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+.. -*- mode: rst -*-
+
+.. _server-plugins-plugin-roles:
+
+============
+Plugin Roles
+============
+
+This documents available plugin roles.
+
+1. list of plugin roles
+
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Role          | Class              | Status |
+   +===============+====================+========+
+   | Metadata      | Metadata           | done   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Connector     | Connector          | done   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Probing       | Probing            | done   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Structure     | Structure          | done   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Structure Val | StructureValidator | done   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Generator     | Generator          | done   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Goals Val     | GoalValidator      | done   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Statistics    | Statistics         | done   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Pull Source   | PullSource         | done   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Pull Target   | PullTarget         | done   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Version       | Version            | done   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Decision      | Decision           | done   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Remote        | Remote             | none   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+   | Syncing       | Syncing            | none   |
+   +---------------+--------------------+--------+
+
+2. Plugin Capabilities
+
+   * Metadata
+
+     * Initial metadata construction
+     * Connector data accumulation
+     * ClientMetadata instance delivery
+     * Introspection interface (for bcfg2-info & co)
+
+   * Connector
+
+     * Provide additional data for ClientMetadata instances
+
+   * Probing
+
+     * send executable probes to clients and receive data responses
+
+   * Structure
+
+     * Produce a list of configuration entries that should be included in client configurations
+     * Each structure plugin is produces a list of structures
+     * Core verifies that each bundle listed has been constructed
+
+   * Structure Validation
+
+     * Validate a client entry list's internal consistency, modifying if needed
+
+   * Generator
+   * Goals Validation
+
+     * Validate client goals, modifying if needed
+
+   * Pull Source
+
+     * Plugin can provide entry information about clients
+
+   * Pull Target
+
+     * Plugin can accept entry data and merge it into the specification
+
+   * Version
+
+     * Plugin can read revision information from VCS of choice
+     * Will provide an interface for producing commits made by the bcfg2-server
+
+   * Decision
+
+3. Configuration of plugins
+
+   Plugin configuration will be simplified substantially. Now, a single
+   list of plugins (including plugins of all capabilities) is specified
+   upon startup (either via bcfg2.conf or equivalent). This mechanism
+   replaces the current split configuration mechanism where generators,
+   structures, and other plugins are listed independently. Instead, all
+   plugins included in the startup list will be initialized, and each
+   will be enabled in all roles that it supports. This will remove a
+   current source of confusion and potential configuration errors,
+   wherein a plugin is enabled for an improper set of goals. (ie Cfg
+   enabled as a structure, etc) This does remove the possibility of
+   partially enabling a plugin for one of its roles without activating it
+   across the board, but I think this is a corner case, which will be
+   poorly supported by plugin implementers. If needed, this use case can
+   be explicitly supported by the plugin author, through use of a config
+   file directive.
+
+4. User Visible Changes
+
+   Connector data is added to ClientMetadata instances using the name of
+   the connector plugin. This means that the dictionary of key/val probe
+   pairs included with metadata is now available as metadata.Probes
+   (instead of metadata.probes). Once properties are available the same
+   way, they will likewise change names to metadata.Properties from their
+   current name.
+
+   Plugin configuration will change. A single field "plugins" in
+   bcfg2.conf will supercede the combination of the "generators" and
+   "structures" fields.
+
+   Default loading of needed plugins is now explicit; this means that
+   Statistics (if used) should be listed in the plugins line of
+   bcfg2.conf.
+
+5. Notes
+
+   * Need to ensure bundle accumulation occurs with connector groups