myapp.conf

description "my application"
start on runlevel [2345]
stop on runlevel [!2345]
respawn
respawn limit 360 180
setuid myuser
setgid mygroup

chdir /my/directory
exec /bin/sleep 60

post-start script
  sleep 5
  stop
  exit 1
end script

shell.txt

/etc/init$ sudo start myapp   # returns after 5 seconds
myapp start/running, process 27477
jrantil@myserver:/etc/init$ ps -ef|grep sleep
107      27477     1  0 16:56 ?        00:00:00 /bin/sleep 60
jrantil  27482 26900  0 16:56 pts/1    00:00:00 grep --color=auto sleep