Add initial documentation for Runs

This is still incomplete as more fields and features will be added to
the Run type. This doc should also probably explain the responsibilities
of a custom task controller.

docs/README.md

@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ Tekton Pipelines defines the following entities:
     <td><code>PipelineResource</code></td>
     <td>Defines locations for inputs ingested and outputs produced by the steps in <code>Tasks</code>.</td>
   </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td><Code>Run</code> (alpha)</td>
+    <td>Instantiates a Custom Task for execution when specific inputs.</td>
+  </tr>
 </table>
 
 ## Getting started
@@ -68,6 +72,7 @@ See the following topics to learn how to use Tekton Pipelines in your project:
 - [Viewing logs](logs.md)
 - [Pipelines metrics](metrics.md)
 - [Variable Substitutions](variables.md)
+- [Running a Custom Task (alpha)](runs.md)
 
 ## Contributing to Tekton Pipelines
 

docs/runs.md

@@ -0,0 +1,231 @@
+<!--
+---
+linkTitle: "Runs"
+weight: 2
+---
+-->
+
+# `Run`s
+
+- [Overview](#overview)
+- [Configuring a `Run`](#configuring-a-run)
+  - [Specifying the target Custom Task](#specifying-the-target-custom-task)
+  - [Specifying `Parameters`](#specifying-parameters)
+- [Monitoring execution status](#monitoring-execution-status)
+  - [Monitoring `Results`](#monitoring-results)
+- [Code examples](#code-examples)
+  - [Example `Run` with a referenced custom task](#example-run-with-a-referenced-custom-task)
+  - [Example `Run` with an unnamed custom task](#example-run-with-an-unnamed-custom-task)
+  - [Example of specifying parameters](#example-of-specifying-parameters)
+
+# Overview
+
+A `Run` allows you to instantiate and execute a [Custom
+Task](https://github.com/tektoncd/community/blob/master/teps/0002-custom-tasks.md),
+which can be implemented by a custom task controller running on-cluster. Custom
+Tasks can implement behavior that doesn't correspond directly to running a
+workload in a `Pod` on the cluster. For Pod-based on-cluster workloads, you
+should use a [`TaskRun`](taskruns.md).
+
+In order for a `Run` to actually execute, there must be a custom task
+controller running on the cluster that is responsible for watching and updating
+`Run`s which reference their type. If no such controller is running, `Run`s
+will have no `.status` value and no further action will be taken.
+
+`Run`s are an **_experimental alpha feature_** and should be expected to change
+in breaking ways or even be removed.
+
+`Run`s are not currently integrated with Pipelines, and require a running
+third-party controller to actually perform any work. Without a third-party
+controller, `Run`s will just exist without a status indefinitely.
+
+## Configuring a `Run`
+
+A `Run` definition supports the following fields:
+
+- Required:
+  - [`apiVersion`][kubernetes-overview] - Specifies the API version, for example
+    `tekton.dev/v1beta1`.
+  - [`kind`][kubernetes-overview] - Identifies this resource object as a `Run` object.
+  - [`metadata`][kubernetes-overview] - Specifies the metadata that uniquely identifies the
+    `Run`, such as a `name`.
+  - [`spec`][kubernetes-overview] - Specifies the configuration for the `Run`.
+    - [`ref`](#specifying-the-target-custom-task) - Specifies the type and
+      (optionally) name of the custom task type to execute.
+- Optional:
+  - [`params`](#specifying-parameters) - Specifies the desired execution
+    parameters for the custom task.
+
+[kubernetes-overview]:
+  https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/overview/working-with-objects/kubernetes-objects/#required-fields
+
+### Specifying the target Custom Task
+
+To specify the custom task type you want to execute in your `Run`, use the
+`ref` field as shown below:
+
+```yaml
+spec:
+  ref:
+    apiVersion: example.dev/v1alpha1
+    kind: Example
+```
+
+This initiates the execution of a `Run` of a custom task of type `Example`, in
+the `example.dev` API group,  with the version `v1alpha1`.
+
+You can also specify the `name` and optional `namespace` (default is `default`)
+of a custom task resource object previously defined in the cluster.
+
+```yaml
+spec:
+  ref:
+    apiVersion: example.dev/v1alpha1
+    kind: Example
+    name: my-example
+```
+
