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chore(mdm): use launchctl bootstrap/bootout instead of load/unload #98

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chore(mdm): use launchctl bootstrap/bootout instead of load/unload #98

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432bc2f
chore(mdm): use launchctl bootstrap/bootout instead of load/unload
shubham-stepsecurity May 22, 2026
58b0230
fix(launchd): surface bootstrap/bootout failures instead of swallowin…
shubham-stepsecurity May 22, 2026
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43 changes: 34 additions & 9 deletions internal/launchd/launchd.go
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -130,11 +130,22 @@ func Install(exec executor.Executor, log *progress.Logger) error {

log.Debug("launchd install: plist=%q log_dir=%q interval=%ds user_home=%q is_root=%v", plistPath, logDir, intervalSeconds, userHome, exec.IsRoot())

// Load plist
_, _, exitCode, err := exec.Run(ctx, "launchctl", "load", plistPath)
log.Debug("launchctl load %q: exit_code=%d err=%v", plistPath, exitCode, err)
if err != nil || exitCode != 0 {
return fmt.Errorf("failed to load launchd configuration")
// Bootstrap plist into its launchd domain. Apple actively recommends
// `bootstrap`/`bootout` over the older `load`/`unload` verbs, which
// are on the path to deprecation. Root daemons live in the `system`
// domain; user LaunchAgents in `gui/<uid>`. Available since macOS
// 10.11, so every machine we target supports it.
domain := "system"
if !exec.IsRoot() {
domain = fmt.Sprintf("gui/%d", os.Getuid())
}
_, stderr, exitCode, err := exec.Run(ctx, "launchctl", "bootstrap", domain, plistPath)
log.Debug("launchctl bootstrap %q %q: exit_code=%d err=%v stderr=%q", domain, plistPath, exitCode, err, stderr)
if err != nil {
return fmt.Errorf("launchctl bootstrap failed: %w", err)
}
if exitCode != 0 {
return fmt.Errorf("launchctl bootstrap failed (exit code %d): %s", exitCode, strings.TrimSpace(stderr))
}

log.Progress("launchd configuration completed successfully")
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -164,12 +175,26 @@ func doUninstall(ctx context.Context, exec executor.Executor, log *progress.Logg
plistPath = agentPlistPath()
}

// Unload
// Bootout. `bootout` removes a service from its domain regardless of
// how it was originally added, so it works on plists previously
// `launchctl load`-ed by older agent versions during upgrade.
stdout, _, _, _ := exec.Run(ctx, "launchctl", "list")
if strings.Contains(stdout, label) {
_, _, exitCode, err := exec.Run(ctx, "launchctl", "unload", plistPath)
log.Debug("launchctl unload %q: exit_code=%d err=%v", plistPath, exitCode, err)
log.Progress("Unloaded launchd agent")
domain := "system"
if !exec.IsRoot() {
domain = fmt.Sprintf("gui/%d", os.Getuid())
}
target := domain + "/" + label
_, stderr, exitCode, err := exec.Run(ctx, "launchctl", "bootout", target)
log.Debug("launchctl bootout %q: exit_code=%d err=%v stderr=%q", target, exitCode, err, stderr)
switch {
case err != nil:
log.Warn("launchctl bootout failed: %v — the running service may persist until reboot; plist will still be removed", err)
case exitCode != 0:
log.Warn("launchctl bootout failed (exit code %d): %s — the running service may persist until reboot; plist will still be removed", exitCode, strings.TrimSpace(stderr))
default:
log.Progress("Unloaded launchd agent")
}
}

// Remove plist
Expand Down
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