Get Started

ln -s /Users/edki/Desktop/launchdaemonexample/im.eddiek.hello.plist /Users/edki/Library/LaunchAgents/im.eddiek.hello.plist

// Set permissions for launch daemons
sudo chown root:wheel im.eddiek.hello.plist 

launchctl

List Jobs

sudo launchctl list

Blame

launchctl blame system/com.example.app.plist (for launch daemon)

Load/Unload

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.example.app.plist
launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.example.app.plist

// Use -w
// sudo for launch daemons

Start/Stop

launchctl start com.example.app
launchctl stop com.example.app

Debug

sudo launchctl debug gui/$UID/im.eddiek.hello --stdout --stderr

Man

man launchctl
man launchctl.plist

Debugging

Lint the Plist

plutil -lint com.example.app.plist

Reference

• Daemons and Services Programming Guide
• Technical Note TN2083: Daemons and Agents
• plist file permissions