Using Custom Software to create a LaunchDaemon or LaunchAgent – Addigy

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

LaunchDaemon or LaunchAgent

To set up a script to run at login, you will need to create either a LaunchDaemon or a LaunchAgent. A LaunchDaemon will run the script as root, while a LaunchAgent will run as the logged-in user. This is determined by 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:

A script that you want to run at login
The previously mentioned .plist

Create your script

The script is completely customizable to what you want to run at launch or at login. Just be sure to test the script and ensure it works before setting it up as a LaunchDaemon/LaunchAgent.

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:

Change the permission of your login script
Move the file(s) to either /Library/LaunchDaemons or /Library/LaunchAgents
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.