/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.SpringBoard.plist

This is a file located in /System/Library/LaunchDaemons that loads SpringBoard at boot and tells it to re-launch itself when killed (This is how re-springs are possible). The contents of this file on an iPod Touch 2 running iOS 4.2.1 is as follows:

File Contents

<?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>EmbeddedPrivilegeDispensation</key>
 <true/>
 <key>KeepAlive</key>
 <true/>
 <key>Label</key>
 <string>com.apple.SpringBoard</string>
 <key>MachServices</key>
 <dict>
   <key>PurpleSystemEventPort</key>
   <dict>
     <key>ResetAtClose</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.CARenderServer</key>
   <dict>
     <key>ResetAtClose</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.SBUserNotification</key>
   <true/>
   <key>com.apple.UIKit.statusbarserver</key>
   <true/>
   <key>com.apple.iohideventsystem</key>
   <dict>
     <key>ResetAtClose</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.smsserver</key>
   <dict>
     <key>ResetAtClose</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.springboard</key>
   <dict>
     <key>ResetAtClose</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.springboard.UIKit.migserver</key>
   <dict>
     <key>ResetAtClose</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.springboard.alerts</key>
   <dict>
     <key>ResetAtClose</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.springboard.appstatechanged</key>
   <dict>
     <key>HideUntilCheckIn</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.springboard.backgroundappservices</key>
   <dict>
     <key>ResetAtClose</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.springboard.processassertionservices</key>
   <dict>
     <key>HideUntilCheckIn</key>
     <true/>
     <key>ResetAtClose</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.springboard.processinvalidation</key>
   <dict>
     <key>HideUntilCheckIn</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.springboard.remotenotifications</key>
   <dict>
     <key>ResetAtClose</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.springboard.services</key>
   <dict>
     <key>ResetAtClose</key>
     <true/>
   </dict>
   <key>com.apple.springboard.watchdogserver</key>
   <true/>
 </dict>
 <key>ProgramArguments</key>
 <array>
   <string>/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/SpringBoard</string>
 </array>
 <key>ThrottleInterval</key>
 <integer>5</integer>
 <key>UserName</key>
 <string>mobile</string>
</dict>
</plist>

The contents in this file shouldn't change too much based on devices/iOS versions, but may vary slightly.

Important Notes

Whatever you do, stay away from this file. Messing with its contents bring nothing but trouble. If you are feeling adventurous and tell SpringBoard to run as "root" instead of "mobile", your device will turn on, but you will be unable to open any apps. They will open their "loading.png" then immediately crash, probably because the sandbox doesn't want to run as root.

Parents

(Root)/System/Library/LaunchDaemons