init: API

[Dimi Paun]

Folks,

Since we are discussing a new init replacement, I think
we should consider a good API for it too, so that it services
can be controlled programmatically. At the very least, we
need to be able to:
  * start/stop/reload/restart a service
  * query its status
  * wait for a service to start/stop
  * a way for services to interact with the administrators
    (for example to ask for passphrases, etc.)
  * a way to signal problems (probably D-BUS bases)

I know this is blasphemy, but how about we start (at least
for inspiration) with the Services API from Win32:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dllproc/base/service_functions.asp

For more info about Win32 services:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dllproc/base/services.asp

At the very least looking at other APIs will tell us:
  * what we need to cover
  * what we should avoid

What other APIs are out there? Does Sun have one?

-- 
Dimi Paun <dimi at lattica.com>
Lattica, Inc.