dependencydescribed
Dependencydescribed is a term used to denote a formal, machine-readable description of the dependencies that a software component or system requires. It encompasses direct and transitive dependencies, including versions, constraints, scopes, and justifications for why a dependency is present. The goal is to make dependency information explicit, auditable, and reusable across development, build, and operations pipelines.
In practice, dependencydescribed acts as a data model or schema that can be serialized in JSON, YAML,
Benefits include improved traceability, easier impact analysis when a dependency updates, and better interoperability with tooling
Relation to related concepts: It complements SBOM by focusing on dependency relationships rather than inventory alone;
Limitations and challenges: requires agreed-upon schema and governance; maintenance overhead; potential duplication with existing standards; evolving
See also: Software bill of materials, dependency graph, package management, build automation.