docs: Update 2 files

TEMPLATES.md

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ template-name/
 ├── template_info.env         # REQUIRED: Template metadata (at root level)
 ├── config/
 │   └── service.env           # REQUIRED: Default service configuration
+├── install-pre.sh            # OPTIONAL: Pre-install script (runs BEFORE uninstall, e.g. docker pull)
 ├── install.sh                # REQUIRED: Installation script
 ├── uninstall.sh              # REQUIRED: Uninstallation script
 ├── status.sh                 # REQUIRED: Check service status (needed for 'dropshell list' command)
@@ -152,7 +153,41 @@ This means:
 - Variables in `service.env` override those in `template_info.env` if they have the same name
 - Users customize deployments by editing `service.env`, never `template_info.env`
 
-### 3. install.sh
+### 3. install-pre.sh (OPTIONAL)
+
+Pre-install script that runs **before the old service is uninstalled**. This is useful for reducing downtime by performing slow operations (like pulling Docker images) while the old service is still running.
+
+**When does it run?**
+- Only when updating an existing service (not on first install)
+- Checked in the local template cache first (fast, no remote calls)
+- Only synced and run on the remote server if the script exists in the template
+
+**If install-pre.sh fails**, installation continues with a warning. It is not considered a fatal error.
+
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+source "${AGENT_PATH}/common.sh"
+_check_required_env_vars "IMAGE_REGISTRY" "IMAGE_REPO" "IMAGE_TAG"
+
+# Pull the new Docker image while the old service is still running
+docker pull -q "$IMAGE_REGISTRY/$IMAGE_REPO:$IMAGE_TAG" || echo "Warning: pre-pull failed, install.sh will retry"
+
+echo "Pre-install complete"
+```
+
+**Docker Compose example:**
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+source "${AGENT_PATH}/common.sh"
+_check_required_env_vars "CONTAINER_NAME"
+
+# Pull updated images while the old service is still running
+docker compose -p "${CONTAINER_NAME}" pull || echo "Warning: pre-pull failed, install.sh will retry"
+
+echo "Pre-install complete"
+```
+
+### 4. install.sh
 
 Installation script that sets up the service:
 
@@ -182,7 +217,7 @@ bash ./start.sh || _die "Failed to start container"
 echo "Installation of ${CONTAINER_NAME} complete"
 ```
 
-### 4. uninstall.sh
+### 5. uninstall.sh
 
 Uninstallation script to remove the service (must be non-interactive and MUST preserve data):
 

source/src/commands/install.cpp

@@ -77,23 +77,17 @@ namespace dropshell
                     error << "Failed to install - service information not valid." << std::endl;
                     return false;
                 }
-            
+
             if (!server_env.is_valid())
                 return false; // should never hit this.
 
-            
+
             std::string user = service_info.user;
             std::string remote_service_path = remotepath(server,user).service(service);
 
             ASSERT(!remote_service_path.empty(), "Install_Service: Remote service path is empty for " + service + " on " + server);
             ASSERT(!user.empty(), "Install_Service: User is empty for " + service + " on " + server);
 
-            if (server_env.check_remote_dir_exists(remote_service_path, user))
-            { // uninstall the old service before we update the config or template!
-                info << "Service " << service << " is already installed on " << server << std::endl;
-                shared_commands::uninstall_service(server_env, service);
-            }
-
             maketitle("Installing " + service + " (" + service_info.template_name + ") on " + server);
 
             // Check if template exists
@@ -114,13 +108,6 @@ namespace dropshell
                 return false;
             }
 
-            // Sync template and config files to remote
-            if (!shared_commands::rsync_service_config(server_env, service, false))
-            {
-                error << "Failed to sync service configuration to remote" << std::endl;
-                return false;
-            }
-
             // Validate service.env matches template service.env
             {
                 std::filesystem::path template_service_env = tinfo.local_template_service_env_path(); //tinfo.local_template_path() / "config" / "service.env";
@@ -157,6 +144,40 @@ namespace dropshell
                 }
             }
 
+            // Run install-pre.sh if it exists in the local template cache (reduces downtime by e.g. pulling images before uninstall)
+            bool has_install_pre = std::filesystem::exists(tinfo.local_template_path() / "install-pre.sh");
+            if (has_install_pre && server_env.check_remote_dir_exists(remote_service_path, user))
+            {
+                info << "Running pre-install script to prepare for update..." << std::endl;
+
+                // Sync template and config so install-pre.sh is available on remote
+                if (!shared_commands::rsync_service_config(server_env, service, false))
+                {
+                    error << "Failed to sync service configuration to remote for pre-install" << std::endl;
+                    return false;
+                }
+
+                shared_commands::cRemoteTempFolder remote_temp_folder(server_env, user);
+                if (!server_env.run_remote_template_command(service, "install-pre", {}, false, {{"TEMP_DIR", remote_temp_folder.path()}}, NULL))
+                {
+                    warning << "Pre-install script failed, continuing with install..." << std::endl;
+                }
+            }
+
+            // Uninstall the old service (this removes the remote service directory)
+            if (server_env.check_remote_dir_exists(remote_service_path, user))
+            {
+                info << "Service " << service << " is already installed on " << server << std::endl;
+                shared_commands::uninstall_service(server_env, service);
+            }
+
+            // Sync template and config files to remote
+            if (!shared_commands::rsync_service_config(server_env, service, false))
+            {
+                error << "Failed to sync service configuration to remote" << std::endl;
+                return false;
+            }
+
             // Run install script
             {
                 info << "Running " << service_info.template_name << " install script on " << server << "..." << std::endl;
@@ -184,7 +205,7 @@ namespace dropshell
             // print health tick
             info << "Health: " << shared_commands::healthtick(server, service) << std::endl;
 
-           
+
             return true;
         }