launchd: restore gui domain defaults

User-domain agents are not rediscovered from the user LaunchAgents directory after reboot. Let built-in agents inherit the GUI default while keeping explicit user-domain configuration available.
2026-07-15 10:25:32 -05:00 · 2026-07-15 10:25:32 -05:00 · 165228b0ef
commit 165228b0ef
parent 6dc9e081ba
47 changed files with 11 additions and 83 deletions
--- a/docs/release-notes/rl-2611.md
+++ b/docs/release-notes/rl-2611.md
@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ This release has the following notable changes:

 - On Darwin, Home Manager launchd agents now support
  [](#opt-launchd.agents._name_.domain) to choose either the user's GUI or
-  background launchd domain. Background services provided by Home Manager now
-  use the user domain, which allows activations from contexts such as SSH
-  sessions without requiring an active graphical login session.
+  background launchd domain. Agents use the GUI domain by default. Set the
+  domain to `user` for agents that should run without an active graphical login
+  session.

 ## State Version Changes {#sec-release-26.11-state-version-changes}

--- a/modules/misc/news/2026/06/2026-06-18_02-02-00.nix
+++ b/modules/misc/news/2026/06/2026-06-18_02-02-00.nix
@ -6,10 +6,8 @@
  message = ''

    Home Manager launchd agents now support the
-    `launchd.agents.<name>.domain` option. Background services provided by Home
-    Manager use the user launchd domain by default, so they can be managed from
-    SSH and other non-graphical sessions. Set
-    `launchd.agents.<name>.domain = "gui"` for agents that need the graphical
-    session.
+    `launchd.agents.<name>.domain` option. Agents use the GUI launchd domain by
+    default. Set `launchd.agents.<name>.domain = "user"` for agents that should
+    run without an active graphical login session.
  '';
 }
--- a/modules/programs/atuin.nix
+++ b/modules/programs/atuin.nix
@ -303,7 +303,6 @@ in

          launchd.agents.atuin-daemon = {
            enable = true;
-            domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
            config = {
              ProgramArguments = [ (lib.getExe cfg.package) ] ++ daemonArgs;
              EnvironmentVariables = lib.optionalAttrs (daemonCfg.logLevel != null) {
--- a/modules/programs/git.nix
+++ b/modules/programs/git.nix
@ -609,7 +609,6 @@ in
          {
            "git-maintenance-hourly" = {
              enable = true;
-              domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
              config = {
                ProgramArguments = baseArguments ++ [ "--schedule=hourly" ];
                StartCalendarInterval = map (hour: {
@ -620,7 +619,6 @@ in
            };
            "git-maintenance-daily" = {
              enable = true;
-              domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
              config = {
                ProgramArguments = baseArguments ++ [ "--schedule=daily" ];
                StartCalendarInterval = map (weekday: {
@ -632,7 +630,6 @@ in
            };
            "git-maintenance-weekly" = {
              enable = true;
-              domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
              config = {
                ProgramArguments = baseArguments ++ [ "--schedule=weekly" ];
                StartCalendarInterval = [
--- a/modules/programs/nh.nix
+++ b/modules/programs/nh.nix
@ -151,7 +151,6 @@ in

    launchd.agents.nh-clean = lib.mkIf cfg.clean.enable {
      enable = true;
-      domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
      config = {
        ProgramArguments = [
          "${lib.getExe cfg.package}"
--- a/modules/programs/opencode.nix
+++ b/modules/programs/opencode.nix
@ -631,7 +631,6 @@ in
    launchd.agents = mkIf webCfg.enable {
      opencode-web = {
        enable = true;
-        domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
        config = {
          ProgramArguments =
            let
--- a/modules/programs/rclone.nix
+++ b/modules/programs/rclone.nix
@ -160,7 +160,6 @@ let
    in
    {
      enable = true;
-      domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
      config = {
        ProgramArguments = [
          (lib.getExe rcloneSidecarWrapper)
@ -620,7 +619,6 @@ in
      mkLaunchdConfigService = lib.mkIf (cfg.remotes != { }) {
        rclone-config = {
          enable = true;
-          domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
          config = {
            ProgramArguments = [ (lib.getExe rcloneConfigScript) ];
            RunAtLoad = true;
--- a/modules/services/borgmatic.nix
+++ b/modules/services/borgmatic.nix
@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ in

