2 files changed, 85 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

M doc/guix.texi
M gnu/services/shepherd.scm

@@ 45702,6 45702,39 @@ system:
                                             (shepherd my-shepherd))))))
 @end lisp
 
+@cindex @code{transient} service, Shepherd
+@defvar shepherd-transient-service-type
+This service type represents the Shepherd's @code{transient} service,
+which lets you spawn commands in the background and interact with them
+as regular Shepherd service; it is similar to @command{systemd-run}.
+
+For example, the command below spawns @command{rsync} in the background,
+in an environment where the @env{SSH_AUTH_SOCK} environment variable has
+the given value:
+
+@example
+herd spawn transient -E SSH_AUTH_SOCK=$SSH_AUTH_SOCK -- \
+  rsync -e ssh -vur . backup.example.org:
+@end example
+
+@xref{Transient Service Maker,,, shepherd, The GNU Shepherd Manual}, for
+more info on the @code{transient} service.
+@end defvar
+
+@cindex @code{timer} service, Shepherd
+@defvar shepherd-timer-service-type
+This is the service type representing the Shepherd's @code{timer}
+service, which lets you schedule the execution of commands, similar to
+the venerable @command{at} command.  Here is an example:
+
+@example
+herd schedule timer at 07:00 -- mpg123 Music/alarm.mp3
+@end example
+
+@xref{Timer Service,,, shepherd, The GNU Shepherd Manual}, for more info
+on the @code{timer} service.
+@end defvar
+
 @defvar %shepherd-root-service
 This service represents PID@tie{}1.
 @end defvar

@@ 1,5 1,5 @@
 ;;; GNU Guix --- Functional package management for GNU
-;;; Copyright © 2013-2016, 2018-2024 Ludovic Courtès <ludo@gnu.org>
+;;; Copyright © 2013-2016, 2018-2025 Ludovic Courtès <ludo@gnu.org>
 ;;; Copyright © 2017 Clément Lassieur <clement@lassieur.org>
 ;;; Copyright © 2018 Carlo Zancanaro <carlo@zancanaro.id.au>
 ;;; Copyright © 2020 Jan (janneke) Nieuwenhuizen <janneke@gnu.org>


@@ 81,6 81,8 @@
             shepherd-service-upgrade
 
             user-processes-service-type
+            shepherd-timer-service-type
+            shepherd-transient-service-type
 
             assert-valid-graph))
 


@@ 668,4 670,52 @@ read-only, just before rebooting/halting.  Processes still running after a few
 seconds after @code{SIGTERM} has been sent are terminated with
 @code{SIGKILL}.")))
 
-;;; shepherd.scm ends here
+
+;;;
+;;; Timer and transient service maker.
+;;;
+
+(define shepherd-timer-service-type
+  (shepherd-service-type
+   'shepherd-timer
+   (const (shepherd-service
+           (provision '(timer))
+           (requirement '(user-processes))
+           (modules '((shepherd service timer)))
+           (free-form #~(timer-service
+                         '#$provision
+                         #:requirement '#$requirement))))
+   #t                                             ;ignored
+   (description "The Shepherd @code{timer} service lets you schedule commands
+dynamically, similar to the @code{at} command that your grandparents would use
+on that Slackware they got on a floppy disk.  For example, consider this
+command:
+
+@example
+herd schedule timer at 07:00 -- mpg123 Music/alarm.mp3
+@end example
+
+It does exactly what you would expect.")))
+
+(define shepherd-transient-service-type
+  (shepherd-service-type
+   'shepherd-transient
+   (const (shepherd-service
+           (provision '(transient))
+           (requirement '(user-processes))
+           (modules '((shepherd service transient)))
+           (free-form #~(transient-service
+                         '#$provision
+                         #:requirement '#$requirement))))
+   #t                                             ;ignored
+   (description "The Shepherd @code{transient} service lets you run commands
+asynchronously, in the background, similar to @command{systemd-run}, as in
+this example:
+
+@example
+herd spawn transient -E SSH_AUTH_SOCK=$SSH_AUTH_SOCK -- \\
+  rsync -e ssh -vur . backup.example.org:
+@end example
+
+This runs @command{rsync} in the background, as a service that you can inspect
+with @command{herd status} and stop with @command{herd stop}.")))