Using Custom Software to create a Launch Daemon or Launch Agent

This article shows how to create a script that runs when a user logs and deploy it using Smart Software. 

Launch Daemon or Launch Agent

To set up a script to run at login, you will need to create either a Launch Daemon or a Launch Agent. A Launch Daemon will run the script as root, while a Launch Agent will run as the logged-in user. This is determined on which folder the settings defined by the property list, also known as a .plist, is copied to:

  /Library/LaunchDaemons = run as root
  /Library/LaunchAgents = run as logged-in user

Creating the script and plist

You will need two files:

1. The previously mentioned .plist
2. The script that runs at login

Create the plist

To create the .plist copy this text and save it as a .plist.

Note: Make sure the Program key's value is the path to the script.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
  <dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>com.example.app</string>
    <key>Program</key>
    <string>/Library/Addigy/Name_of_Script.sh</string>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
  </dict>
</plist>

The Installation Script

Addigy's Smart Software supports a custom installation script. This script will:

1. Change the permission of your login script
2. Move the file(s) to either /Library/LaunchDaemons or /Library/LaunchAgents
3. And finally, load the plist

Note: Replace Name_of_Script, Name_of_Property_List.plist, and which folder to move the .plist to:

  #Change permission of the script
  chmod +x ./Name_of_Script.sh

  #Move the files to their appropriate directory
  cp Name_of_Script.sh /Library/Addigy/
  cp Name_of_Property_List.plist /Library/LaunchAgents/

  #Load the .plist
  sudo launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchAgents/Name_of_Property_List.plist

Your Smart Software is ready to save and deploy.

As always, we recommend assigning it to a policy with only test Macs before deploying it to a larger group.