Managing memory and its problems was an important part of running Classic Mac OS, but everything changed in Mac OS X. Do we still need apps to do that?
kernel panic
A strategy for diagnosing problems using the log. How to limit the number of entries shown using appropriate periods and predicates, and more.
How to capture the panic log, immediate actions likely to help make a diagnosis, and how to read the panic log.
Using the correct term gets us half way to a diagnosis: kernel panics, freezes, app crashes and unresponsive apps are distinguished here.
What to do when your Mac panics during booting, and enters a boot loop, or when it simply fails to get to the login window.
Why you should keep a copy of the Panic Log. How to check that your Mac isn’t the cause. And above all, don’t panic.
Do you have a suitable Mac you could afford to lose completely for a while? Can you restore your Apple silicon Mac in DFU mode? You could be just the right person.
Big Sur and Monterey allow kernel extensions with limitations, particularly on M1 models. Full details, including how to control them.
How the kernel relies on its extensions to make your Mac work, and has highest privilege for stability and security. How this must change for Apple Silicon.
Apps may crash, but kernels panic. Don’t accept your Mac just panics often. It should never panic at all, and more than one panic a year needs to be properly investigated and reported.
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