| name | infrahub-managing-objects |
| description | Creates and manages Infrahub object data YAML files for populating infrastructure instances — devices, locations, organizations, and modules. TRIGGER when: creating device instances, populating data files, defining locations or organizations, adding infrastructure objects. DO NOT TRIGGER when: designing schemas, writing Python checks/generators, querying live data. |
| allowed-tools | ["Read","Write","Edit","Bash"] |
| argument-hint | [kind] [object-details...] |
| metadata | {"version":"1.2.7","author":"OpsMill"} |
Object Creator
Overview
Expert guidance for creating Infrahub object (data) files.
Objects are YAML files that populate schema nodes with actual
infrastructure data -- devices, locations, organizations,
modules, and more.
Project Context
Existing schema files:
!find . -name "*.yml" -path "*/schemas/*" -o -name "*schema*" -name "*.yml" 2>/dev/null | head -10
Existing object files:
!find . -name "*.yml" -path "*/objects/*" 2>/dev/null | head -20
If invoked with arguments (e.g., /infrahub:managing-objects DcimDevice spine-01),
use the first argument as the kind and remaining arguments as object details.
When to Use
- Creating new data files for infrastructure objects
- Populating devices, locations, organizations, or other schema nodes
- Setting up hierarchical data (location trees, tenant groups)
- Referencing related objects across files
- Managing component children (interfaces, modules)
- Organizing object files for correct load order
Rule Categories
| Priority | Category | Prefix | Description |
|---|
| CRITICAL | Branch-First Loading | workflow- | Load onto a branch, not the default branch |
| CRITICAL | File Format | format- | apiVersion, kind, spec structure |
| CRITICAL | Value Mapping | value- | Attributes, dropdowns, references |
| HIGH | Children | children- | Hierarchy/component nesting |
| MEDIUM | Range | range- | Sequential interface expansion |
| MEDIUM | Organization | organization- | Naming, load order, multi-doc |
| LOW | Patterns | patterns- | Flat lists, devices, git repos |
Schema Features This Skill Depends On
Object files reference schema-defined shapes; missing
schema setup turns into "object failed to load" or
"reference not found" errors at sync time. Before
populating data, verify the schema upstream:
If any of these is missing, the schema needs an
update before the objects can load — that's a
schema migration, not an object fix.
Object File Basics
---
apiVersion: infrahub.app/v1
kind: Object
spec:
kind: <NodeKind>
data:
- <attribute>: <value>
apiVersion, kind: Object, spec.kind, and spec.data
are always required. Each spec block targets a single
node kind.
Workflow
Follow these steps when creating object data files:
- Plan to load onto a branch, not the default branch —
Decide the dedicated branch this data will load onto
before writing the files, and surface it when you hand
off the load commands. Loading into the default branch
(the target when no
--branch is given — main by
convention, but it can be renamed) writes unreviewed
data to the source of truth, and a bad bulk load there
means deleting objects one by one instead of discarding
a branch. Read
rules/workflow-branch-first.md.
The default branch is only reasonable on a local
throwaway instance.
- Read the schema — Identify the target node kind,
its attributes, relationships, and whether it has
component children or hierarchy parents.
- Plan the file structure — Read
rules/format-structure.md
for the required YAML structure and
rules/organization-load-order.md
for file naming and load order conventions.
- Map attribute values — Set each attribute using
the correct value format. Read
rules/value-attributes.md
for attribute mapping and
rules/value-relationships.md
for relationship references. To stamp lineage or lock
a value, write it as a
value + metadata mapping —
see ../infrahub-common/metadata-lineage.md
(remember source is lineage only; locking needs
owner + is_protected).
- Handle children — If the node has component
children or hierarchy nesting, read
rules/children-components.md
and rules/children-hierarchy.md.
- Validate and load on the branch — Check YAML syntax,
ensure referenced objects exist or are defined in
earlier load-order files, then validate and load against
your branch (
--branch). See
validation.md for the commands and
pre-load checklist.
Supporting References
