How can I distinguish a service form a process in Activity Monitor?
Is there a way to determine if an entry listed in Activity Monitor is a service (daemon) or a process (application)?
Examples:
- Firefox (application)
- com.apple.audio.SandboxHelper (daemon?)
Is there a good definition of what these terms (that I'm using loosely) mean in OS X?
macos activity-monitor
edited Dec 15 '18 at 3:47
Thunderforge
77051329
asked Dec 14 '18 at 14:02
craig
4811520
add a comment |
Is there a way to determine if an entry listed in Activity Monitor is a service (daemon) or a process (application)?
Examples:
- Firefox (application)
- com.apple.audio.SandboxHelper (daemon?)
Is there a good definition of what these terms (that I'm using loosely) mean in OS X?
macos activity-monitor
edited Dec 15 '18 at 3:47
Thunderforge
77051329
asked Dec 14 '18 at 14:02
craig
4811520
1
What do you want to do, once you know the difference? Services are often essential to the parent application process.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:19
I'm just trying to understand the architecture.
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:25
1
Please can you ask a new question for Does the application need to be built in specific way (e.g. no UI, implement certain interfaces) so it can be used as a service?` Ask Different works best when each question is asked separately. Feel free to refer to other questions in your new question.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:37
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345640/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:43
add a comment |
Is there a way to determine if an entry listed in Activity Monitor is a service (daemon) or a process (application)?
Examples:
- Firefox (application)
- com.apple.audio.SandboxHelper (daemon?)
Is there a good definition of what these terms (that I'm using loosely) mean in OS X?
macos activity-monitor
edited Dec 15 '18 at 3:47
Thunderforge
77051329
asked Dec 14 '18 at 14:02
craig
4811520
Is there a way to determine if an entry listed in Activity Monitor is a service (daemon) or a process (application)?
Examples:
- Firefox (application)
- com.apple.audio.SandboxHelper (daemon?)
Is there a good definition of what these terms (that I'm using loosely) mean in OS X?
macos activity-monitor
macos activity-monitor
edited Dec 15 '18 at 3:47
Thunderforge
77051329
asked Dec 14 '18 at 14:02
craig
4811520
edited Dec 15 '18 at 3:47
Thunderforge
77051329
asked Dec 14 '18 at 14:02
craig
4811520
edited Dec 15 '18 at 3:47
Thunderforge
77051329
edited Dec 15 '18 at 3:47
Thunderforge
77051329
edited Dec 15 '18 at 3:47
Thunderforge
77051329
77051329
asked Dec 14 '18 at 14:02
craig
4811520
asked Dec 14 '18 at 14:02
craig
4811520
asked Dec 14 '18 at 14:02
craig
4811520
4811520
1
What do you want to do, once you know the difference? Services are often essential to the parent application process.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:19
I'm just trying to understand the architecture.
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:25
1
Please can you ask a new question for Does the application need to be built in specific way (e.g. no UI, implement certain interfaces) so it can be used as a service?` Ask Different works best when each question is asked separately. Feel free to refer to other questions in your new question.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:37
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345640/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:43
add a comment |
1
What do you want to do, once you know the difference? Services are often essential to the parent application process.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:19
I'm just trying to understand the architecture.
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:25
1
Please can you ask a new question for Does the application need to be built in specific way (e.g. no UI, implement certain interfaces) so it can be used as a service?` Ask Different works best when each question is asked separately. Feel free to refer to other questions in your new question.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:37
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345640/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:43
1
1
What do you want to do, once you know the difference? Services are often essential to the parent application process.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:19
What do you want to do, once you know the difference? Services are often essential to the parent application process.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:19
I'm just trying to understand the architecture.
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:25
I'm just trying to understand the architecture.
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:25
1
1
Please can you ask a new question for Does the application need to be built in specific way (e.g. no UI, implement certain interfaces) so it can be used as a service?` Ask Different works best when each question is asked separately. Feel free to refer to other questions in your new question.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:37
Please can you ask a new question for Does the application need to be built in specific way (e.g. no UI, implement certain interfaces) so it can be used as a service?` Ask Different works best when each question is asked separately. Feel free to refer to other questions in your new question.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:37
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345640/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:43
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345640/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:43
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
All Processes, Hierarchically
Activity Monitor can show the process hierarchy:
Activity Monitor.app > View (menu) > All Processes, Hierarchically
The grouping shows those processes launched by another process. Typically child-process will be services of the parent. On macOS many of these child processes will be XPC instances.
Services are Processes
On macOS, daemons are processes and services are processes. In your example, com.apple.audio.SandboxHelper, this is an XPC service.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:15
Graham Miln
26.7k56188
Why do all processes (exceptkernel_task) run as children oflaunchd?
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:32
3
This would make a great new question. The root process in macOS islaunchdand Apple have decided to put almost every process launch through it. I suspect it has many benefits but those can be discussed in a new question.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:36
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345639/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:40
add a comment |
Technically speaking, anything that gets loaded and executed is a process; so a service is a process.
A service is a nuanced definition of something that gets loaded to provide a service like DHCP or DNS.
A alternative way to sum this up is all services are processes, but not all processes are services. An example would be Firefox, it's a process, but not a service - it's an application.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:09
Allan
42.4k1361154
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "118"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fapple.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f345634%2fhow-can-i-distinguish-a-service-form-a-process-in-activity-monitor%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
All Processes, Hierarchically
Activity Monitor can show the process hierarchy:
Activity Monitor.app > View (menu) > All Processes, Hierarchically
The grouping shows those processes launched by another process. Typically child-process will be services of the parent. On macOS many of these child processes will be XPC instances.
