OSX launchd plist for node forever process

Question

I am trying to write a launchd.plist file for my node server. I am using forever to run my node server. I would like the server to start on boot. I would also like to wait for the mongodb launchd plist to run first.

I installed mongobb using homebrew and it came with a launchd.plist already. I have executed the following:

$ launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.mongodb.plist

plist for mongodb is:

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
  <key>Label</key>
  <string>homebrew.mxcl.mongodb</string>
  <key>ProgramArguments</key>
  <array>
    <string>/usr/local/opt/mongodb/mongod</string>
    <string>run</string>
    <string>--config</string>
    <string>/usr/local/etc/mongod.conf</string>
  </array>
  <key>RunAtLoad</key>
  <true/>
  <key>KeepAlive</key>
  <false/>
  <key>WorkingDirectory</key>
  <string>/usr/local</string>
  <key>StandardErrorPath</key>
  <string>/usr/local/var/log/mongodb/output.log</string>
  <key>StandardOutPath</key>
  <string>/usr/local/var/log/mongodb/output.log</string>
  <key>HardResourceLimits</key>
  <dict>
    <key>NumberOfFiles</key>
    <integer>1024</integer>
  </dict>
  <key>SoftResourceLimits</key>
  <dict>
    <key>NumberOfFiles</key>
    <integer>1024</integer>
  </dict>
</dict>
</plist>

If I shutdown the computer and restart mongodb fires up as it should.

However my node server is not starting. Any ideas?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
    <dict>
        <key>KeepAlive</key>
        <dict>
            <key>SuccessfulExit</key>
            <false/>
        </dict>
        <key>Label</key>
        <string>com.test.app</string>
        <key>ProgramArguments</key>
        <array>
            <string>/usr/local/bin/forever</string>
            <string>-a</string>
            <string>-l</string>
            <string>/var/log/app/app.log</string>
            <string>-e</string>
            <string>/var/log/app/app_error.log</string>
            <string>/data/server/app.js</string>
        </array>
        <key>RunAtLoad</key>
        <true/>
        <key>StartInterval</key>
        <integer>3600</integer>
    </dict>
</plist>

EDIT:

writing to log file and I see this:

env: node: No such file or directory

I think this means that the node binary cannot be found. I can echo $PATH and /usr/local/bin is in my path. I can start node from the terminal. Ideas?

Answer 1

Add environment Variables worked for me.

<key>EnvironmentVariables</key>
<dict>
  <key>PATH</key>
  <string>/usr/local/bin/:$PATH</string>
</dict>

You may also need to add WorkingDirectory to your node app.

<key>WorkingDirectory</key>
<string>path/to/your/node/app</string>

Answer 2

I had this problem too, but I solved it using an Automator app that runs at startup.

1. Open Automator and choose, New Application

2. Insert in your workflow "Run Shell Script"

3. Use this code in the shell script, changing the paths to your paths

export PATH=/usr/local/bin/:$PATH
cd /path/to/your/nodejs/app
forever start app.js

4. Go to System Preferences >> User & Groups and click on Login Items tab

5. Add your Automator app and be happy.

The important part of the solution is the first line of the script (adding your bin to the path). It would probably work to add a Startup Item pointed at a bash script too (and no Automator script), feel free to try!