spindump

Hang reporting tool

Used by various system components to create hang reports.
Most users should not run spindump manually, it can be invoked by root with arguments similar to those for sample for debugging.

It can be invoked due to:

cpu usage xx% cpu over 125 seconds
excessive wakeups : wakeups_rate=489 duration=93 (seconds)

Reports are stored in:
/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/application-nameHang-datehang

syslog is called to with error and text similar to:
Feb 14 16:50:53 hostname ReportCrash[13842]: Invoking spindump for pid=13784 wakeups_rate=489 duration=93 because of excessive wakeups
(Unfortunately the pid cannot be used to check the process. check the DiagnosticReports for a time match.)

In some cases the user is presented with a dialog box and offered the choice to view more details about the crash and/or report the crash to Apple.

Add <key>com.apple.spindump</key> <true/> to /var/db/com.apple.xpc.launchd/disabled.plist

As of El Captian the -w flag no longer updates the plist and the disable key is not honored.

From: JamesReubenKnowles.com
To disable it :

sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.spindump.plist

Re-enabling it :

sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.spindump.plist

sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.spindump.plist
sudo mv /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.spindump.plist /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.spindump.plist.bak

sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.tailspind.plist
sudo mv /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.tailspind.plist /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.tailspind.plist.bak

     crashdump(8,) sample(1)