THE GITHTML FIELD GUIDE
Create a manifest for a documentation release packet
A documentation manifest is a small inventory describing exactly what a release packet contains and what each item requires. Record paths, source revisions, target versions, and verification status. It helps maintainers detect missing or mismatched files, but it should not imply that the packet was operationally tested merely because every filename appears in a list.
Define the packet’s identity
Give the packet a descriptive name tied to its purpose and target release. State the intended audience and distribution location. An onboarding packet, an incident archive, and a migration review need different completeness criteria.
Use a stable source revision where the packet represents a reviewed snapshot. A moving branch name alone makes it difficult to reconstruct what the reviewer actually saw. Include maintained links separately when readers need a route to current guidance.
Record fields that support decisions
For each document, capture the visible title, relative path, source path or link, source revision, and dependency notes. Add a status that says what was checked, such as text reviewed, navigation checked, or offline opening verified.
The example is an editorial template, not a required gitHtml import format. Store it in the team’s normal documentation process. Avoid inventing application support for a manifest file simply because the inventory is useful to humans.
Packet: Migration review for release 2.4
Entry document: migration/index.html
Source revision: <full commit identifier>
Document: migration/prerequisites.html
Required assets: <list or none>
Checks completed: <specific checks and date>
Known limits: <remote-only references or unresolved issues>Use the manifest during assembly
Compare the listed files with the actual packet before distribution. Open the primary entry point and a representative deep document. Check that every required companion is included and that remote-only references are labeled.
Watch for mixed releases: a new overview paired with an old configuration reference can be more confusing than an obviously incomplete packet. Version statements inside the documents should agree with the manifest or explicitly explain why a reference is version-independent.
Maintain narrow verification claims
Record who performed each review according to your team’s real process and when it happened. Do not fabricate signoffs or use a general approved label when only layout was checked. Content correctness, operational validation, and offline readability are distinct assessments.
When refreshing the packet, update the manifest alongside changed documents and recheck affected dependencies. The inventory becomes valuable because it supports repeatable decisions, not because it is elaborate. A short accurate manifest is preferable to a comprehensive-looking one that nobody keeps current.
Sources and further reading
AI-assisted writing with source-linked guidance and illustrative examples. Read our editorial approach or report a correction.