    launchd.agents.borgmatic = {
      enable = true;
-      domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
      config = {
        ProgramArguments = [
          (lib.getExe programConfig.package)
--- a/modules/services/colima.nix
+++ b/modules/services/colima.nix
@ -265,7 +265,6 @@ in
        name: profile:
        lib.nameValuePair "colima-${name}" {
          enable = true;
-          domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
          config = {
            ProgramArguments = [
              "${lib.getExe cfg.package}"
--- a/modules/services/emacs.nix
+++ b/modules/services/emacs.nix
@ -218,7 +218,6 @@ in

    launchd.agents.emacs = {
      enable = true;
-      domain = lib.mkDefault (if cfg.startWithUserSession == "graphical" then "gui" else "user");
      config = {
        ProgramArguments = [
          "${cfg.package}/bin/emacs"
--- a/modules/services/exo.nix
+++ b/modules/services/exo.nix
@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ in

    launchd.agents.exo = {
      enable = true;
-      domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
      config = {
        ProgramArguments = [ (lib.getExe cfg.package) ] ++ cfg.extraArgs;
        EnvironmentVariables = cfg.environmentVariables;
--- a/modules/services/git-sync.nix
+++ b/modules/services/git-sync.nix
@ -108,7 +108,6 @@ in
    launchd.agents = services (
      _name: repo: {
        enable = true;
-        domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
        config = {
          StartInterval = repo.interval;
          ProcessType = "Background";
--- a/modules/services/glance.nix
+++ b/modules/services/glance.nix
@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ in

    launchd.agents.glance = mkIf (cfg.package != null) {
      enable = true;
-      domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
      config = {
        ProgramArguments = [
          (getExe cfg.package)
--- a/modules/services/home-manager-auto-expire.nix
+++ b/modules/services/home-manager-auto-expire.nix
@ -105,7 +105,6 @@ in

    launchd.agents.home-manager-auto-expire = {
      enable = true;
-      domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
      config = {
        ProgramArguments = [ (toString script) ];
        ProcessType = "Background";
--- a/modules/services/imapnotify/default.nix
+++ b/modules/services/imapnotify/default.nix
@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ let
      name = "imapnotify-${name}";
      value = {
        enable = true;
-        domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
        config = {
          # Use the nix store path for config to ensure service restarts when it changes
          ProgramArguments = [
--- a/modules/services/mpd.nix
+++ b/modules/services/mpd.nix
@ -254,7 +254,6 @@ in

      launchd.agents.mpd = {
        enable = true;
-        domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
        config = {
          ProgramArguments = [
            (lib.getExe cfg.package)
--- a/modules/services/nix-gc.nix
+++ b/modules/services/nix-gc.nix
@ -121,7 +121,6 @@ in

    launchd.agents.nix-gc = {
      enable = true;
-      domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
      config = {
        ProgramArguments = [
          "${nixPackage}/bin/nix-collect-garbage"
--- a/modules/services/ollama.nix
+++ b/modules/services/ollama.nix
@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ in

    launchd.agents.ollama = {
      enable = true;
-      domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
      config = {
        ProgramArguments = [
          "${lib.getExe ollamaPackage}"
--- a/modules/services/podman/darwin.nix
+++ b/modules/services/podman/darwin.nix
@ -311,7 +311,6 @@ in
          name: machine:
          nameValuePair "podman-machine-${name}" {
            enable = true;
-            domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
            config = {
              ProgramArguments = [ "${mkWatchdogScript name machine}" ];
              KeepAlive = {
--- a/modules/services/pueue.nix
+++ b/modules/services/pueue.nix
@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ in

