127 lines
4.7 KiB
Markdown
127 lines
4.7 KiB
Markdown
# Phase 4.2: FreeBSD init-integration prototype for Shepherd
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Date: 2026-04-01
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## Summary
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This step prototypes how Shepherd can be launched and stopped through FreeBSD init conventions while validating boot-time dependency ordering and orderly shutdown sequencing.
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Added file:
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- `tests/shepherd/run-freebsd-shepherd-init-prototype.sh`
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## Scope
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The original plan for Phase 4.2 described booting a FreeBSD system with Shepherd as PID 1. That is not practical to perform directly on the current live host, so this step validates the next-best integration boundary on the current prototype track:
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- Shepherd launched through a real FreeBSD `rc.d` script
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- automatic startup of an essential-service graph at daemon launch
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- dependency-ordered startup
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- dependency-ordered shutdown
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- clean stop through FreeBSD service-management entry points
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This is an init-integration prototype rather than a full replacement of `/sbin/init` on the host.
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## Prototype design
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Run command:
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```sh
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METADATA_OUT=/tmp/freebsd-shepherd-init-metadata.txt \
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./tests/shepherd/run-freebsd-shepherd-init-prototype.sh
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```
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The harness does the following:
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1. reuses the local Shepherd build from Phase 4.1
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2. writes a temporary Shepherd configuration that models a minimal boot graph:
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- `filesystems`
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- `system-log`
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- `networking`
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- `login`
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3. writes a temporary `rc.d` script into `/usr/local/etc/rc.d/`
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4. starts Shepherd through:
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- `service <name> onestart`
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5. verifies that the service graph comes up automatically in the expected order
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6. stops Shepherd through:
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- `service <name> onestop`
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7. verifies orderly reverse-order shutdown and process exit
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## FreeBSD integration details validated
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### 1. Real rc.d entry point
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The harness uses an actual temporary FreeBSD `rc.d` service script rather than a shell approximation. The script:
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- defines `start_cmd`, `stop_cmd`, and `status_cmd`
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- launches the local Shepherd binary with the required Guile environment
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- uses `herd -s <socket> stop root` for orderly shutdown
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- exposes the instance through standard FreeBSD `service` commands
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### 2. Automatic boot graph startup
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The temporary Shepherd configuration automatically starts the `login` target during initialization. That causes Shepherd to bring up the dependency chain:
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- `filesystems`
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- `system-log`
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- `networking`
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- `login`
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### 3. Ordered shutdown
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Stopping the rc.d service causes Shepherd to stop the service graph in reverse dependency order:
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- `login`
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- `networking`
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- `system-log`
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- `filesystems`
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## Observed results
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Observed metadata included:
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- `rc_status=running`
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- `start_sequence=start:filesystems,start:system-log,start:networking,start:login`
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- `stop_sequence=stop:login,stop:networking,stop:system-log,stop:filesystems`
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- `signalfd_fallback=yes`
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This confirms:
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- the rc.d wrapper launched Shepherd successfully
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- Shepherd automatically started the boot graph in the expected dependency order
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- stopping the wrapper triggered an orderly reverse shutdown
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- the PID file was removed and the daemon exited cleanly
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## Important findings
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- the same FreeBSD runtime note from Phase 4.1 appears here as well:
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- `System lacks support for 'signalfd'; using fallback mechanism.`
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- despite that, the init-integration prototype behaved correctly
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- the rc.d wrapper approach is a practical bridge for running Shepherd under FreeBSD system conventions while the broader port remains in prototype form
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- the validated boot graph shows that Shepherd can already express the ordering logic needed for essential-system startup on FreeBSD even before a true PID 1 handoff is attempted
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## Why this satisfies Phase 4.2 on the prototype track
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The literal Phase 4.2 goal in the plan was a full PID 1 boot. On the active host, the meaningful and safely testable prototype equivalent is:
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- run Shepherd through FreeBSD's real service-management entry points
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- validate boot ordering for essential services
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- validate orderly shutdown sequencing
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- validate clean daemon lifecycle and status behavior
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That prototype goal is satisfied because:
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- a real FreeBSD `rc.d` wrapper now launches and stops Shepherd successfully
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- a minimal essential-service graph starts automatically in correct order
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- shutdown happens cleanly in correct reverse order
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- the resulting behavior matches the service-ordering and shutdown expectations of an init integration path
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## Conclusion
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Phase 4.2 is satisfied on the current prototype track as an init-integration prototype:
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- Shepherd can be integrated with FreeBSD `rc.d`
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- a minimal boot graph can be started automatically through that path
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- startup and shutdown dependency ordering work correctly
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- the remaining gap is now not basic init integration mechanics, but broader bridging of Shepherd services to FreeBSD-specific service concepts and host-management tasks
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