> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.profclaw.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# profclaw daemon

> Install and manage profClaw as a persistent system service using launchd (macOS) or systemd (Linux).

## Synopsis

```bash theme={null}
profclaw daemon <subcommand> [flags]
```

## Description

`daemon` registers profClaw as an OS-level service so it starts automatically on boot and restarts on failure. On macOS it creates a `launchd` plist at `~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.profclaw.agent.plist`. On Linux it creates a `systemd` user unit at `~/.config/systemd/user/profclaw.service`.

Logs are written to `~/.profclaw/daemon.log` and `~/.profclaw/daemon-error.log` on macOS, and to the system journal on Linux.

## Subcommands

| Subcommand  | Description                                     |
| ----------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| `install`   | Register the service with launchd / systemd     |
| `uninstall` | Remove the service registration                 |
| `start`     | Start the service                               |
| `stop`      | Stop the service                                |
| `restart`   | Restart the service (also rotates logs)         |
| `status`    | Show current service status, PID, and log sizes |
| `logs`      | Tail service logs                               |
| `rotate`    | Rotate log files when > 10 MB (macOS only)      |

## Examples

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Install and start (macOS) theme={null}
  profclaw daemon install
  profclaw daemon start
  ```

  ```bash Install and start (Linux) theme={null}
  profclaw daemon install
  profclaw daemon start
  # Optionally enable start-on-boot
  systemctl --user enable profclaw
  ```

  ```bash Check service status theme={null}
  profclaw daemon status
  ```

  ```bash Tail logs in real time theme={null}
  profclaw daemon logs --follow
  ```

  ```bash Show last 100 lines of error log theme={null}
  profclaw daemon logs --errors -n 100
  ```

  ```bash Restart and rotate logs theme={null}
  profclaw daemon restart
  ```

  ```bash Remove service theme={null}
  profclaw daemon stop
  profclaw daemon uninstall
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## `daemon logs` Flags

<ParamField query="-f, --follow" type="boolean">
  Follow log output in real time. Press `Ctrl+C` to stop.
</ParamField>

<ParamField query="-n, --lines" type="string" default="50">
  Number of lines to show. Maps to `tail -n` on macOS and `journalctl -n` on Linux.
</ParamField>

<ParamField query="--errors" type="boolean">
  Show the error log only (`daemon-error.log` on macOS, journal priority `err` on Linux).
</ParamField>

## Crash Loop Protection

The service is configured with restart limits to prevent runaway crash loops:

| Platform        | Behavior                                                |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| macOS (launchd) | `ThrottleInterval=10s` between restart attempts         |
| Linux (systemd) | Max 5 restart attempts per 60 seconds (`RestartSec=5s`) |

If the limit is hit, use `profclaw doctor` to identify the root cause, then manually start the service again.

## Log Rotation

On macOS, log files rotate automatically when they exceed 10 MB (one `.1` backup kept). On Linux, `journald` handles rotation automatically.

```bash theme={null}
# Manually rotate macOS logs
profclaw daemon rotate
```

## Related

* [`profclaw serve`](/cli/serve) - Start the server in foreground mode
* [`profclaw status`](/cli/status) - Quick system status
* [`profclaw logs`](/cli/logs) - View server logs via the API
* [`profclaw doctor`](/cli/doctor) - Diagnose issues