dynamic system controller (#289)

* dynamic system controller

Author: pwright

input/system-cli/site-configuration.md

@@ -74,6 +74,19 @@ skupper site create docker-site -p docker -n docker-ns
    This runs a container to support site, link and service operations.
    This feature is not available on Linux local system sites (systemd).
 
+   **Optional:** Enable the Dynamic System Controller to automatically process YAML resources and commands:
+   ```bash
+   export SKUPPER_SYSTEM_RELOAD_TYPE=auto
+   skupper system install
+   ```
+   Alternatively, you can enable this feature with:
+   ```bash
+   skupper system install --reload-type auto
+   ```
+   With this feature enabled, you can create sites, links, connectors and listeners without needing a system reload to apply your configuration.
+   
+   **Note:** When the dynamic system controller is enabled, the `skupper system start`, `skupper system reload`, and `skupper system stop` commands are not needed as configuration changes are automatically applied.
+
 3. Create a site:
 
    ```bash
@@ -145,6 +158,15 @@ To support this, Skupper allows you create a `.tar.gz` file with all the require
    This runs a container to support site, link and service operations.
    This feature is not available on Linux local system sites (systemd).
 
+   **Optional:** Enable the Dynamic System Controller to automatically process YAML resources:
+   ```bash
+   export SKUPPER_SYSTEM_RELOAD_TYPE=auto
+   skupper system install
+   ```
+   With this feature enabled, you can create sites, links, connectors and listeners without needing a system reload to apply your configuration.
+   
+   **Note:** When the dynamic system controller is enabled, the `skupper system start`, `skupper system reload`, and `skupper system stop` commands are not needed as configuration changes are automatically applied.
+
 3. Create a site:
 
    ```bash

input/system-yaml/site-configuration.md

@@ -39,6 +39,13 @@ There are many options to consider when creating sites using YAML, see [YAML Ref
    Skupper attempts to process any files in the `local` directory.
    Typically, you create all resources you require for a site before running `skupper system setup`.
 
+   **Optional:** Enable the Dynamic System Controller to automatically process YAML resources:
+   ```bash
+   export SKUPPER_SYSTEM_RELOAD_TYPE=auto
+   skupper system install
+   ```
+   With this feature enabled, you can create sites, links, connectors and listeners without needing a system reload to apply your configuration.
+   
 3. Check the status of the site:
    ```bash
    skupper site status

input/troubleshooting/index.md

@@ -178,3 +178,61 @@ The following issues and workarounds might help you debug simple scenarios when
   ```
   there is already a site created for this namespace
   ```
+
+<a id="dynamic-system-controller"></a>
+## Troubleshooting the Dynamic System Controller
+<!--PROCEDURE-->
+
+The Dynamic System Controller feature (available on Docker and Podman platforms only) enables automatic processing of YAML resources when `--reload-type=auto` is enabled during installation. 
+
+Use this section to diagnose issues when resources are not being automatically detected or processed.
+
+By default, the reload type is set to `manual`, meaning resources must be processed by using `skupper system start` and `skupper system reload` for subsequent changes.
+
+**Procedure**
+
+1. Verify the controller is configured for auto-reload:
+
+   Check the system controller container logs:
+   ```bash
+   podman logs <username>-skupper-controller
+   # or
+   docker logs <username>-skupper-controller
+   ```
+
+   Look for the configuration line:
+   ```
+   INFO System Reload: type=auto
+   ```
+
+2. Monitor resource detection:
+
+   When the controller detects a new resource file, it logs:
+   ```
+   Resource has been created: backend.yaml
+   ```
+
+   If you don't see this message after copying a YAML file to the `/input/resources` directory, check:
+   - The file is in the correct directory for the namespace
+   - The file has valid YAML syntax
+   - The file has correct permissions
+
+3. Verify resource processing:
+
+   Check that files copied to the `/input/resources` directory appear in the `/runtime/resources` directory after processing.
+
+   Check the status of resources using the CLI:
+   ```bash
+   skupper connector status
+   skupper listener status
+   skupper link status
+   ```
+
+4. Review controller logs for errors:
+
+   Look for processing errors or validation failures:
+   ```bash
+   podman logs <username>-skupper-controller | grep -i error
+   # or
+   docker logs <username>-skupper-controller | grep -i error
+   ```