| name | generate-manifest |
| description | Scan an ADK recipe directory and generate a manifest.yaml for it based on the schema at .github/schemas/manifest-schema.json. Use when the user wants to create or generate a manifest.yaml for a recipe under core/ or contrib/. |
Generate Manifest
Scan a recipe directory and produce a valid manifest.yaml for it, then validate it against the schema.
Process
1. Identify the target recipe
The user will provide a path to a recipe directory (e.g. core/rag-agent-search). If they don't, ask for it before proceeding.
2. Read the schema
Read .github/schemas/manifest-schema.json from the repo root to understand the current required and optional fields, allowed enum values, and constraints. Do not rely on memory — always read the live schema file so changes to it are automatically picked up.
3. Scan the recipe directory and infer only what the code proves
Read the following files if they exist:
pyproject.toml / requirements.txt — primary language (for language field)
app/agent.py or equivalent entry point — single vs multi-agent, agent count
Makefile — deploy targets (determines deployable)
app/ source files — stateful writes, datasource patterns
AGENTS.md — architecture notes if present
Field-by-field rules — read carefully before filling any field:
| Field | Rule |
|---|
type | Infer from code: standalone if it has its own runnable entry point; module if it is only importable. |
deployable | OPTIONAL. true only if a single make target or script deploys everything with no manual steps. Omit the field entirely if false (schema default is false). |
status | Always "active" unless there is explicit evidence of abandonment. |
language | Read from file extensions or pyproject.toml. Never guess. |
description | Read README.md and AGENTS.md only (author-written intent, not code). Write a draft of at most 15 words summarising what the recipe does. Append the comment # TODO: review and expand this draft description. If neither file exists or the intent is unclear, fall back to "DESCRIPTION" with the same TODO comment. |
architecture.agent | Infer from code only: count Agent( or equivalent constructor calls. single or multi. Omit the whole architecture block if uncertain. |
architecture.stateful | Infer from code: true only if the recipe writes persistently to an external system (DB, vector store, GCS) during normal operation — not just one-time setup. |
architecture.datasources | Infer from code: hardcoded = data literals in source; local = files bundled in repo; external = live systems queried at runtime. Can be multiple. |
dependencies | Include the block but comment it out entirely. Do NOT infer library or service names — GCP product names change and guesses will be wrong. Use the commented-out sample shown in the template. |
ownership.team | Always use the placeholder "YOUR TEAM NAME". Never invent or infer a team name. |
ownership.poc | Always use the placeholder "your-github-id". Never invent or infer a GitHub ID from email addresses, file authors, or any other source. |
ownership.contributors | OPTIONAL. Omit the field entirely. Leave a commented-out sample line so the author knows it exists. Never infer contributor IDs. |
tags | Include but comment out entirely, with a sample entry showing the expected style. Do NOT generate real tags — tag choices are the author's call. |
4. Make judgment calls explicitly
Before writing the manifest, briefly state what you found for each inferred field (type, deployable, architecture.*) and cite the specific file/line that supports your conclusion. This lets the user catch errors before they land in the file.
5. Write the manifest
Write manifest.yaml to the root of the recipe directory. Follow this format exactly — include inline comments for every field documenting the allowed values, matching the style of the reference manifest in tools/ or core/:
type: "..."
status: "active"
language: "..."
description: "..."
architecture:
agent: "..."
stateful: false
datasources:
- "..."
ownership:
team: "YOUR TEAM NAME"
poc: "your-github-id"
Omit architecture entirely if none of its sub-fields can be determined from the code.
6. Validate
After writing the manifest, run the validation tool from the tools/ directory:
cd tools && uv run --active validate manifest <recipe-path>
If validation fails, fix the errors and re-validate until it passes. Report the final [PASS] output to the user. Do not change or modify any other files in the repository. Also do not commit the changes.
7. Report back
Tell the user:
- What was inferred from the code and which file/line supports each inference.
- Which fields need human input:
description (draft generated — must be reviewed and expanded), ownership.team, ownership.poc (placeholders), and dependencies/tags (commented out, ready to uncomment and fill in).