Why can't I use `launchctl setenv` from `tmux`?

Question

If I'm running within tmux and I try to update an environment variable with launchctl, I see an error like this:

$ launchctl setenv GIT_SSH /opt/local/bin/ssh
Not privileged to set domain environment.

But it works fine from outside of tmux... any idea why that is, or if there's any sort of workaround?

Answer 1

Running tmux as root is probably not a good idea. Someone has created a solution and explanation:

https://github.com/ChrisJohnsen/tmux-MacOSX-pasteboard

After configuring tmux to use reattach-to-user-namespace you can use launchctl setenv as yourself within tmux.

Answer 2

You need to run it from a privileged account i.e.

$ sudo launchctl setenv GIT_SSH /opt/local/bin/ssh

And enter your password when prompted. This can only be done from an admin account by default.