rsync_conf.rb

# rsync/definition/rsync_target.rb
define :rsync_target, :path => nil, :comment => nil, :action => :set do
  t = begin
    resources(:template => "/etc/rsyncd.conf")
  rescue
    template "/etc/rsyncd.conf" do
      owner "root"
      group "root"
      source "rsyncd.conf.erb"
      cookbook "rsyncd"
      variables { :targets => {} } 
    end
  end

  target_opts = params.clone
  target_opts.delete(:name)

  case params[:action]
  when :set
    t.variables[:targets].merge({ params[:name] => target_opts})
  when :unset
    t.variables[:targets].delete(params[:name])
  end
end

# rsync/templates/rsyncd.conf.erb
<%- @targets.sort.each do |target| %>
[<%= target[0] %>]
<%- target[1].each do |attr, value| %>
  <%= attr %> = <%= value %>
<%- end %>
<%- end %>

# some recipe
rsync_target "snoopy" do
  path "/tmp/snoopy"
  comment "I like to snoop"
  uid "francis"
end