What is PhoenixFile?

The PhoenixFile is the declarative build and runtime contract of a PhoenixFlight application. It replaces Dockerfile-first packaging with a higher-level governance-aware specification. While Dockerfile describes how to compile a static container process, PhoenixFile defines how a member behaves within a dynamic runtime environment.

Prerequisites validation

The CLI validates that:
• Top-level sections match the specification schema.
• Declared policy files, agent manifests, and packets exist in the workspace.
• Namespace definitions match across resources.

Declarative Manifest Example

apiVersion: phoenixflight.io/v1alpha1
kind: PhoenixApp
metadata:
  name: customer-validation-app
  namespace: tenant-a
  version: 0.1.0

runtime:
  language: python
  entrypoint: src/app.py

controlPlane:
  auth:
    provider: local
  policies:
    - policies/can-register.yaml
    - policies/can-assign.yaml
    - policies/can-handoff.yaml
  audit:
    sink: local
    format: jsonl
  assignment:
    strategy: trust-weighted-capability-routing
  governance:
    minimumTrustScore: 0.85

dataPlane:
  agents:
    - agents/governance-agent.yaml
    - agents/metadata-agent.yaml
  packets:
    - packets/customer-validation.packet.yaml
  handoffContracts:
    - contracts/customer-context-handoff.yaml

membership:
  discovery:
    mode: capability
  migration:
    enabled: true
  retirement:
    drainTimeoutSeconds: 30

build:
  target: local
  outputs:
    - phoenix-bundle
    - oci-image

Declarative Build Outputs

The build block defines where the compiler emits application artifacts. PhoenixFile supports compiling to portable logical bundles, OCI container layers, Kubernetes Custom Resource definitions, and Helm values configurations.

Supported Outputs:

- phoenix-bundle: Portable .pflight ZIP archives housing logic configurations, policy rules, and schemas.
- oci-image: Container layers encapsulating the python processes.
- helm-chart: Standard Helm templates configured with values.
- kubernetes-manifest: Standalone CRD/resource manifests.