+If the `ref` specifies a name, the custom task controller should look up the
+`Example` resource with that name, and use that object to configure the
+execution.
+
+If the `ref` does not specify a name, the custom task controller might support
+some default behavior for executing unnamed tasks.
+
+In either case, if the named resource cannot be found, or if unnamed tasks are
+not supported, the custom task controller should update the `Run`'s status to
+indicate the error.
+
+### Specifying `Parameters`
+
+If a custom task supports [`parameters`](tasks.md#parameters), you can use the
+`params` field in the `Run` to specify their values:
+
+```yaml
+spec:
+  params:
+  - name: my-param
+    value: chicken
+```
+
+If the custom task controller knows how to interpret the parameter value, it
+will do so. It might enforce that some parameter values must be specified, or
+reject unknown parameter values.
+
+## Monitoring execution status
+
+As your `Run` executes, its `status` field accumulates information on the
+execution of the `Run`. This information includes start and completion times,
+and any output `results` reported by the custom task controller.
+
+The following example shows the `status` field of a `Run` that has executed
+successfully:
+
+```yaml
+completionTime: "2019-08-12T18:22:57Z"
+conditions:
+- lastTransitionTime: "2019-08-12T18:22:57Z"
+  message: Execution was successful
+  reason: Succeeded
+  status: "True"
+  type: Succeeded
+startTime: "2019-08-12T18:22:51Z"
+```
+
+The following tables shows how to read the overall status of a `Run`:
+
+`status`|Description
+:-------|-----------:
+<unset>|The custom task controller has not taken any action on the Run.
+Unknown|The custom task controller has started execution and the Run is ongoing.
+True|The Run completed successfully.
+False|The Run completed unsuccessfully.
+
+In any case, the custom task controller should populate the `reason` and
+`message` fields to provide more information about the status of the execution.
+
+### Monitoring `Results`
+
+After the `Run` completes, the custom task controller can report output
+values
+in the `results` field:
+
+```
+results:
+- name: my-result
+  value: chicken
+```
+
+## Code examples
+
+To better understand `Runs`, study the following code examples:
+
+- [Example `Run` with a referenced custom task](#example-run-with-a-referenced-custom-task)
+- [Example `Run` with an unnamed custom task](#example-run-with-an-unnamed-custom-task)
+- [Example of specifying parameters](#example-of-specifying-parameters)
+
+### Example `Run` with a referenced custom task
+
+In this example, a `Run` named `my-example-run` invokes a custom task of the `v1alpha1`
+version of the `Example` kind in the `example.dev` API group, with the name
+`my-example-task`.
+
+In this case the custom task controller is expected to look up the `Example`
+resource named `my-example-task` and to use that configuration to configure the
+execution of the `Run`.
+
+```yaml
+apiVersion: tekton.dev/v1alpha1
+kind: Run
+metadata:
+  name: my-example-run
+spec:
+  ref:
+    apiVersion: example.dev/v1alpha1
+    kind: Example
+    name: my-example-task
+```
+
+### Example `Run` with an unnamed custom task
+
+In this example, a `Run` named `my-example-run` invokes a custom task of the `v1alpha1`
+version of the `Example` kind in the `example.dev` API group, without a specified name.
+
+In this case the custom task controller is expected to provide some default
+behavior when the referenced task is unnamed.
+
+```yaml
+apiVersion: tekton.dev/v1alpha1
+kind: Run
+metadata:
+  name: my-example-run
+spec:
+  ref:
+    apiVersion: example.dev/v1alpha1
+    kind: Example
+```
+
+### Example of specifying parameters
+
+In this example, a `Run` named `my-example-run` invokes a custom task, and
+specifies some parameter values to further configure the execution's behavior.
+
+In this case the custom task controller is expected to validate and interpret
+these parameter values and use them to configure the `Run`'s execution.
+
+```yaml
+apiVersion: tekton.dev/v1alpha1
+kind: Run
+metadata:
+  name: my-example-run
+spec:
+  ref:
+    apiVersion: example.dev/v1alpha1
+    kind: Example
+    name: my-example-task
+  params:
+  - name: my-first-param
+    value: i'm number one
+  - name: my-second-param
+    value: close second
+```