new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/darwin_files/launch_octave.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# Copyright (C) 2012, Ben Abbott
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+# WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+# General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program; If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+# Checks if Octave is started from a file that is a link or if this
+# file has been taken directly to startup the Octave program.
+
+if [ -L "$0" ] ; then
+ ROOT="$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))"
+else
+ ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" 2>/dev/null && pwd)"
+fi
+ROOT="$(dirname "${ROOT}")"
+
+"${ROOT}/bin/octave"
+
+# Use AppleScript to kill the icon in the dock.
+# FIXME - how to replace "Octave-3.7.0+" with "Octave-$VER"
+osascript 2>&1>/dev/null <<EOF
+  tell application "Octave-3.7.0+"
+    quit
+  end tell
+EOF