gemwith

Gemwith is a hypothetical open standard and accompanying runtime for packaging and distributing small, modular software components and data assets. The term refers to both the packaging format and the execution environment used to install and run those packages. The goal is to provide portable, reproducible installations and to improve security through hermetic builds and provenance.

A gemwith package consists of a compressed archive containing a manifest and a payload. The manifest records metadata such as package name, version, authors, compatible environments, and dependencies, along with a cryptographic hash for integrity. The payload can include code, data assets, and resources. Packages are addressed by content, enabling exact reconstruction of a given version.

A reference runtime, Gemwith Core, is designed to verify package signatures, resolve dependencies via a registry, and execute artifacts in isolated sandboxes. A registry system supports package discovery, versioning, and provenance, while adapters enable cross-language interoperability.

Lifecycle management includes publishing signed artifacts, distributing them through the registry, installing into a local or CI environment, updating to newer versions, and revoking compromised packages. Security considerations emphasize digital signatures, revocation, and sandboxing, as well as auditability of the supply chain.

Usage scenarios include plugins, data resources, and small utilities that benefit from reproducible environments. Critics point to added complexity and potential fragmentation across ecosystems, while supporters cite improved reproducibility and security.

See also: package management, content-addressable storage, sandboxing, registries.