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+# Dropshell Template Guide
+
+This guide explains how to create templates for Dropshell - a system management tool for deploying and managing services on remote servers via Docker containers.
+
+## Template Structure
+
+Every template must follow this directory structure:
+
+```
+template-name/
+├── config/
+│   ├── .template_info.env    # REQUIRED: Template metadata
+│   └── service.env            # REQUIRED: Default service configuration
+├── install.sh                 # REQUIRED: Installation script
+├── uninstall.sh              # REQUIRED: Uninstallation script
+├── start.sh                  # OPTIONAL: Start the service
+├── stop.sh                   # OPTIONAL: Stop the service
+├── status.sh                 # OPTIONAL: Check service status
+├── logs.sh                   # OPTIONAL: View service logs
+├── backup.sh                 # OPTIONAL: Backup service data
+├── restore.sh                # OPTIONAL: Restore service data
+├── destroy.sh                # OPTIONAL: Destroy service and data
+├── ssh.sh                    # OPTIONAL: SSH into service container
+├── ports.sh                  # OPTIONAL: List exposed ports
+└── README.txt                # OPTIONAL: Template documentation
+```
+
+## Essential Files
+
+### 1. config/.template_info.env
+
+Template metadata file that defines the template and its requirements:
+
+```bash
+# Template identifier - MUST match the directory name
+TEMPLATE=template-name
+
+# Requirements
+REQUIRES_HOST_ROOT=false      # Whether root access on host is needed
+REQUIRES_DOCKER=true          # Whether Docker is required
+REQUIRES_DOCKER_ROOT=false    # Whether Docker root privileges are needed
+
+# Docker image settings
+IMAGE_REGISTRY="docker.io"
+IMAGE_REPO="vendor/image"
+IMAGE_TAG="latest"
+
+# Volume definitions (if needed)
+DATA_VOLUME="${CONTAINER_NAME}_data"
+CONFIG_VOLUME="${CONTAINER_NAME}_config"
+```
+
+### 2. config/service.env
+
+Default service configuration that can be overridden per deployment:
+
+```bash
+# Service-specific settings
+CONTAINER_NAME=service-name
+IMAGE_TAG="latest"
+
+# Server settings
+SSH_USER="root"
+
+# Service-specific variables
+# (Add any configuration specific to your service)
+```
+
+### 3. install.sh
+
+Installation script that sets up the service:
+
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+source "${AGENT_PATH}/common.sh"
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+
+# Check required environment variables
+_check_required_env_vars "CONTAINER_NAME" "IMAGE_REGISTRY" "IMAGE_REPO" "IMAGE_TAG"
+
+# Check Docker is available
+_check_docker_installed || _die "Docker test failed"
+
+# Pull the Docker image
+docker pull "$IMAGE_REGISTRY/$IMAGE_REPO:$IMAGE_TAG" || _die "Failed to pull image"
+
+# Stop any existing container
+bash ./stop.sh || _die "Failed to stop container"
+
+# Remove old container
+_remove_container "$CONTAINER_NAME" || _die "Failed to remove container"
+
+# Start the new container
+bash ./start.sh || _die "Failed to start container"
+
+echo "Installation of ${CONTAINER_NAME} complete"
+```
+
+### 4. uninstall.sh
+
+Uninstallation script to remove the service:
+
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+source "${AGENT_PATH}/common.sh"
+_check_required_env_vars "CONTAINER_NAME"
+
+# Stop the container
+bash ./stop.sh || _die "Failed to stop container"
+
+# Remove the container
