Manifestset

Manifestset is a term used in computing to denote a collection of manifest files that describe resources, assets, or components to be deployed, released, or consumed. A manifest is a structured document that lists metadata about an item or set of items. A manifestset groups multiple manifests into a single logical unit, enabling coordinated processing, versioning, and provenance tracking.

In deployment and infrastructure workflows, manifest files may describe Kubernetes resources, service configurations, or infrastructure state; a manifestset allows applying or validating all included manifests as a unit. In packaging and distribution, a manifest may declare files included in a package, checksums, licenses, and dependencies; a manifestset can represent variants for different platforms, architectures, or release channels, facilitating multi-target builds and consistent updates.

Structure and formats for manifestsets vary by system, but they often rely on YAML or JSON. A manifestset may include a descriptor file with fields such as name, version, created date, authors, base URL, and a list of manifest entries. Each manifest entry typically references a path or URL, a content hash, size, media type, and optional dependencies or ordering constraints. Some implementations provide a top-level index or manifest-set.json that enumerates contained manifests and their relationships, supporting programmatic discovery and validation.

Uses and benefits: manifestsets support reproducible deployments, atomic updates, and provenance by tying together related manifests. They help ensure consistency across environments and aid rollback by treating the set as a single unit. Challenges can include maintaining version alignment across manifests and managing dependencies or conflicts within large sets.

See also: manifest, manifest file, artifact, application manifest, configuration management.