macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install launch_socket_serverlocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 10743
Install launch_socket_server with Homebrew
Bind to privileged ports without running a server as root. Version 2.0.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-09-13.
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 5 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.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- macOS
/Library/LaunchDaemons/<identifier>.plist
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 generated2026-11-04
manager version2.0.0
manager updated2026-09-13
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv2.0.0
https://github.com/mistydemeo/launch_socket_server
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
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 |
| Last updated | 2026-09-13T03:38:39Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Build dependencies | go |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_golden_gate, 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 configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation