[erlang-questions] start/stop applications without a callback module

[Loïc Hoguin]

On 01/01/2018 08:43 PM, Xavier Noria wrote:
> Trying to get the vocabulary right for OTP applications without a 
> callback module.
> 
> Does the application controller spawn an application master process for 
> applications without callback modules? If yes, with what purpose? Do you 
> still call that "starting" the application even though there is no 
> `start/2` callback to invoke?

All applications can be started.

> Are applications without callback modules also "stopped" in some sense? 
> I mean, do you use the verb "stop" for them even though there is no 
> `stop/1` callback to invoke? And if yes, what does "stopping" do?

All applications can also be stopped.

For library applications (those without a callback module) it doesn't do 
a whole lot, just registers the application as being started (or not) 
and triggers some events for SASL and other.

> Is there an official or common term to refer to "application without a 
> callback module", and "application with a callback module"?

Library application and application, I don't think the latter has a 
specific name.

All details are in this chapter: 
http://erlang.org/doc/design_principles/applications.html

-- 
Loïc Hoguin
https://ninenines.eu