    launchd.agents.pueued = lib.mkIf (cfg.package != null) {
      enable = true;
-      domain = lib.mkDefault "user";

      config = {
        ProgramArguments = [
--- a/modules/services/ssh-agent.nix
+++ b/modules/services/ssh-agent.nix
@ -105,7 +105,6 @@ in

    launchd.agents.ssh-agent = {
      enable = true;
-      domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
      config = {
        ProgramArguments = [
          (lib.getExe pkgs.bash)
--- a/modules/services/syncthing.nix
+++ b/modules/services/syncthing.nix
@ -943,7 +943,6 @@ in
      launchd.agents = {
        syncthing = {
          enable = true;
-          domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
          config = {
            ProgramArguments = [
              "${pkgs.writers.writeBash "syncthing-wrapper" ''
--- a/modules/services/tldr-update.nix
+++ b/modules/services/tldr-update.nix
@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ in

    launchd.agents.tldr-update = {
      enable = true;
-      domain = lib.mkDefault "user";
      config = {
        ProgramArguments = [
          (lib.getExe cfg.package)
--- a/tests/modules/programs/git/expected-agent-daily.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/programs/git/expected-agent-daily.plist
@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 <dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.git-maintenance-daily</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
 	<array>
 		<string>/bin/sh</string>
--- a/tests/modules/programs/git/expected-agent-hourly.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/programs/git/expected-agent-hourly.plist
@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 <dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.git-maintenance-hourly</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
 	<array>
 		<string>/bin/sh</string>
--- a/tests/modules/programs/git/expected-agent-weekly.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/programs/git/expected-agent-weekly.plist
@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 <dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.git-maintenance-weekly</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
 	<array>
 		<string>/bin/sh</string>
--- a/tests/modules/programs/nh/darwin/launchd.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/programs/nh/darwin/launchd.plist
@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 <dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.nh-clean</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
 	<array>
 		<string>/bin/sh</string>
--- a/tests/modules/programs/opencode/web-service-environment-file.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/programs/opencode/web-service-environment-file.plist
@ -11,8 +11,6 @@
 	</dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.opencode-web</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
--- a/tests/modules/programs/opencode/web-service.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/programs/opencode/web-service.plist
@ -11,8 +11,6 @@
 	</dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.opencode-web</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
--- a/tests/modules/services/borgmatic/darwin/expected-agent.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/borgmatic/darwin/expected-agent.plist
@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 <dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.borgmatic</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
--- a/tests/modules/services/colima/darwin/colima-docker-cli-expected.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/colima/darwin/colima-docker-cli-expected.plist
@ -22,8 +22,6 @@
 	</dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.colima-default</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
 	<array>
 		<string>/bin/sh</string>
--- a/tests/modules/services/colima/darwin/expected-agent.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/colima/darwin/expected-agent.plist
@ -18,8 +18,6 @@
 	</dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.colima-default</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
 	<array>
 		<string>/bin/sh</string>
--- a/tests/modules/services/emacs/darwin/expected-agent.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/emacs/darwin/expected-agent.plist
@ -11,8 +11,6 @@
 	</dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.emacs</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
 	<array>
 		<string>/bin/sh</string>
--- a/tests/modules/services/git-sync/darwin/expected-agent.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/git-sync/darwin/expected-agent.plist
@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 <dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.git-sync-test</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
--- a/tests/modules/services/glance/default-settings.nix
+++ b/tests/modules/services/glance/default-settings.nix
@ -18,12 +18,10 @@
      serviceFile=$(normalizeStorePaths $serviceFile)
      assertFileExists "$serviceFile"
      assertFileContent "$serviceFile" ${./glance.plist}
-      assertFileContains "$serviceFile" '<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>'
-      assertFileContains "$serviceFile" '<string>Background</string>'

