.apple.applicationaccess.new</key>
  
           <dict>
  
             <key>forceCloudDrive</key>
  
             <dict>
  
               <key>value</key>
  
               <false/>
  
               <key>forced</key>
  
               <true/>
  
             </dict>
  
           </dict>
  
         </dict>
  
       </array>
  
       <key>PayloadType</key>
  
       <string>Configuration</string>
  
       <key>PayloadVersion</key>
  
       <integer>1</integer>
  
       <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
  
       <string>com.example.disableicloud</string>
  
       <key>PayloadUUID</key>
  
       <string>12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012</string>
  
       <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
  
       <string>Disable iCloud Drive</string>
  
       <key>PayloadOrganization</key>
  
       <string>Example Corp</string>
  
     </dict>
  
   </plist>

  
  


• 
  

  Deploying the profile:
  Save the above XML content as disable_icloud.mobileconfig and deploy it using Terminal:

  
  

   sudo profiles -I -F disable_icloud.mobileconfig

  
  

3. Managing Security Policies

macOS provides various security settings that can be configured via Terminal or MDM solutions. For example, enabling FileVault for disk encryption:

• Enable FileVault:
  

   sudo fdesetup enable

  
  

  This command initiates the FileVault setup process, prompting the user to enable disk encryption.