MacOS: configure launchd to run `emacs --fg-daemon` at login

org.gnu.emacs-daemon.plist

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
	<key>Label</key>
	<string>org.gnu.emacs-daemon</string>
	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
	<array>
		<string>/usr/local/bin/emacs</string>
		<string>--fg-daemon</string>
	</array>
	<key>LSUIElement</key>
	<true/>
	<key>RunAtLoad</key>
	<true/>
	<key>ServiceDescription</key>
	<string>Gnu Emacs Daemon</string>
	<key>StandardErrorPath</key>
	<string>{HOME}/Library/logs/emacs-daemon-stderr.log</string>
	<key>StandardOutPath</key>
	<string>{HOME}/Library/logs/emacs-daemon-stdout.log</string>
</dict>
</plist>

Install:

• this config assumes the binary is /usr/local/bin/emacs ... change if needed
• in the plist file, must also replace {HOME} with the full path to your home directory
• then copy the file to {HOME}/Library/LaunchAgents/org.gnu.emacs-daemon.plist

$ launchctl load {HOME}/Library/LaunchAgents/org.gnu.emacs-daemon.plist
$ launchctl start {HOME}/Library/LaunchAgents/org.gnu.emacs-daemon.plist
$ emacsclient -c -n

Caveats:

• the LSUIElement boolean seems to toggle off the dock icon until the first time you actually open a frame. After that, you're stuck with a dock icon even once the client frame is closed.