How can I start a Program.app with LaunchDaemons (launchd)?

launchd, macos

Solution

The key `ProgramArguments` expects an executable file but you provided an application bundle, which is a glorified directory. In order to start the application you have to point launchd to the executable inside the bundle:

<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array>
<string>/Users/todd/Dropbox/client/CLIENT.BUILDS/MAC/v0.1/ApplicationTest.app/Contents/MacOS/ApplicationTest</string>
</array>

Alternatively use the `open(1)` command to run the application:

<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array>
<string>/usr/bin/open</string>
<string>-W</string>
<string>/Users/todd/Dropbox/client/CLIENT.BUILDS/MAC/v0.1/ApplicationTest.app</string>
</array>

Problem

I've placed the following com.apple.test.plist file in the folder: /System/Library/LaunchDaemons ``` <?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.apple.Spotlight</string> <key>ProgramArguments</key> <array> <string>/Users/todd/Dropbox/client/CLIENT.BUILDS/MAC/v0.1/ApplicationTest.app</string> </array> <key>RunAtLoad</key> <true/> </dict> </plist> ``` But for some reason ApplicationTest.app does not start when i login with my user todd. Any ideas?

Original source