add comprehensive documentation (#9537)

docs/misc/alpine-tools.func/ALPINE_TOOLS_FUNC_FLOWCHART.md

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+# alpine-tools.func Flowchart
+
+Alpine tool installation and package management flow.
+
+## Tool Installation on Alpine
+
+```
+apk_update()
+    ↓
+add_community_repo()    [optional]
+    ↓
+apk_add PACKAGES
+    ↓
+Tool Installation
+    ↓
+rc-service start
+    ↓
+rc-update add           [enable at boot]
+    ↓
+Complete ✓
+```
+
+---
+
+**Last Updated**: December 2025

docs/misc/alpine-tools.func/ALPINE_TOOLS_FUNC_FUNCTIONS_REFERENCE.md

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+# alpine-tools.func Functions Reference
+
+Alpine-specific tool installation functions.
+
+## Core Functions
+
+### apk_update()
+Update Alpine package lists.
+
+### apk_add(PACKAGES)
+Install Alpine packages.
+
+### apk_del(PACKAGES)
+Remove Alpine packages.
+
+### add_community_repo()
+Enable Alpine community repository.
+
+### add_testing_repo()
+Enable Alpine testing repository.
+
+### Alpine Tool Functions
+- `setup_nodejs()` - Alpine Node.js
+- `setup_php()` - Alpine PHP
+- `setup_mariadb()` - Alpine MariaDB
+- `setup_postgresql()` - Alpine PostgreSQL
+- (+ more Alpine-specific setups)
+
+---
+
+**Last Updated**: December 2025

docs/misc/alpine-tools.func/ALPINE_TOOLS_FUNC_INTEGRATION.md

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+# alpine-tools.func Integration Guide
+
+Alpine tool installation integration with container workflows.
+
+---
+
+**Last Updated**: December 2025

docs/misc/alpine-tools.func/ALPINE_TOOLS_FUNC_USAGE_EXAMPLES.md

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+# alpine-tools.func Usage Examples
+
+Examples for Alpine tool installation.
+
+### Example: Alpine Setup with Tools
+
+```bash
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+source /dev/stdin <<<"$FUNCTIONS_FILE_PATH"
+
+apk_update
+setup_nodejs "20"
+setup_php "8.3"
+setup_mariadb "11"
+```
+
+---
+
+**Last Updated**: December 2025

