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Source-grounded rewrite of 529 published docs pages with per-unit information-loss verification: 1,713 factual corrections cited to src/**, generated surfaces regenerated, frontmatter titles preserved for i18n, release notes pages untouched. All docs gates green. Closes #100141
73 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
73 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
---
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summary: "Gateway lifecycle on macOS (launchd)"
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read_when:
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- Integrating the mac app with the gateway lifecycle
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title: "Gateway lifecycle on macOS"
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---
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The macOS app manages the Gateway via **launchd** by default and does not
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spawn the Gateway as a child process. It first tries to attach to an
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already-running Gateway on the configured port; if none is reachable, it
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enables the launchd service via the external `openclaw` CLI (no embedded
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runtime). This gives reliable auto-start at login and restart on crashes.
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Child-process mode (Gateway spawned directly by the app) is **not in use**
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today. If you need tighter coupling to the UI, run the Gateway manually in a
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terminal.
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## Default behavior (launchd)
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- The app installs a per-user LaunchAgent labeled `ai.openclaw.gateway` (or
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`ai.openclaw.<profile>` when using `--profile`/`OPENCLAW_PROFILE`).
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- When Local mode is enabled, the app ensures the LaunchAgent is loaded and
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starts the Gateway if needed.
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- Logs are written to the launchd gateway log path (visible in Debug Settings).
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Common commands:
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```bash
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launchctl kickstart -k gui/$UID/ai.openclaw.gateway
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launchctl bootout gui/$UID/ai.openclaw.gateway
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```
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Replace the label with `ai.openclaw.<profile>` when running a named profile.
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## Unsigned dev builds
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`scripts/restart-mac.sh --no-sign` is for fast local builds without signing
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keys. To stop launchd from pointing at an unsigned relay binary, it writes
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`~/.openclaw/disable-launchagent`.
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Signed runs of `scripts/restart-mac.sh` clear this override if the marker is
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present. To reset manually:
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```bash
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rm ~/.openclaw/disable-launchagent
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```
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## Attach-only mode
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To force the macOS app to never install or manage launchd, launch it with
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`--attach-only` (or `--no-launchd`). This sets
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`~/.openclaw/disable-launchagent`, so the app only attaches to an already
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running Gateway. Toggle the same behavior in Debug Settings.
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## Remote mode
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Remote mode never starts a local Gateway. The app uses an SSH tunnel to the
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remote host and connects over that tunnel.
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## Why we prefer launchd
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- Auto-start at login.
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- Built-in restart/KeepAlive semantics.
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- Predictable logs and supervision.
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If a true child-process mode is ever needed again, it should be documented as
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a separate, explicit dev-only mode.
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## Related
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- [macOS app](/platforms/macos)
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- [Gateway runbook](/gateway)
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