---
name: "shepherd"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "shepherd"
version: "1.0.3-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/shepherd"
---

# shepherd(1)

Service manager for the GNU system

## NAME

shepherd - Service manager for the GNU system

## DESCRIPTION

shepherd \[OPTIONS...\] This is a service manager for Unix and GNU.

- **--syslog**\[=*FILE*\]

  log to the system log (syslog) at FILE or */dev/log*

- **-s**, **--socket**=*FILE*

  get commands from socket FILE or from stdin (-)

- **-c**, **--config**=*FILE*

  read configuration from FILE

- **--pid**\[=*FILE*\]

  when ready, write PID to FILE or stdout

- **-l**, **--logfile**=*FILE*

  log actions in FILE

- **-I**, **--insecure**

  don't ensure that the setup is secure

- **-S**, **--silent**

  don't do output to stdout

- **--quiet**

  synonym for **--silent**

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--usage**

  display short usage message and exit

- **--version**

  display version information and exit

Mandatory or optional arguments to long options are also mandatory or optional to the corresponding short options.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: bug-guix@gnu.org .\
 GNU Shepherd general home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/shepherd/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2025 the Shepherd authors License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **shepherd** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **shepherd** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info shepherd**

should give you access to the complete manual.