2 files changed, 52 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/classes.rst b/documentation/ref-manual/classes.rst
index 46d77d0e55..9f6e427253 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/classes.rst
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/classes.rst
@@ -2728,6 +2728,23 @@ commit, and log. From the information, report files using a JSON format
 are created and stored in
 ``${``\ :term:`LOG_DIR`\ ``}/error-report``.
 
+.. _ref-classes-retain:
+
+``retain``
+==========
+
+The :ref:`ref-classes-retain` class can be used to create a tarball of the work
+directory for a recipe when one of its tasks fails, or any other nominated
+directories. It is useful in cases where the environment in which builds are run
+is ephemeral or otherwise inaccessible for examination during debugging.
+
+To enable, add the following to your configuration::
+
+   INHERIT += "retain"
+
+The class can be disabled for specific recipes using the :term:`RETAIN_ENABLED`
+variable.
+
 .. _ref-classes-rm-work:
 
 ``rm_work``
diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst b/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst
index dd97a63c0d..853e50cf9f 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst
@@ -7137,6 +7137,41 @@ system and gives an overview of their function and contents.
       If both :term:`REQUIRED_VERSION` and :term:`PREFERRED_VERSION` are set
       for the same recipe, the :term:`REQUIRED_VERSION` value applies.
 
+   :term:`RETAIN_DIRS_ALWAYS`
+      When inheriting the :ref:`ref-classes-retain` class, this variable holds
+      space-separated recipe-specific directories to always save in a tarball
+      whether the recipe build has failed or not.
+
+   :term:`RETAIN_DIRS_FAILURE`
+      When inheriting the :ref:`ref-classes-retain` class, this variable holds
+      space-separated recipe-specific directories to save in a tarball on
+      failure of the recipe's build.
+
+   :term:`RETAIN_DIRS_GLOBAL_ALWAYS`
+      When inheriting the :ref:`ref-classes-retain` class, this variable holds
+      space-separated directories that are not specific to a recipe to save in a
+      tarball whether the build has failed or not.
+
+   :term:`RETAIN_DIRS_GLOBAL_FAILURE`
+      When inheriting the :ref:`ref-classes-retain` class, this variable holds
+      space-separated directories that are not specific to a recipe to save in a
+      tarball on build failure.
+
+   :term:`RETAIN_ENABLED`
+      Disables the creation of a tarball of the work directory done by the
+      :ref:`ref-classes-retain` class. Can be set to specific recipes to disable
+      the class when the class was inherited globally with :term:`INHERIT`.
+
+   :term:`RETAIN_OUTDIR`
+      When inheriting the :ref:`ref-classes-retain` class, this variable
+      specifies the directory where to save the tarball of the work directory.
+      The default directory is ``${TMPDIR}/retain``.
+
+   :term:`RETAIN_TARBALL_SUFFIX`
+      When inheriting the :ref:`ref-classes-retain` class, this variable
+      specifies the suffix of the tarball of the work directory. The default
+      suffix is ``${DATETIME}.tar.gz``.
+
    :term:`RM_WORK_EXCLUDE`
       With :ref:`ref-classes-rm-work` enabled, this variable
       specifies a list of recipes whose work directories should not be removed.