How to set your Mac to run scripts, apps and other software automatically, and at regular intervals, using launchd and a property list.
cron
Prior to 10.4, Mac OS X used cron, then scheduling became part of the job of launchd. Later Apple added a new subsystem, Duet Activity Scheduler, which continues to evolve.
What does it take for an app to have ‘activities’ managed for efficiency by CTS? Not a lot – but in return, the management is a black box.
In the first article in this series, I explained how a great many background activities in macOS, including […]
Rather than using cron or launchd, many background services in macOS are now run using Centralized Task Scheduling (CTS). This is how it works.
Scheduling background activities like making backups has moved from cron to launchd, and now to a more complex system. This has reduced the reliability of macOS and made it harder to support.
Background activities scheduled by third-party software currently use launchd, and run the risk of affecting the user. Would GCD be a better choice of dispatcher?
Schedule a periodic task as a Launch Agent. How close to the expected time does macOS actually run it?
Does macOS scheduling fail when it has been running for more than 10 days? Irregular backups suggest that it does.
If the kernel is the heart of OS X, launchd is its brain. Use it to run periodic tasks such as synchronising folders automatically.
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