launchd

Linux systemd == Macos launchd

• Manuals: man launchctl | man launchd

• An article on medium covering some basics

• Another article with more info

Scheduling a script (zettelmerken) to run at specific time

1. Create a new file com.zettelmerken.dailyreview.plist in ~/Library/LaunchAgents/

2. Add the following xml to it:

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
   <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN"
   "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
   <plist version="1.0">
   <dict>
   
     <key>Label</key>
     <string>com.zettelmerken.dailyreview</string>
   
     <key>ServiceDescription</key>
     <string>Zettelmerken Daily Review</string>
   
     <key>ProgramArguments</key>
     <array>
       <string>/opt/homebrew/bin/python3</string>
       <string>-m</string>
       <string>zettelmerken</string>
     </array>
   
     <!-- Run on load (at bootup) -->
     <key>RunAtLoad</key>
     <true />
   
     <!-- Run Daily at 00:10 min -->
     <key>StartCalendarInterval</key>
     <dict>
       <key>Hour</key>
       <integer>0</integer>
       <key>Minute</key>
       <integer>10</integer>
     </dict>
   
     <!-- For Debugging
     <key>StandardErrorPath</key>
     <string>/tmp/com.zettelmerken.dailyreview.err</string>
     <key>StandardOutPath</key>
     <string>/tmp/com.zettelmerken.dailyreview.out</string>
     -->
   </dict>
   </plist>
   

3. Verify plutil ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.zettelmerken.dailyreview.plist

4. Load agent launchctl load -w ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.zettelmerken.dailyreview.plist

5. Unload agent launchctl unload -w ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.zettelmerken.dailyreview.plist

6. Start/Stop (for debugging) launchctl start com.zettelmerken.dailyreview

7. List all services launchctl list