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nixpkgs/nixos/modules/system/service
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Robert Hensing 0c28d57e02 service/portable: Add meta placeholder 
This fixes the evaluation of modules such as those tested by
nix-build -A nixosTests.php.fpm-modular

... ahead of the proper fix that factors meta.maintainers out of
NixOS.
2025-08-19 16:00:59 +02:00
..
portable
service/portable: Add meta placeholder
2025-08-19 16:00:59 +02:00
systemd
nixos/system/service: Use copy of escapeSystemdExecArgs
2025-07-20 03:02:03 +02:00
README.md
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README.md

Modular Services

This directory defines a modular service infrastructure for NixOS. See the Modular Services chapter in the manual [source].

Design decision log

  • system.services.<name>. Alternatives considered

    • systemServices: similar to does not allow importing a composition of services into system. Not sure if that's a good idea in the first place, but I've kept the possibility open.
    • services.abstract: used in https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/267111, but too weird. Service modules should fit naturally into the configuration system. Also "abstract" is wrong, because it has submodules - in other words, evalModules results, concrete services - not abstract at all.
    • services.modular: only slightly better than services.abstract, but still weird

  • No daemon.* options. https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/267111/files#r1723206521

  • For now, do not add an enable option, because it's ambiguous. Does it disable at the Nix level (not generate anything) or at the systemd level (generate a service that is disabled)?

  • Move all process options into a process option tree. Putting this at the root is messy, because we also have sub-services at that level. Those are rather distinct. Grouping them "by kind" should raise fewer questions.

  • modules/system/service/systemd/system.nix has system twice. Not great, but

    • they have different meanings
      1. These are system-provided modules, provided by the configuration manager
      2. systemd/system configures SystemD system units.
    • This reserves modules/service for actual service modules, at least until those are lifted out of NixOS, potentially