Worker, Parasite, and a Leopard.

August 31, 2008 9:42 PM

How can I make an optimized "Work" account on my Macbook, with a few specific requirements?

I'm trying to set my Macbook up so I have two users accounts: one for general use, and one that's a bit more conducive to getting some work done. Setting up a second account called "Worker" was easy, but I am having a few problems getting things exactly as I want them to be.

First of all: I'd like to use the same Home, or at least Documents folder, for both accounts, so that insofar as the Documents folder goes, there's absolutely no difference between the accounts.

Second, I'd like to set some user restrictions on the Worker account, with the general aim of stopping me from checking my e-mail and Facebook and Metafilter every ten minutes when I really need to be working. What advice do you have to do this? I don't want any restrictions on the main account. Obviously I can circumvent these things if I really want to, but the idea is that if it is more of a hassle and I do it just a bit less, I'm still doing it a bit less. One thing I've considered is just blocking Internet access for the one account altogether, and then either doing fast user switching or logging out and in again, but if there are some other options, I'd like to consider them.

I'd also appreciate hearing from anyone else who has a similar set up about their experience. I don't generally have trouble getting myself on task but some days I do, and I think that this might help, or is at least worth a shot.

posted by synecdoche to computers & internet (10 comments total)

You'd probably want to keep all your docs in the Public folder, and in Preferences > Sharing turn on personal file sharing.

As for restrictions, there might be something in Parental Controls under Accounts in Preferences, but otherwise you're looking at installing software or editing files. One good trick is to change a certain file so that some websites actually point at your own machine - I can't remember what that file is, but someone doubtless will.
posted by djgh at 9:52 PM on August 31, 2008

Give the lesser account permissions to access the greater account's home directory, then delete the lesser Documents and create a symbolic link to the greater account's Documents folder.
posted by rhizome at 10:47 PM on August 31, 2008

Also consider using Freedom.

"Freedom is an application that disables wireless and ethernet networking on an Apple computer for up to three hours at a time. Freedom will free you from the distractions of the internet, allowing you time to code, write, or create. At the end of your selected offline period, Freedom re-enables your network, restoring everything as normal."
posted by maremare at 11:01 PM on August 31, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

Install the Leechblock extension for Firefox.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4476
posted by chrisamiller at 12:28 AM on September 1, 2008

djgh You'd probably want to keep all your docs in the Public folder, and in Preferences > Sharing turn on personal file sharing.

Can't agree with this enough -- there's no point in fighting permissions issues plus a lot apps consider ~/Documents/ their personal dumping ground for config files.
posted by nathan_teske at 9:38 AM on September 1, 2008

I'm not sure about this personal file sharing idea because I don't think the firewall will block outside afp connections if personal file sharing is on. I'd say just learn how permissions work under unix.

iTunes sharing is a big issue, Apple & MeFi's fixes are rather lame, but workable.
posted by jeffburdges at 2:23 PM on September 1, 2008

Here are various general factors for consideration :

1) Why do you want files separated? To force yourself into the work account for work? To prevent yourself from accessing local files like games or movies? If games, p0rn, etc. are a problem, you might try placing them some encrypted disk image. Or maybe you want the work account looking different. Btw, I'm not sure if it's possible to have two users with the same UID.

2) Are you sure you want to block email, IM, etc.? Such distractions are often useful for work. And you may simple close the applications when busy. If you configure Mail.app instead of using webmail, then you'll never check your mail on the web again. You can set the mail check rate lower, say 30 min or 1 hour, and/or turn off the new mail sound (and use rules to beep if the boss mails you). Oh, I'm not sure how you'll share your work address book between accounts.

3) Parental settings seems like the easiest way of blocking applications and websites, but you must have a separate admin account since admin accounts don't support this (or does anyone know some work around?) You might find some way using OpenDNS, but I'm not sure.

Another nice solution sounds like :
(1) make sure you have separate personal and admin accounts,
(2) configure parental controls for the personal account,
(3) turn on GUI scripting & scripts folder,
(4) record apple scripts that turn on & off these restrictions,
(5) and place them in your scripts folder.
If this works, then you'd still see a password prompt each time, so you've a second to think about it.

You might also try using Get Back to Work as you homepage.
posted by jeffburdges at 3:22 PM on September 1, 2008

Thanks for the replies. Some more info:

1) I do NOT want to separate the files; I want both my general use account and my "Work" account to be able to access the same files. When I work, it isn't access to files that bothers me-- I can do fine with music or without, and I've never had to battle an urge to watch a movie when I am supposed to be working-- just access to websites. I can kill a lot of time on MeFi, Facebook, Bloglines, and various cooking websites without even realizing it. With that said, sometimes I'll be NOT working and quickly want to take a look at a work-related file to either edit it (ie add a note about something, or send the file to somebody), so accessing the files easily from both accounts is in fact desirable. I have also been thinking of just using my thumbdrive (which I already sync with my main documents folder daily anyway) but I want to hear some other possibly solutions.

2) I am a graduate student in English, which means that most of my work involves word processing, using Word and WriteRoom (though I'm also giving Scrivener a trial). Insofar as e-mail goes, it isn't so much the problem as websites, I guess, but at the same time, I do check it a fair bit and also procrastinate by organizing it.

The main idea here, I guess, is just to make it HARDER to procrastinate. The websites are absolutely useless to my workflow and if I need Internet access instantly, I can always head to the shared computer lab.

The secondary idea which I now realize doesn't come out at all in my initial post is just to trigger my brain to see one environment as "Okay, time to work!" Sort of a virtual version of not doing homework in places I like to relax,.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, everyone! Keep 'em coming if you have 'em!
posted by synecdoche at 4:08 PM on September 1, 2008

Oops, I found that parental setting aren't too great for web restrictions since they deny access by default.

I was inspired to create a Fun & Games account that I plan on using for video games, movies, etc. It uses my main account's iTunes folder fine. I doubt I'll block facebook or others from my main account, perhaps merely hide their bookmarks and move their rss feeds. To block them, I'd need to share addressbook, email, and IM between accounts, which seems tricky.
posted by jeffburdges at 4:46 PM on September 1, 2008

So how does one block only a few pages from only one account under Mac OS X?
posted by jeffburdges at 2:53 PM on September 5, 2008