LaunchControl1.50.1

Name: LaunchControl
Price: 15.00 $
Rating: 4.6739 (20 reviews)

05 June 2020

Create, manage, and debug launchd services.

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Overview

LaunchControl is a launchd(8) frontend allowing you to manage and debug system and user services on your Mac. All documented features of launchd(8) are supported. It reports potential problems even before a job is started and makes sure you always create valid configurations.

Features:

Sophisticated interface - With LaunchControl you see all services and their respective status at a glance. Invalid services are highlighted and a problem description is provided. You can enable or disable services with a single click. The same goes for loading, unloading and ad-hoc starting. Long list of jobs may be filtered. You find what you are looking for in an instant. But LaunchControl is not just another .plist editor. It provides a dedicated interface for every single launchd(8) configuration key. The interface is adaptive. It displays only information that is relevant for the selected job.
Absolute freedom - While the default editing mode in LaunchControl supports all documented features of launchd(8), you may sometimes need to use unofficial features. Switch to 'Expert Mode' and you're set. Both modes are fully synchronized. Changes in one editor will instantly show up in the other one.
Everything you need - LaunchControl provides everything you need to create, edit, remove or debug launch services. It even includes a log viewer, so you don't have to fire up Console.app and build custom queries.
Discover what's possible - launchd(8) currently supports some 36+ documented keys. LaunchControl makes it easy to discover them. Every key in the palette panel is annotated, so you don't have to consult the man page. Search them by category, name or description. Once found, drag an item from the palette section to the configuration section to add this key.

What's new in LaunchControl

Version 1.50.1:

New

Indicate keys containing whitespace/newline characters and offer fix action

Fixed

(Again!) Get rid of "Operation now in progress" dialog when unloading a still running job via QuickLaunch on macOS Catalina (Thanks, Christopher!)
Changed descriptive text in the Look #description#amp; Feel section of the preferences window (Thanks, Ted!)
Help bubbles are drawn off-screen when window id too far to the right screen edge (Thanks, Steffen!)
Misleading tooltip on "Import from Shell…" button in EnvironmentVariables control
Jobs using fdautil are sometimes erroneously marked red in job list (Thanks, Duncan!)

Improved

Improved warnings when shell globbing symbols are found in ProgramArguments
Improved error message for non-existent executable/script specified with an absolute path

58 Reviews of LaunchControl

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This is the most thorough, professional way to manage your LaunchAgents/Daemons. I've tried other tools as well as manually managing them via Finder/Terminal and this is hands down the right way to do it. App has had a steady stream of updates keeping it current with the latest OS releases. Makes it a snap to troubleshoot or add new agents. Indispensable tool, can't recommend enough!

(3)

Worth every penny. For everyone who isn't oblivious by nature, this is a sure thing on an Apple OS. Educate yourself to this. Expand your horizons, and learn to focus on things that matter in a given environment.

(2)

This is a really essential app for anyone who experiments with new software on their Mac. So much software installs extra auto-launching crap that you don't want and don't need, and LaunchControl makes it much easier to find it, inspect it, and disable or remove it. I would gladly give it 5 stars except that LaunchControl also installs its own auto-launch "helper" but without any explanation of why it is needed. It is commiting the same 'crime' that it helps us guard against. Why???? If there is a legitimate need for this items, PLEASE TELL US!

(1)

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I've been using this app since at least early 2017, and possibly earlier than that. I can't remember now. At the time, I had zero to very little experience with LaunchAgents and launchd/cron, and I found myself needing to write a cron job/plist file for my web server. I found some online tutorials, but I still just couldn't quite get the hang of it. Then I discovered this app and bought it right away, choosing it over its competitor, Lingon. Even for someone with no experience, such as myself, this app is fairly easy to use. The developer has done an excellent job of making everything easy to understand in the right-hand side of the app. With this app, I don't need to worry about whether or not my launchd/cron jobs are running or not. Occasionally I'll launch it just to make sure, such as after updating my web server software, but other than that, it just does its thing, and I am happy. So thank you developer. Job well done!

Long time paid user; just realized I had never posted a star review, so I am now addressing that long outstanding oversight. This app has helped me track down errant processes, junk left over from unused/uninstalled apps, and better insight into what some apps are doing under the hood.

Aargl

24 June 2018

Version: 1.40.1

Can any one explain what is the difference between launchd and launchd(8)? Probably a stupid question for those who know, but I couldn't find the explanation nowhere... ;-) And in general, what does that mean when a Terminal command is referred to with a digit like that?

(0)

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If you've ever typed launchctl at the command line, you will be amazed by this tool. This is the quintessential launchd GUI. Even if you once setup a CRON job in the early '90s you'll appreciate the depth of LaunchControl. Every time I have to interact with launchd, I find something new and helpful. This is sublime software that's worth every penny. Today I needed to move a plist from global daemons to global agents. I moved them in the Finder and LaunchControl notified me that permissions needed repair for the agent to run. Boom, there was a simple 'fix' button! Time saved - life better. Thanks!

In my view this is the best software for managing launch agents & daemons. Updates with new features, great support, etc. Buy a license, it's worth it. And also check out BackupLoupe from the same developer, a really great Time Machine browser.

This is still one of the most essential tools for managing an installation of macOS. Lots of programs install launchd agents / daemons, and being able to easily manage them really gives you a lot of control (hence the very practical name of this app)! And of course writing your own agents is so well handled by the great flexibility of the GUI. I enjoy using the command line, but honestly for some things like launchd, a GUI just makes the experience so much better!