goyoghurt
6/27/2014 - 11:40 AM

How to update and upgrade homebrew with system daemon.

How to update and upgrade homebrew with system daemon.

com.example.brew.upgrade.plist
content_copyfile_download
<?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>Label</key>
		<string>com.example.brew.upgrade</string>
		<key>ProgramArguments</key>
		<array>
			<string>/usr/local/bin/brew</string>
			<string>upgrade</string>
		</array>
		<key>RunAtLoad</key>
		<true/>
		<key>StartCalendarInterval</key>
		<dict>
			<key>Hour</key>
			<integer>12</integer>
			<key>Minute</key>
			<integer>20</integer>
		</dict>
		<key>StandardErrorPath</key>
		<string>/var/log/homebrew/upgrade.log</string>
		<key>StandardOutPath</key>e
		<string>/var/log/homebrew/upgrade.log</string>
	</dict>
</plist>
com.example.brew.update.plist
content_copyfile_download
<?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>Label</key>
		<string>com.example.brew.update</string>
		<key>ProgramArguments</key>
		<array>
			<string>/usr/local/bin/brew</string>
			<string>update</string>
		</array>
		<key>RunAtLoad</key>
		<true/>
		<key>StartCalendarInterval</key>
		<dict>
			<key>Hour</key>
			<integer>12</integer>
			<key>Minute</key>
			<integer>10</integer>
		</dict>
		<key>StandardErrorPath</key>
		<string>/var/log/homebrew/update.log</string>
		<key>StandardOutPath</key>e
		<string>/var/log/homebrew/update.log</string>
	</dict>
</plist>
README.md
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Scheduled updates for homebrew

This two launchdaemon scripts provide scheduled updates and upgrade for homebrew packages.

It will run in the following way:

  • brew update every day at 12:10
  • brew upgrade every day at 12:20

How to install

Create directory to store logs:

$ sudo mkdir -p /var/log/homebrew

There are two options for running those scripts.

For specific user

This will run tasks only when user is logged in.

  1. Put both files to ~/Library/LaunchAgents/
  2. Load both plist files using launchctl load providing absolute path to the plist file

For all users

This way it is possible to run updates regardless of any user active login session. This method, however requires admin privileges, thus run commands below with sudo.

  1. Put both files to /Library/LaunchDaemons/
  2. Fix permissions chmod 644 /Library/LaunchDaemons/*.plist
  3. Make sure that owner is root:wheel by running chown root:wheel /Library/LaunchDaemons/*.plist
  4. Load both plist files using launchctl load providing absolute path to the plist file