Looking in detail at the background and scheduled activities which are loaded during startup. These supersede the previous launchd mechanism, and include routine maintenance.
logs
Waypoints in the log entries encountered during a normal startup of Sierra 10.12.5. Some key messages have changed.
Some subtle improvements which make it much easier to use when working with saved logarchives. A final release candidate?
This makes it much easier to perform repeated analysis and search on logs captured to cover important events, such as crashes and problems.
Conventional log analysis gets precious little from Sierra’s unified log. Automated analysis has much greater potential. Will Apple head in this direction too?
Significant bugs or undesirable features limiting log, Console, and os_log as of 10.12.4.
Sierra 10.12.4 introduced undocumented changes in the log system which may break apps which write to the logs. Here is Blowhole fixed for that change.
Can you tell the difference? What is the significance of each, and do you know what to do about them? An introductory guide.
In an undocumented change, 10.12.4 prevents any access to reading Sierra’s log when in normal user mode – it requires admin mode.
Link to the slides from a masterly review by Sarah Edwards of the new log system in macOS Sierra.
The Eclectic Light Company 