LaunchManager
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macOS 14+ Swift 5.10 MIT License Open Source

Manage launchd jobs
on your Mac

LaunchManager is a native macOS dev-environment control panel — manage LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons, and see what's running on your machine, without editing XML or digging through lsof.

launchd runs the background jobs on every Mac. LaunchManager gives you a clean UI to browse loaded jobs, scan local TCP listeners, fix broken plists, and control services with load, start, and stop — free and open source.

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LaunchManager main window

LaunchManager v1.6.0 is out

A dev-environment control panel alongside launchd management.

What's new: Services

Scan local TCP listeners from the sidebar (refreshes every 3 seconds). See what's running on your machine without digging through lsof or Activity Monitor.

Smarter naming

  • Host mechanisms (Docker port-forward, Colima, SSH tunnels) are labeled clearly — not as raw process names like docker-proxy
  • Known services (Next.js, Redis, PostgreSQL) are identified when we're confident
  • Custom names for anything else — rename in the expanded row and it persists across restarts

Docker-aware

  • Resolves container name, image, and Compose project via docker ps
  • Stop containers with docker stop — no more killing docker-proxy and breaking Docker
  • List split into Docker and Local instance sections

Also improved

  • Full process names from ps (fixes truncated names like cloudflar, ControlCe)
  • Docker CLI works from the GUI app via common install paths + PATH fallback

Everything for everyday dev-environment control

Built for developers who manage launchd jobs and local services on their Mac every day.

🔌

Services scanner

See local TCP listeners in the sidebar — Docker-aware, with smart names and custom labels that persist.

📂

Browse all scopes

User Agents, System Agents, and System Daemons in one sidebar.

✏️

Create & edit jobs

Form-based editing for program path, arguments, and plist fields.

▶️

Load, start, stop

Control jobs from the list. Admin prompt when system scope needs it.

📋

Log viewer

File logs and system log output, without leaving the app.

⚠️

Invalid plist handling

Broken or empty plists show inline, with a one-click delete.

🔓

Open source

MIT licensed. Inspect the code on GitHub or build with Xcode.

See it in action

A focused UI for the jobs that keep your Mac running.

Agent list view
Browse agents and daemons by scope
Create new job form
Create and edit jobs with a guided form

Schedule jobs when you need them

launchd can run jobs on a timer or at login. LaunchManager lets you set those options in the same form — no separate scheduler app required for basic use.

Intervals

Run a script every N seconds.

Calendar

Run at a set time, like a simple cron job.

At login / keep alive

Start on boot or restart if a process exits.

For most users, this covers everyday scheduling without a paid launchd GUI.

Get LaunchManager

macOS 14 Sonoma or later.

Recommended

Homebrew

Fast updates via tap. Best for developers already on Homebrew.

brew tap Sean10000/tap
brew trust --cask sean10000/tap/launchmanager
brew install --cask launchmanager
Direct

Download DMG

Grab the latest release, drag to Applications. Right-click → Open on first launch (not notarized).

Download DMG
Developers

Build from source

Clone the repo and open in Xcode 16. Build and run with ⌘R.

git clone https://github.com/Sean10000/LaunchManager.git
cd LaunchManager
open LaunchManager.xcodeproj

Quick start

Four steps to take control of your launchd jobs.

  1. Pick a scope: User Agents, System Agents, or System Daemons.
  2. Click + to create a job, or the pencil to edit.
  3. Use row actions to load, start, or stop.
  4. Expand a row to see details and logs.

How it compares

A free option for everyday launchd management. Paid tools add extras like AI or an XML editor.

Feature LaunchManager LaunchControl Lingon Pro 10 LaunchD Task Scheduler
Price Free & OSS ~$33 $23.99 $5.00
Browse agents & daemons ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Create & edit (GUI) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Interval & calendar scheduling ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Run at load / keep alive ✓ ✓ ✓ Limited
System Agent / Daemon support ✓ ✓ ✓ (Pro) Limited
Local TCP / port monitoring ✓ Docker-aware ✗ ✗ ✗
Log viewer File + system log Advanced ✓ ✓
Invalid plist detection ✓ inline + delete ✗ ✗ ✗
App must stay running Not required Not required Required Not required
AI assistant ✗ 7 LLM providers ✗ ✗
Open source MIT ✗ ✗ ✗

Power users needing an AI assistant or expert XML editor may prefer LaunchControl.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about LaunchManager.

What is LaunchManager?

A native macOS app to manage LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons, scan local TCP services, and control Docker containers — all from a GUI instead of hand-editing plists or running lsof.

Do jobs keep running after I quit the app?

Yes. launchd runs loaded jobs. LaunchManager is only for setup and control.

Can I manage system-level jobs?

Yes, with admin approval when needed.

What do I need to run it?

macOS 14+, via Homebrew, DMG, or build from source.

Support the project

If LaunchManager saved you time, feel free to buy me a coffee. Americano is better. ☕

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