launchd

Mac OS X provides two methods for launching daemons: startup items and launchd(8) daemons. Which one you use depends largely on the versions of Mac OS X that the daemon must support.

• Mac OS X v10.3 and earlier: You must use startup items. The launchd service is not supported prior to v10.4.
• Mac OS X v10.4 and earlier: You can either use startup items or launchd daemons. Using launchd daemons is preferred unless you also require backwards compatibility with versions of Mac OS X prior to v10.4.

1. open Property List Editor (included in Developer Tools)
2. create entries in a new file as shown in examples below
3. save the file to ~/Library/LaunchAgents/<namespaced filename, such as com.example.MyApp.plist>
4. add the file to launchd in the Terminal

   launchctl load Library/LaunchAgents/com.example.MyApp.plist

local.Apache2.plist

• Root dictionary
  • Label (string): Apache2
  • UserName (string): _www
  • Program (string): /usr/local/apache2/bin/apachectl
  • ProgramArguments (array):
    • (string): start
  • OnDemand (boolean): false

- this isn't working yet

local.MySQL.plist

• Root dictionary
  • Label (string): MySQL
  • ProgramArguments (array):
    • (string): /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe –user=mysql
  • OnDemand (boolean): false

• all about launchd items and how to make one yourself
• using launchd instead of startupitems
• launchd in Depth
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launchd

• Launchd Editor
• Lingon