+_remove_container "$CONTAINER_NAME" || _die "Failed to remove container"
+
+# Optionally remove volumes (with confirmation)
+# _remove_volume "$DATA_VOLUME"
+
+echo "Uninstallation of ${CONTAINER_NAME} complete"
+```
+
+## Optional Command Scripts
+
+### start.sh
+Starts the Docker container with appropriate configuration:
+
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+source "${AGENT_PATH}/common.sh"
+_check_required_env_vars "CONTAINER_NAME" "IMAGE_REGISTRY" "IMAGE_REPO" "IMAGE_TAG"
+
+docker run -d \
+    --name "$CONTAINER_NAME" \
+    --restart unless-stopped \
+    -v "$DATA_VOLUME:/data" \
+    "$IMAGE_REGISTRY/$IMAGE_REPO:$IMAGE_TAG"
+```
+
+### stop.sh
+Stops the running container:
+
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+source "${AGENT_PATH}/common.sh"
+_check_required_env_vars "CONTAINER_NAME"
+
+docker stop "$CONTAINER_NAME" 2>/dev/null || true
+```
+
+### status.sh
+Reports the service status:
+
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+source "${AGENT_PATH}/common.sh"
+_check_required_env_vars "CONTAINER_NAME"
+
+if docker ps --format "table {{.Names}}" | grep -q "^${CONTAINER_NAME}$"; then
+    echo "Running"
+else
+    echo "Stopped"
+fi
+```
+
+### logs.sh
+Shows container logs:
+
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+source "${AGENT_PATH}/common.sh"
+_check_required_env_vars "CONTAINER_NAME"
+
+docker logs "$CONTAINER_NAME" "$@"
+```
+
+### backup.sh / restore.sh
+Handle data backup and restoration for services with persistent data.
+
+## Common Functions (from common.sh)
+
+Templates have access to these utility functions:
+
+- `_check_required_env_vars VAR1 VAR2 ...` - Verify required variables are set
+- `_die "message"` - Exit with error message
+- `_check_docker_installed` - Verify Docker is available
+- `_remove_container NAME` - Safely remove a container
+- `create_items ITEM1 ITEM2 ...` - Create volumes or networks
+- `_remove_volume NAME` - Remove a Docker volume
+
+## Environment Variables
+
+Templates receive these variables at runtime:
+
+- `AGENT_PATH` - Path to the Dropshell agent directory
+- `CONFIG_PATH` - Path to the service configuration directory
+- `SCRIPT_DIR` - Directory containing the template scripts
+- All variables from `.template_info.env` and `service.env`
+
+## Validation Requirements
+
+Templates must pass these validation checks:
+
+1. **Required files exist**: `config/.template_info.env`, `config/service.env`, `install.sh`, `uninstall.sh`
+2. **Scripts are executable**: All `.sh` files must have execute permissions
+3. **TEMPLATE variable matches**: The `TEMPLATE` variable in `.template_info.env` must match the directory name
+4. **Valid environment files**: Both `.env` files must be parseable
+
+## Best Practices
+
+1. **Always use `_check_required_env_vars`** at the start of scripts to validate inputs
+2. **Handle errors gracefully** with `|| _die "Error message"`
+3. **Use Docker volumes** for persistent data that survives container recreation
+4. **Document configuration** in README.txt for users
+5. **Support idempotency** - scripts should handle being run multiple times
+6. **Clean up properly** in uninstall/destroy scripts
+7. **Use standard naming** - volumes as `${CONTAINER_NAME}_data`, configs as `${CONTAINER_NAME}_config`
+8. **Test thoroughly** - use `dropshell test-template <path>` to validate
+
+## Examples
+
+### Example 1: Basic Web Server (Nginx)
+
+A minimal template for deploying an Nginx web server:
