macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install launch_socket_serverlocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 10396
Install launch_socket_server with Homebrew
Bind to privileged ports without running a server as root. Version 2.0.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Bind to privileged ports without running a server as root
Project links
Commands and aliases
- launch_socket_server
history
Project history and usage
launch_socket_server is a small macOS utility for accepting connections on privileged ports without running the application server as root. It sits between launchd and an unprivileged server, proxying launchd-activated sockets to a Unix-domain socket or local TCP port.
Project history
The upstream repository was created on 2014-11-07 under Sam Stephenson's GitHub account and later appears in Homebrew metadata through Misty De Meo's maintained repository URL. The README is direct and narrow: the problem is binding ports below 1024 on OS X without root; the solution is to run the server through launch_socket_server.
Adoption history
Adoption appears niche and macOS-specific. Homebrew packages it as a single executable for users who want launchd socket activation to front an unprivileged development or local service process.
How it is used
Users create a launch daemon plist that has launchd listen on a privileged port, then configure launch_socket_server to start the real server as a less-privileged user and pass the socket path through LAUNCH_PROGRAM_SOCKET_PATH.
Why package nerds care
The package is interesting because it exposes a native macOS service-management pattern as a tiny command-line utility. It packages policy separation: let launchd own privileged binding, while application code runs without root.
Timeline
- 2014: GitHub repository created on 2014-11-07.
- 2014: Repository pushed activity recorded through 2014-11-10.
- 2020s: Homebrew metadata packages the tool as launch_socket_server.
Related projects
- Related technologies include launchd, launch_activate_socket, Unix-domain sockets, local TCP proxying, and macOS launch daemon plists.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: orange
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. formula declares a Homebrew service.
Risk classifier
orange risk · medium confidence · infrastructure
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
- formula declares a Homebrew service
Signals
- metadata:service
- text:server
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Formula metadata declares a service or daemon block.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 4 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 1 build dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
launch_socket_server | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-08-04
manager version2.0.0
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv2.0.0
https://github.com/mistydemeo/launch_socket_server
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:launch_socket_server |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.0.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/launch_socket_server |
| Homepage | https://github.com/mistydemeo/launch_socket_server |
| Repository | https://github.com/mistydemeo/launch_socket_server |
| License | MIT |
| Source archive | https://github.com/mistydemeo/launch_socket_server/archive/refs/tags/v2.0.0.tar.gz |
| Build dependencies | go |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | launch_socket_server |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Requirements |
|
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation