Managing a "user unit file" via dbus, how?

[shadyabhi]

I'm puzzled on how to manage a "user service" via this package. Help is greatly appreciated.

func TestGithubIssue(t *testing.T) {
	ctx := context.Background()
	dbusConn, err := dbus.NewUserConnectionContext(ctx)
	require.NoError(t, err, "creating new dbus connection")
	defer dbusConn.Close()

	spew.Dump(dbusConn.GetUnitPropertiesContext(ctx, "longrunning.service"))
}

Outputs:-

=== RUN   TestGithubIssue
(map[string]interface {}) <nil>
(dbus.Error) Process org.freedesktop.systemd1 exited with status 1

However, from CLI, I'm able to get the status of service.

➤ systemctl --user status longrunning.service
○ longrunning.service - longrunning
     Loaded: loaded (/home/arastogi/.config/systemd/user/longrunning.service; static)
     Active: inactive (dead)

I was able to find this previous Github issue, but it didn't really have an answer. #424 (comment)

I tried sending dbus messages directly, I get the same error.

➤ eval `dbus-launch --auto-syntax`

>>>  0s elapsed...
➜ $?=0 @arastogi-ld1 bincontrol/systemd (master↑1|✚3…) [5:53:26]
➤ dbus-send --print-reply --dest=org.freedesktop.systemd1 /org/freedesktop/systemd1 org.freedesktop.systemd1.Manager.StartUnit string:'[email protected]' string:'replace'
Error org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.Spawn.ChildExited: Process org.freedesktop.systemd1 exited with status 1

My research so far below:-

• I see that its mentioned that user services are not on system bus: https://systemd-devel.freedesktop.narkive.com/Noey9TiS/how-to-call-dbus-listunits-for-user-units
• It appears systemd uses a private bus, so maybe, normal dbus APIs don't work? https://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/systemd-devel/2015-February/028361.html