Re: Launch kernel and packages from Mac OS's launchd utility
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg111961] Re: Launch kernel and packages from Mac OS's launchd utility
- From: David Reiss <dbreiss at gmail.com>
- Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 08:09:36 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <i4o23m$aim$1@smc.vnet.net>
I haven't used launchd, but rather just use crontab -- this way the approach (for the project for my consulting client) works on Linux as well. It has worked quite well. Note that, if you use the -init approach rather than the -run approach, you may encounter problems. if the code is in the init.m file and you use -init, then the code may run before other components of the Mathematica system are loaded; this can cause unexpected results ( the -init approach is the one I first took, but I then went over to the -run method after encountering such issues). So I recommend staying with the -run approach, which ensures that the whole system is up and running before your code is executed. I hope this helps... --David http://scientificarts.com/worklife On Aug 21, 4:17 am, Garapata <warsaw95... at mypacks.net> wrote: > This question follows up on an earlier one where I needed to find out > how to launch the Mathematica kernel and a package from the command > line on a Mac. > > (See:http://groups.google.com/group/comp.soft-sys.math.mathematica/browse= _...) > > The required syntax for the command line looks something like this: > > /Applications/Mathematica.app/Contents/MacOS/MathKernel -run "<</ > Path.../myAutoRun.m" > > myAutoRun.m has initialized cells that do some stuff and then quit the > kernel. Works fine. > > For my next step, I'd like to run the kernel and myAutoRun.m from a > Mac's "launchd" utility and set it up to launch and run the package at > specific intervals automatically without further human participation. > Apple created launched to integrate a bunch of UNIX utilities like > cron. > Ostensibly, one can use it to launch daemons, process, and programs > from a launchd "property list", basically an XML file that the system > runs at startup. > So, following Apple's documentation something like this ought to work: > > <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> > <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC -//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN > http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd> > <plist version="1.0"> > <dict> > <key>Label</key> > <string>myAutoRun test</string> > <key>Program</key> > <string>//Applications/Mathematica.app/Contents/MacOS/MathKernel</ > string> > <key>ProgramArguments</key> > <array> > <string>MathKernel</string> > <string> -run </string> > <string> "<</path/myAutoRun.m"</string> > </array> > <key>StartIntervall</key> > <integer>3600</integer> > </dict> > </plist> > > The stuff between <dict> and </dict> does the specific work. > The section: > <key>ProgramArguments</key> > <array> > <string>MathKernel</string> > <string> -run </string> > <string> "<</path/myAutoRun.m"</string> > </array> > > identifies what to run (apparently, with launchd one can't put the > entire command on a single line like you can from a cmd prompt, hence > the array). > > and finally the StartInterval section should launch the kernel and run > the package every 3600 seconds (each hour) > > Looks good in theory, but it seems launchd doesn't know what to do > with the Mathematica command: > > <string> "<</path/myAutoRun.m"</string> > > following the -run option. > > I've started trying to use: > > -initfile " file" > > which the documentation mentions, but doesn't discuss in detail (that > I've found). I think it should "execute the commands in the > initialization file, ' file' during startup". > > Sorry for the long winded explanation. > > Now, a number of questions. > > Can I get launchd to launch the kernel and run the package? > How do I do it? > Does a better approach exist? > > If anyone can offer general insight or guidelines for auto running > packages and the issues involved, that would help a lot. > > Thanks to all. > > G