Why is cron being deprecated?
With the release of Mac OS 10.4, launchd was picked to supersede cron in Mac OS. Below is a cached version of the launchd page from the Apple Developer Connection in 2005. It clarifies why cron was deprecated, along with the advantages of launchd from Apple is viewpoint.
The recap : launchd was developed to not simply change cron yet additionally init, xinetd for far better efficiency, and also far better control over arrangement and also the real jobs themselves.
The
launchddaemon supplies a solitary, standard, user interface to any kind of and also all programs began instantly by the system. In addition, the arrangement submits that established when to run an offered program can additionally define source restrictions and also setting variables, which streamlines arrangement and also protection for several programs. The very same arrangement documents layout is made use of whether a work is released as soon as at system start-up or customer login, as needed over the network, or at periods.
The wikipedia write-up on launchd has a great recap, expanded conversations along with some wonderful video clips and also exterior web links for a much deeper study this choice by Apple.
In short, launchd changes 7 significant jobs and also a considerable amount of manuscripts ( inetd , init and also rc and also linked covering manuscript frameworks, crond , atd , watchdogd , SystemStarter ) with one far more effective open sourced device.
Why :
- much faster
- extra effective
- linked and also systematized
- extra safe and secure
When : 29 April 2005 (When OS X Tiger was launched offer for sale)
There is absolutely nothing from stopping all of us from making use of launchd to start cron currently on Tiger, Leopard or Snow Leopard.
Needs to future Apple stop delivering /usr/sbin/cron, it will undoubtedly wind up like wget and also various other fully grown open resource devices that get assembled and also require to be included as a different command line device.