launchd-manage

Manage and monitor the dotfiles auto-sync launchd agent on macOS. This skill provides complete control over a scheduled background job that automatically synchronizes dotfiles to GitHub every hour.

Overview

The auto-sync agent is a launchd background service that monitors and syncs dotfiles to GitHub on a regular schedule.

**Key Components:**

Instructions

When the user asks about auto-sync, launchd, dotfiles synchronization, or background jobs, follow these steps:

1. Status Check

First, check the current state of the launchd agent:

```bash

launchctl list | grep dotfiles

```

Then view the most recent log entries:

```bash

tail -20 ~/Library/Logs/dotfiles-sync.log

```

2. Detailed Investigation

If the user needs more details, check the plist configuration:

```bash

cat ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.user.dotfiles-sync.plist

```

And verify the sync script:

```bash

cat /Users/snkrheadz/ghq/github.com/snkrheadz/laptop/scripts/auto-sync.sh

```

3. Stop the Agent

To disable auto-sync:

```bash

launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.user.dotfiles-sync.plist

```

4. Start the Agent

To enable auto-sync:

```bash

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.user.dotfiles-sync.plist

```

5. Restart the Agent

To restart the service (stop then start):

```bash

launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.user.dotfiles-sync.plist && \

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.user.dotfiles-sync.plist

```

6. Manual Sync

To trigger an immediate sync outside the schedule:

```bash

/Users/snkrheadz/ghq/github.com/snkrheadz/laptop/scripts/auto-sync.sh

```

7. Validate Configuration

To check plist syntax:

```bash

plutil -lint ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.user.dotfiles-sync.plist

```

8. View Full Log

To see complete log history:

```bash

cat ~/Library/Logs/dotfiles-sync.log | tail -50

```

How auto-sync.sh Works

The sync script performs these steps:

1. Navigate to dotfiles directory

2. Run `brew bundle dump --force` to update Brewfile

3. Stage all changes with `git add -A`

4. Commit only if there are changes

5. Push to remote repository

Troubleshooting Flow

When the user reports sync issues:

1. **Check agent status** with `launchctl list | grep dotfiles`

2. **Review recent logs** to identify the last execution result

3. **Run manual sync** to test script functionality

4. **Restart agent** if necessary

5. **Validate plist** for configuration errors

Example Usage

Important Notes