+
+```
+nginx-server/
+├── config/
+│   ├── .template_info.env
+│   └── service.env
+├── install.sh
+├── uninstall.sh
+├── start.sh
+├── stop.sh
+└── logs.sh
+```
+
+`.template_info.env`:
+```bash
+TEMPLATE=nginx-server
+REQUIRES_DOCKER=true
+REQUIRES_DOCKER_ROOT=false
+IMAGE_REGISTRY="docker.io"
+IMAGE_REPO="nginx"
+CONTENT_VOLUME="${CONTAINER_NAME}_content"
+```
+
+`service.env`:
+```bash
+CONTAINER_NAME=nginx-server
+IMAGE_TAG="alpine"
+HTTP_PORT=8080
+```
+
+`start.sh`:
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+source "${AGENT_PATH}/common.sh"
+_check_required_env_vars "CONTAINER_NAME" "IMAGE_REGISTRY" "IMAGE_REPO" "IMAGE_TAG" "HTTP_PORT"
+
+docker run -d \
+    --name "$CONTAINER_NAME" \
+    --restart unless-stopped \
+    -p "${HTTP_PORT}:80" \
+    -v "${CONTENT_VOLUME}:/usr/share/nginx/html:ro" \
+    "$IMAGE_REGISTRY/$IMAGE_REPO:$IMAGE_TAG"
+```
+
+### Example 2: Stateful Application with Persistent Storage
+
+A more complex template for a database or application requiring data persistence, configuration files, and network settings:
+
+```
+postgres-db/
+├── config/
+│   ├── .template_info.env
+│   ├── service.env
+│   └── postgres.conf        # Additional config files
+├── install.sh
+├── uninstall.sh
+├── start.sh
+├── stop.sh
+├── status.sh
+├── backup.sh                # Data backup
+├── restore.sh               # Data restoration
+├── destroy.sh               # Complete cleanup including volumes
+├── logs.sh
+└── README.txt
+```
+
+`.template_info.env`:
+```bash
+TEMPLATE=postgres-db
+REQUIRES_DOCKER=true
+REQUIRES_DOCKER_ROOT=true    # Needed for volume management
+IMAGE_REGISTRY="docker.io"
+IMAGE_REPO="postgres"
+
+# Multiple volumes for different purposes
+DATA_VOLUME="${CONTAINER_NAME}_data"
+BACKUP_VOLUME="${CONTAINER_NAME}_backup"
+CONFIG_VOLUME="${CONTAINER_NAME}_config"
+```
+
+`service.env`:
+```bash
+CONTAINER_NAME=postgres-db
+IMAGE_TAG="15-alpine"
+DB_PORT=5432
+POSTGRES_PASSWORD="changeme"
+POSTGRES_USER="admin"
+POSTGRES_DB="myapp"
+```
+
+`backup.sh`:
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+source "${AGENT_PATH}/common.sh"
+_check_required_env_vars "CONTAINER_NAME" "BACKUP_VOLUME" "POSTGRES_USER" "POSTGRES_DB"
+
+TIMESTAMP=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
+BACKUP_FILE="backup_${TIMESTAMP}.sql"
+
+echo "Creating backup ${BACKUP_FILE}..."
+docker exec "$CONTAINER_NAME" pg_dump -U "$POSTGRES_USER" "$POSTGRES_DB" > "/tmp/${BACKUP_FILE}"
+docker cp "/tmp/${BACKUP_FILE}" "${CONTAINER_NAME}:/${BACKUP_VOLUME}/${BACKUP_FILE}"
+rm "/tmp/${BACKUP_FILE}"
+
+echo "Backup completed: ${BACKUP_FILE}"
+```
+
+`destroy.sh`:
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+source "${AGENT_PATH}/common.sh"
+_check_required_env_vars "CONTAINER_NAME" "DATA_VOLUME" "BACKUP_VOLUME" "CONFIG_VOLUME"
+
+echo "WARNING: This will destroy all data for ${CONTAINER_NAME}"
+read -p "Are you sure? (yes/no): " confirm
+
+if [ "$confirm" = "yes" ]; then
+    bash ./stop.sh
+    _remove_container "$CONTAINER_NAME"
+    _remove_volume "$DATA_VOLUME"
+    _remove_volume "$BACKUP_VOLUME"
+    _remove_volume "$CONFIG_VOLUME"
+    echo "Service and all data destroyed"
+else
+    echo "Cancelled"
+fi
+```
+
+## Testing Templates
+
+After creating a template, validate it:
+
+```bash
+dropshell test-template /path/to/template
+```
+
+This checks all requirements and reports any issues.
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