      domainFile=LaunchAgentDomains/org.nix-community.home.glance.domain
-      assertFileContent "$domainFile" ${builtins.toFile "expected-domain" "user\n"}
-      assertFileContains activate 'domain="user/$(id -u)"'
+      assertFileContent "$domainFile" ${builtins.toFile "expected-domain" "gui\n"}
+      assertFileContains activate 'domain="gui/$(id -u)"'
      assertFileContains activate 'launchctl kickstart -k "$domain/org.nix-community.home.glance"'
    '')
  ];
--- a/tests/modules/services/glance/domain-override.nix
+++ b/tests/modules/services/glance/domain-override.nix
@ -2,13 +2,13 @@

 {
  services.glance.enable = true;
-  launchd.agents.glance.domain = "gui";
+  launchd.agents.glance.domain = "user";

  nmt.script = lib.mkIf pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin ''
    domainFile=LaunchAgentDomains/org.nix-community.home.glance.domain
    assertFileExists "$domainFile"
-    assertFileContent "$domainFile" ${builtins.toFile "expected-domain" "gui\n"}
-    assertFileContains activate 'domain="gui/$(id -u)"'
+    assertFileContent "$domainFile" ${builtins.toFile "expected-domain" "user\n"}
+    assertFileContains activate 'domain="user/$(id -u)"'
    assertFileContains activate 'launchctl kickstart -k "$domain/org.nix-community.home.glance"'
  '';
 }
--- a/tests/modules/services/glance/glance.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/glance/glance.plist
@ -6,8 +6,6 @@
 	<true/>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.glance</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
 	<array>
 		<string>/bin/sh</string>
--- a/tests/modules/services/home-manager-auto-expire/darwin/expected-agent.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/home-manager-auto-expire/darwin/expected-agent.plist
@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 <dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.home-manager-auto-expire</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
--- a/tests/modules/services/imapnotify/darwin/launchd.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/imapnotify/darwin/launchd.plist
@ -13,8 +13,6 @@
 	<true/>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.imapnotify-hm-example.com</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
--- a/tests/modules/services/nix-gc/darwin/expected-agent.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/nix-gc/darwin/expected-agent.plist
@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 <dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.nix-gc</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
 	<array>
 		<string>/bin/sh</string>
--- a/tests/modules/services/ollama/darwin/expected-agent.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/ollama/darwin/expected-agent.plist
@ -20,8 +20,6 @@
 	</dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.ollama</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
--- a/tests/modules/services/podman/darwin/basic-expected-agent.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/podman/darwin/basic-expected-agent.plist
@ -11,8 +11,6 @@
 	</dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.podman-machine-podman-machine-default</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
--- a/tests/modules/services/podman/darwin/custom-machines-dev-expected-agent.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/podman/darwin/custom-machines-dev-expected-agent.plist
@ -11,8 +11,6 @@
 	</dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.podman-machine-dev-machine</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
--- a/tests/modules/services/ssh-agent/darwin/basic-service-expected.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/ssh-agent/darwin/basic-service-expected.plist
@ -11,8 +11,6 @@
 	</dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.ssh-agent</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
--- a/tests/modules/services/ssh-agent/darwin/pkcs11-service-expected.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/ssh-agent/darwin/pkcs11-service-expected.plist
@ -11,8 +11,6 @@
 	</dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.ssh-agent</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
--- a/tests/modules/services/ssh-agent/darwin/timeout-service-expected.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/ssh-agent/darwin/timeout-service-expected.plist
@ -11,8 +11,6 @@
 	</dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.ssh-agent</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
--- a/tests/modules/services/syncthing/expected-agent.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/syncthing/expected-agent.plist
@ -11,8 +11,6 @@
 	</dict>
 	<key>Label</key>
 	<string>org.nix-community.home.syncthing</string>
-	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
-	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProcessType</key>
 	<string>Background</string>
 	<key>ProgramArguments</key>