installing a SMAppService based LaunchDaemon from the command line

our app has a helper to perform privileged operations.

previously that helper was installed via SMJobBless() into the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ and /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/

we also had a script that would install the helper from the command-line, which was essential for enterprise users that could not manually install the helper on all their employee's Macs. the script would copy the files to their install location and would use launchctl bootstrap system as the CLI alternative to SMJobBless(). the full script is here: https://pastebin.com/FkzuAWwV

due to various issues with the old SMJobBless() approach we have ported to helper to the new SMAppService API where the helpers do not need to be installed but remain within the app bundle ( [[SMAppService daemonServiceWithPlistName:HELPER_PLIST_NAME] registerAndReturnError:&err] )

however, we are having trouble writing a (remote-capable) CLI script to bootstrap the new helper for those users that need to install the helper on many Macs at once. running the trivial

sudo launchctl bootstrap system /Applications/MacUpdater.app/Contents/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.corecode.MacUpdaterPrivilegedInstallHelperTool2.plist

would just result in a non-informative:

Bootstrap failed: 5: Input/output error

various other tries with launchctl bootstrap/kickstart/enable yielded nothing promising.

so, whats the command-line way to install a SMAppService based helper daemon? obviously 'installing' means both 'registering' (which we do with registerAndReturnError in the GUI app) and 'approving' (which a GUI user needs to manually do by clicking on the notification or by going into System Settings).

thanks in advance!

p.s. we wanted to submit this as a DTS TSI, but those are no longer available without spending another day on a reduced sample projects. words fail me.

p.p.s. bonus points for a CLI way to give FDA permissions to the app!

installing a SMAppService based LaunchDaemon from the command line
 
 
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