STPrivilegedTask - Objective C class

Examples

Create and launch task

// Create task
STPrivilegedTask *privilegedTask = [[STPrivilegedTask alloc] init];
[privilegedTask setLaunchPath:@"/usr/bin/touch"];
NSArray *args = [NSArray arrayWithObject:@"/etc/my_test_file"];
[privilegedTask setArguments:args];
// Setting working directory is optional, defaults to /
// NSString *path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] resourcePath];
// [privilegedTask setCurrentDirectoryPath:path];
// Launch it, user is prompted for password
OSStatus err = [privilegedTask launch];
if (err != errAuthorizationSuccess) {
	if (err == errAuthorizationCanceled) {
	 NSLog(@"User cancelled");
	} else {
	 NSLog(@"Something went wrong");
	}
} else {
	NSLog(@"Task successfully launched");
}

Getting task output

// ... launch task
[privilegedTask waitUntilExit];
// Read output file handle for data
NSFileHandle *readHandle = [privilegedTask outputFileHandle];
NSData *outputData = [readHandle readDataToEndOfFile];
NSString *outputString = [[NSString alloc] initWithData:outputData encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding];

Getting output while task runs in background

// ... launch task
NSFileHandle *readHandle = [privilegedTask outputFileHandle];
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self selector:@selector(getOutputData:) name:NSFileHandleReadCompletionNotification object:readHandle];
[readHandle readInBackgroundAndNotify];
// ...
- (void)getOutputData:(NSNotification *)aNotification {
 //get data from notification
 NSData *data = [[aNotification userInfo] objectForKey:NSFileHandleNotificationDataItem];
 
 //make sure there's actual data
 if ([data length]) {
 // do something with the data
 
 // go read more data in the background
 [[aNotification object] readInBackgroundAndNotify];
 } else {
 // do something else
 }
}

Task termination

[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self selector:@selector(privilegedTaskFinished:) name:STPrivilegedTaskDidTerminateNotification object:nil];
- (void)privilegedTaskFinished:(NSNotification *)aNotification {
	// do something
}

privilegedTask.terminationHandler = ^(STPrivilegedTask *privilegedTask) {
 NSLog(@"Terminating task: %@", [privilegedTask description]);
};

AuthorizationExecuteWithPrivileges is deprecated

OSStatus err = [privilegedTask launch];
if (err == errAuthorizationFnNoLongerExists) {
 NSLog(@"AuthorizationExecuteWithPrivileges not available");
}

BSD License

 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 # modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
 # * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 # notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 # * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 # notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 # documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 # * Neither the name of Sveinbjorn Thordarson nor that of any other
 # contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
 # derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
 # 
 # THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
 # ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
 # WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
 # DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY
 # DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
 # (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
 # LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
 # ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
 # (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
 # SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.