cli

sow log lists Repository operations and shows the details of one operation. Use log export to archive completed records as JSONL. Use log prune to remove eligible old records from the database. Synopsis sow log [OPERATION] [-C|--workdir DIR] …

sow export rpm-leaf creates a standalone RPM repository for one Dist and architecture. It copies the packages into an external directory and rewrites metadata to use local pool/... paths. Synopsis sow export rpm-leaf DIST ARCH DIR [--hardlink] …

Run sow gc to reclaim local package files that are no longer needed. Run sow gc TARGET to maintain a configured publication target. Filesystem targets can delete eligible objects; R2 targets only report candidates. Synopsis sow gc [-C|--workdir DIR] …

sow retain protects the package files needed by a selected Generation from local GC. Add the current Built Generation before a later build replaces it. Retention preserves package files and a frozen manifest; it does not restore or publish an older …

sow publish copies the current Built Generation to a target in the targets: section of sow.yml. The target selects the Repository and storage provider. Build first when the target must include the latest Desired changes. Synopsis sow publish TARGET …

sow changes lists file differences between a base Generation and the current Built Generation. Paths are relative to the Repository root. Build first to include pending Desired changes. Synopsis sow changes [BASE_GENERATION] [-C|--workdir DIR] …

sow check verifies a managed Repository before delivery. It checks package hashes, stored state, indexes, signatures, and the Generation manifest. The command is read-only; run sow build first if Desired state differs from the Built Generation. …

sow build updates local indexes to match Desired membership and current configuration. Run it after add --skip, rm --skip, or a policy change. It recovers unfinished local Repository operations before starting the next build. Synopsis sow build …

sow status reports whether a Repository needs a build, how much pending data it holds, and whether a writer is active. It reads stored state without hashing package files. Use sow check to verify file contents. Synopsis sow status [-C|--workdir DIR] …

sow where finds the Desired membership locations of one package across a Workspace. It searches all Repositories by default. Use -r or -d to limit the search. Synopsis sow where PACKAGE [-C|--workdir DIR] [-r|--repo NAME] [-d|--dist NAME]... [--json] …

sow show displays one package in the selected Repository. The text output summarizes its identity, storage, and membership. Add --json for the complete stored package record. Synopsis sow show PACKAGE [-C|--workdir DIR] [-r|--repo NAME] [-d|--dist …

sow ls lists packages in the selected Dists’ Desired membership. Each row also shows the package’s Desired and Built locations across the Repository. Use it to obtain package references for show or rm. Synopsis sow ls [-C|--workdir DIR] [-r|--repo …

sow rm removes packages from the selected Dists and rebuilds their local indexes. Use --check to preview the removal, or --skip to postpone the build. Package files remain in pool/ until sow gc can reclaim them. Synopsis sow rm PACKAGE... …

Use --json on data commands to read one newline-terminated JSON document from stdout. Diagnostics go to stderr. log export is the exception: it writes JSON Lines and does not accept --json. sow status -r demo --json | jq '.result.status' Envelope …

sow add imports packages into the selected Dists and builds their local indexes. It reads package format and architecture from the package headers, then applies each Dist’s policy. Use --skip to import several batches before one build. To update a …

Use exit codes in scripts and read the diagnostic for the specific cause. SOW uses the same code meanings across commands. Code Meaning Next step 0 Success or no-op Read the result; no-op commands may report noop: true 1 Runtime I/O, package …

sow dist manages the distributions that clients use. Each Dist contains either RPM or DEB packages. Dists in one Repository share pool/ and have separate indexes under dists/. Synopsis sow dist ls [-C DIR] [-r NAME] [--json] sow dist new NAME …

Use these pages for command syntax, selection rules, results, and examples. Run sow help COMMAND or sow help COMMAND SUBCOMMAND to check the options in your installed version. Command index sow create builds a flat repository directly in a directory. …

sow repo creates, lists, inspects, upgrades, and removes Repositories. Each Repository stores its packages in pool/ and its indexes in dists/. Packages are shared among Dists in the same Repository. Synopsis sow repo ls [-C DIR] [--json] sow repo new …

Use these pages to look up configuration fields, package references, file paths, and script interfaces. For command syntax, see Commands or run sow help COMMAND. Configuration Fields, defaults, validation rules, signing references, and publication …

rm, show, and where accept package references. add accepts file or directory paths. Use sow ls to find a package coordinate or SHA-256, then pass it to another command. sow ls -r demo -d el9 sow show 'rpm:example-0:1.0-1.x86_64' -r demo Accepted …

Use sow config check after editing sow.yml. It validates the configuration, signing references, and compatibility with existing Repository state. Use sow config show to inspect resolved defaults and inherited settings. Both commands are read-only. …

Use Plain mode to build a repository from a directory of packages. It works without a workspace or configuration file. You need SOW, Python 3 for the preview, and at least one RPM or DEB file. Prepare a directory Create a writable directory. Replace …

sow init creates a Workspace with sow.yml and private .sow/ state. If the configuration already declares Repositories and Dists, it creates the missing ones. Run it again to complete initialization after adding declarations. Synopsis sow init [DIR] …

sow create writes RPM and DEB indexes beside the package files in a directory. Use it for a flat repository that does not need a managed Workspace. DIR defaults to the current directory. Synopsis sow create [DIR] [-j N] [--metadata-timestamp SECONDS] …

Start with the error message and the exit code. For Managed commands, specify the workspace and Repository so you inspect the intended state: sow version sow status -C /srv/sow -r pgsql sow log -C /srv/sow -r pgsql Replace /srv/sow, pgsql, and the …