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When executing the ps -ax command, I see the following:

  158 ??       294:09.79 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SkyLight.framework/Resources/WindowServer -daemon

It is far and away the longest running program that shows up, and it seems suspicious to me. I have never run any virtual windows machine on my computer (I have used docker, as well as logged into remote desktops, but never any virtual machines).

When I try to sudo kill 158 nothing happens, just keeps running.

I am tempted to just rm -r everything in the SkyLight.framework directory, but I thought I'd ask first.

Thank you to anyone who can shed light on what this is.

Liam White
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2 Answers2

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That doesn't say "Windows Server" – it says "Window Server".

A window server is the OS component which handles the display of application windows on your screen – such as their stacking order, positioning, focus (i.e. delivering input to the right window), and composing individual windows into the single final image.

Here's a longer explanation of the macOS 'WindowServer' specifically:

It is also known as "Quartz Compositor" (Quartz being the entire macOS GUI environment):

Similarly, Xorg on Linux would be "window server" for the X Window System aka X11 (though it does leave quite a few tasks to a separate window manager program), and dwm.exe may be the closest equivalent in Windows.

grawity
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I am tempted to just rm -r everything in the SkyLight.framework directory

I don't think you want to do that.

WindowServer is a core part of macOS, and a liaison of sorts between your applications and your display. If you see something on your Mac’s display, WindowServer put it there. Every window you open, every website you browse, every game you play—WindowServer “draws” it all on your screen. You can read more at Apple’s developer guide if you’re technically inclined, but it’s not exactly light reading.

For the most part, just know that WindowServer is what macOS, and every application you run on it, uses in order to display things on your screen. It is completely safe.

(Emphasis mine)

Source: What Is the Process WindowServer, and Why Is It Running on My Mac?

DavidPostill
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