Re: Launch kernel and packages from Mac OS's launchd utility
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg111989] Re: Launch kernel and packages from Mac OS's launchd utility
- From: peter <plindsay.0 at gmail.com>
- Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 02:39:59 -0400 (EDT)
Not sure this helps but if you want to run a shell script at regular intervals I'd use the free mac utility Lingon if you're running Leopard / Snow Leopard. Peter On 21 August 2010 09:17, Garapata <warsaw95826 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_frm/thread/6e781c5e0c770fbc/9fb5f9ba198e87ea?lnk==gst&q==Garapata#9fb5f9ba198e87ea) > > 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 > >