Services are Processes
On macOS, daemons are processes and services are processes. In your example, com.apple.audio.SandboxHelper, this is an XPC service.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:15
Graham Miln
26.7k56188
Why do all processes (exceptkernel_task) run as children oflaunchd?
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:32
3
This would make a great new question. The root process in macOS islaunchdand Apple have decided to put almost every process launch through it. I suspect it has many benefits but those can be discussed in a new question.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:36
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345639/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:40
add a comment |
All Processes, Hierarchically
Activity Monitor can show the process hierarchy:
Activity Monitor.app > View (menu) > All Processes, Hierarchically
The grouping shows those processes launched by another process. Typically child-process will be services of the parent. On macOS many of these child processes will be XPC instances.
Services are Processes
On macOS, daemons are processes and services are processes. In your example, com.apple.audio.SandboxHelper, this is an XPC service.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:15
Graham Miln
26.7k56188
Why do all processes (exceptkernel_task) run as children oflaunchd?
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:32
3
This would make a great new question. The root process in macOS islaunchdand Apple have decided to put almost every process launch through it. I suspect it has many benefits but those can be discussed in a new question.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:36
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345639/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:40
add a comment |
All Processes, Hierarchically
Activity Monitor can show the process hierarchy:
Activity Monitor.app > View (menu) > All Processes, Hierarchically
The grouping shows those processes launched by another process. Typically child-process will be services of the parent. On macOS many of these child processes will be XPC instances.
Services are Processes
On macOS, daemons are processes and services are processes. In your example, com.apple.audio.SandboxHelper, this is an XPC service.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:15
Graham Miln
26.7k56188
All Processes, Hierarchically
Activity Monitor can show the process hierarchy:
Activity Monitor.app > View (menu) > All Processes, Hierarchically
The grouping shows those processes launched by another process. Typically child-process will be services of the parent. On macOS many of these child processes will be XPC instances.
Services are Processes
On macOS, daemons are processes and services are processes. In your example, com.apple.audio.SandboxHelper, this is an XPC service.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:15
Graham Miln
26.7k56188
edited Dec 14 '18 at 16:29
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:15
Graham Miln
26.7k56188
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:15
Graham Miln
26.7k56188
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:15
Graham Miln
26.7k56188
26.7k56188
Why do all processes (exceptkernel_task) run as children oflaunchd?
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:32
3
This would make a great new question. The root process in macOS islaunchdand Apple have decided to put almost every process launch through it. I suspect it has many benefits but those can be discussed in a new question.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:36
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345639/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:40
add a comment |
Why do all processes (exceptkernel_task) run as children oflaunchd?
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:32
3
This would make a great new question. The root process in macOS islaunchdand Apple have decided to put almost every process launch through it. I suspect it has many benefits but those can be discussed in a new question.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:36
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345639/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:40
Why do all processes (except
kernel_task) run as children of launchd?– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:32
Why do all processes (except
kernel_task) run as children of launchd?– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:32
3
3
This would make a great new question. The root process in macOS is
launchd and Apple have decided to put almost every process launch through it. I suspect it has many benefits but those can be discussed in a new question.– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:36
This would make a great new question. The root process in macOS is
launchd and Apple have decided to put almost every process launch through it. I suspect it has many benefits but those can be discussed in a new question.– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:36
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345639/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:40
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345639/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:40
add a comment |
Technically speaking, anything that gets loaded and executed is a process; so a service is a process.
A service is a nuanced definition of something that gets loaded to provide a service like DHCP or DNS.
A alternative way to sum this up is all services are processes, but not all processes are services. An example would be Firefox, it's a process, but not a service - it's an application.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:09
Allan
42.4k1361154
add a comment |
Technically speaking, anything that gets loaded and executed is a process; so a service is a process.
A service is a nuanced definition of something that gets loaded to provide a service like DHCP or DNS.
A alternative way to sum this up is all services are processes, but not all processes are services. An example would be Firefox, it's a process, but not a service - it's an application.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:09
Allan
42.4k1361154
add a comment |
Technically speaking, anything that gets loaded and executed is a process; so a service is a process.
A service is a nuanced definition of something that gets loaded to provide a service like DHCP or DNS.
A alternative way to sum this up is all services are processes, but not all processes are services. An example would be Firefox, it's a process, but not a service - it's an application.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:09
Allan
42.4k1361154
Technically speaking, anything that gets loaded and executed is a process; so a service is a process.
A service is a nuanced definition of something that gets loaded to provide a service like DHCP or DNS.
A alternative way to sum this up is all services are processes, but not all processes are services. An example would be Firefox, it's a process, but not a service - it's an application.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:09
Allan
42.4k1361154
edited Dec 14 '18 at 14:15
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:09
Allan
42.4k1361154
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:09
Allan
42.4k1361154
answered Dec 14 '18 at 14:09
Allan
42.4k1361154
42.4k1361154
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Ask Different!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fapple.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f345634%2fhow-can-i-distinguish-a-service-form-a-process-in-activity-monitor%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
What do you want to do, once you know the difference? Services are often essential to the parent application process.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:19
I'm just trying to understand the architecture.
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:25
1
Please can you ask a new question for Does the application need to be built in specific way (e.g. no UI, implement certain interfaces) so it can be used as a service?` Ask Different works best when each question is asked separately. Feel free to refer to other questions in your new question.
– Graham Miln
Dec 14 '18 at 14:37
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/345640/…
– craig
Dec 14 '18 at 14:43