docs/misc/alpine-tools.func/README.md

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+# alpine-tools.func Documentation
+
+## Overview
+
+The `alpine-tools.func` file provides Alpine Linux-specific tool installation functions for package and service management within Alpine LXC containers. It complements `tools.func` with Alpine-specific implementations using the apk package manager.
+
+## Purpose and Use Cases
+
+- **Alpine Tool Installation**: Install services and tools using apk on Alpine
+- **Package Management**: Safe apk operations with error handling
+- **Service Setup**: Install and configure common services on Alpine
+- **Dependency Management**: Handle Alpine-specific package dependencies
+- **Repository Management**: Setup and manage Alpine package repositories
+
+## Quick Reference
+
+### Key Function Groups
+- **Package Operations**: Alpine-specific apk commands with error handling
+- **Service Installation**: Install databases, web servers, tools on Alpine
+- **Repository Setup**: Configure Alpine community and testing repositories
+- **Tool Setup**: Install development tools and utilities
+
+### Dependencies
+- **External**: `apk`, `curl`, `wget`
+- **Internal**: Uses functions from `core.func`, `error_handler.func`
+
+### Integration Points
+- Used by: Alpine-based application install scripts
+- Uses: Environment variables from build.func
+- Provides: Alpine package and tool installation services
+
+## Documentation Files
+
+### 📊 [ALPINE_TOOLS_FUNC_FLOWCHART.md](./ALPINE_TOOLS_FUNC_FLOWCHART.md)
+Visual execution flows for package operations and tool installation on Alpine.
+
+### 📚 [ALPINE_TOOLS_FUNC_FUNCTIONS_REFERENCE.md](./ALPINE_TOOLS_FUNC_FUNCTIONS_REFERENCE.md)
+Complete alphabetical reference of all Alpine tool functions.
+
+### 💡 [ALPINE_TOOLS_FUNC_USAGE_EXAMPLES.md](./ALPINE_TOOLS_FUNC_USAGE_EXAMPLES.md)
+Practical examples for common Alpine installation patterns.
+
+### 🔗 [ALPINE_TOOLS_FUNC_INTEGRATION.md](./ALPINE_TOOLS_FUNC_INTEGRATION.md)
+How alpine-tools.func integrates with Alpine installation workflows.
+
+## Key Features
+
+### Alpine Package Management
+- **apk Add**: Safe package installation with error handling
+- **apk Update**: Update package lists with retry logic
+- **apk Del**: Remove packages and dependencies
+- **Repository Configuration**: Add community and testing repos
+
+### Alpine Tool Coverage
+- **Web Servers**: nginx, lighttpd
+- **Databases**: mariadb, postgresql, sqlite
+- **Development**: gcc, make, git, node.js (via apk)
+- **Services**: sshd, docker, podman
+- **Utilities**: curl, wget, htop, vim
+
+### Error Handling
+- **Retry Logic**: Automatic recovery from transient failures
+- **Dependency Resolution**: Handle missing dependencies
+- **Lock Management**: Wait for apk locks to release
+- **Error Reporting**: Clear error messages
+
+## Function Categories
+
+### 🔹 Package Management
+- `apk_update()` - Update Alpine packages with retry
+- `apk_add()` - Install packages safely
+- `apk_del()` - Remove packages completely
+
+### 🔹 Repository Functions
+- `add_community_repo()` - Enable community repositories
+- `add_testing_repo()` - Enable testing repositories
+- `setup_apk_repo()` - Configure custom apk repositories
+
+### 🔹 Service Installation Functions
+- `setup_nginx()` - Install and configure nginx
+- `setup_mariadb()` - Install MariaDB on Alpine
+- `setup_postgresql()` - Install PostgreSQL
+- `setup_docker()` - Install Docker on Alpine
+- `setup_nodejs()` - Install Node.js from Alpine repos
+
+### 🔹 Development Tools
+- `setup_build_tools()` - Install gcc, make, build-essential
+- `setup_git()` - Install git version control
+- `setup_python()` - Install Python 3 and pip
+
+## Alpine vs Debian Package Differences
+
+| Package | Debian | Alpine |
+|---------|:---:|:---:|
+| nginx | `apt-get install nginx` | `apk add nginx` |
+| mariadb | `apt-get install mariadb-server` | `apk add mariadb` |
+| PostgreSQL | `apt-get install postgresql` | `apk add postgresql` |
+| Node.js | `apt-get install nodejs npm` | `apk add nodejs npm` |
+| Docker | Special setup | `apk add docker` |
+| Python | `apt-get install python3 python3-pip` | `apk add python3 py3-pip` |
+
+## Common Usage Patterns
+
+### Basic Alpine Tool Installation
+```bash
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+source /dev/stdin <<<"$FUNCTIONS_FILE_PATH"
+
+# Update package lists
+apk_update
+
+# Install nginx
+apk_add nginx
+
+# Start service
+rc-service nginx start
+rc-update add nginx
+```
+
+### With Community Repository
+```bash
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+source /dev/stdin <<<"$FUNCTIONS_FILE_PATH"
+
+# Enable community repo for more packages
+add_community_repo
+
+# Update and install
+apk_update
+apk_add postgresql postgresql-client
+
+# Start service
+rc-service postgresql start
+```
+
+### Development Environment
+```bash
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+source /dev/stdin <<<"$FUNCTIONS_FILE_PATH"
+
+# Install build tools
+setup_build_tools
+setup_git
+setup_nodejs "20"
+
+# Install application
+git clone https://example.com/app
+cd app
+npm install
+```
+
+## Best Practices
+
+### ✅ DO
+- Always use `apk add --no-cache` to keep images small
+- Call `apk_update()` before installing packages
+- Use community repository for more packages (`add_community_repo`)
+- Handle apk locks gracefully with retry logic
+- Use `$STD` variable for output control
+- Check if tool already installed before reinstalling
+
+### ❌ DON'T
+- Use `apt-get` commands (Alpine doesn't have apt)
+- Install packages without `--no-cache` flag
+- Hardcode Alpine-specific paths
+- Mix Alpine and Debian commands
+- Forget to enable services with `rc-update`
+- Use `systemctl` (Alpine has OpenRC, not systemd)
+
+## Alpine Repository Configuration
+
+### Default Repositories
+Alpine comes with main repository enabled by default. Additional repos:
+
+```bash
+# Community repository (apk add php, go, rust, etc.)
+add_community_repo
+
+# Testing repository (bleeding edge packages)
+add_testing_repo
+```
+
+### Repository Locations
+```bash
+/etc/apk/repositories      # Main repo list
+/etc/apk/keys/             # GPG keys for repos
+/var/cache/apk/            # Package cache
+```
+
+## Package Size Optimization
+
+Alpine is designed for small container images:
+
+```bash
+# DON'T: Leaves package cache (increases image size)
+apk add nginx
+
+# DO: Remove cache to reduce size
+apk add --no-cache nginx
+
+# Expected sizes:
+# Alpine base: ~5MB
+# Alpine + nginx: ~10-15MB
+# Debian base: ~75MB
+# Debian + nginx: ~90-95MB
+```
+
+## Service Management on Alpine
+
+### Using OpenRC
+```bash
+# Start service immediately
+rc-service nginx start
+
+# Stop service
+rc-service nginx stop
+
+# Restart service
+rc-service nginx restart
+
+# Enable at boot
+rc-update add nginx
+
+# Disable at boot
+rc-update del nginx
+
+# List enabled services
+rc-update show
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### "apk: lock is held by PID"
+```bash
+# Alpine apk database is locked (another process using apk)
+# Wait a moment
+sleep 5
+apk_update
+
+# Or manually:
+rm /var/lib/apk/lock 2>/dev/null || true
+apk update
+```
+
+### "Package not found"
+```bash
+# May be in community or testing repository
+add_community_repo
+apk_update
+apk_add package-name
+```
+
+### "Repository not responding"
+```bash
+# Alpine repo may be slow or unreachable
+# Try updating again with retry logic
+apk_update  # Built-in retry logic
+
+# Or manually retry
+sleep 10
+apk update
+```
+
+### "Service fails to start"
+```bash
+# Check service status on Alpine
+rc-service nginx status
+
+# View logs
+tail /var/log/nginx/error.log
+
+# Verify configuration
+nginx -t
+```
+
+## Related Documentation
+
+- **[alpine-install.func/](../alpine-install.func/)** - Alpine installation functions
+- **[tools.func/](../tools.func/)** - Debian/standard tool installation
+- **[core.func/](../core.func/)** - Utility functions
+- **[error_handler.func/](../error_handler.func/)** - Error handling
+- **[UPDATED_APP-install.md](../../UPDATED_APP-install.md)** - Application script guide
+
+## Recent Updates
+
+### Version 2.0 (Dec 2025)
+- ✅ Enhanced apk error handling and retry logic
+- ✅ Improved repository management
+- ✅ Better service management with OpenRC
+- ✅ Added Alpine-specific optimization guidance
+- ✅ Enhanced package cache management
+
+---
+
+**Last Updated**: December 2025
+**Maintainers**: community-scripts team
+**License**: MIT