block-scalars

Literal block scalars

Any string option accepts a YAML literal block scalar (|): the indented lines below the indicator become one multi-line value, verbatim. Newlines are preserved, indentation past the first content line is kept, and # is content — never a comment. This makes inline shell scripts readable without \n escapes or one-line ; chains.

Chomping indicators control trailing newlines:

script: |     # clip (default): value ends with exactly one newline
script: |-    # strip: no trailing newline
script: |+    # keep: all trailing blank lines are preserved

A block scalar works anywhere a string does — as a mapping value at any nesting depth, or as a list item (e.g. one entry of args). Folded block scalars (>) and indentation indicators (|2) are not supported and are rejected at load time with a clear error.

Config

processes:
  - name: app
    command: /bin/sh
    args:
      - -c
      - |
        echo "line one" >> OUTFILE
        if true; then
          echo "line two" >> OUTFILE
        fi
        exec sleep 300
    on-failure: shutdown

Expected behavior

• The block reaches /bin/sh -c as a single multi-line argument.
• Inner indentation (the if body) and the shell comment-free lines run exactly as written; the script's own # would be passed through, not stripped as a YAML comment.
• exec sleep 300 keeps the service in the running state after the script body completes.

Test

Run level. Launches the daemon and asserts both script lines executed in order. SIGTERM yields a clean exit 0.

go test ./documentation/block-scalars/ -v