--start-service doesn't load config from symlinked ~/.config/yabai

[Yahddyyp]

After updating to yabai v7.1.18, yabai --start-service doesn't load the config from ~/.config/yabai/yabairc when it's a symlink.

Environment

• yabai version: v7.1.18
• macOS: Tahoe 26.4
• Setup: ~/.config/yabai is a symlink to ~/dotfiles/yabai/.config/yabai

Steps to reproduce

1. Symlink config: ln -s ~/dotfiles/yabai/.config/yabai ~/.config/yabai
2. Start service: yabai --start-service
3. Check config: yabai -m config external_bar

Expected behavior
Config loads from ~/.config/yabai/yabairc and external_bar shows all:43:0

Actual behavior
external_bar shows off:0:0 — config not loaded

Workaround:
Manually edit ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.asmvik.yabai.plist to add --config flag:

<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array>
    <string>/opt/homebrew/bin/yabai</string>
    <string>--config</string>
    <string>/Users/<username>/.config/yabai/yabairc</string>
</array>

Root cause
--start-service generates the launchd plist without HOME in EnvironmentVariables, so yabai can't resolve ~/.config/yabai/yabairc.

Suggested fix
Either:

1. Add HOME to the generated plist's EnvironmentVariables, or
2. Have --start-service automatically resolve symlinks and use --config with the absolute path, or
3. Check $HOME at runtime even when not set in the environment