diff --git a/docs/specs/DEVX-165-deps-commit-type-historical.md b/docs/specs/DEVX-165-deps-commit-type-historical.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5f4424c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/specs/DEVX-165-deps-commit-type-historical.md
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# DEVX-165: Accept deps: as valid conventional commit type
+
+## Problem
+The commit validator rejects `deps:` as a conventional commit type, causing
+post-merge CI failures on grm and sso-bridge repos where automated dependency
+bump PRs use `deps: bump devx...` as the commit message.
+
+## Approach
+REQ-1: Add `deps` to `CONVENTIONAL_RE` in `src/devx/config.py`
+REQ-2: Update the allowed types list in the error message in
+  `src/devx/ci/validate_commit_msg.py`
+REQ-3: Add test coverage for `deps:` type in `tests/unit/test_config.py`
+  and `tests/unit/test_validate_commit_msg.py`
+
+## Test Plan
+- `make pytest-cov` passes with 100% coverage
+- `make lint-all` passes
+
+## Deploy Plan
+- Merge to master → post-merge auto-publishes new devx version
+- grm and sso-bridge bump devx version to pick up the fix
+
+## Rollback Plan
+- Revert the merge commit
+
+## Acceptance Criteria
+- [x] REQ-1: Add `deps` to `CONVENTIONAL_RE` in `src/devx/config.py`
+- [x] REQ-2: Update the allowed types list in the error message in
+  `src/devx/ci/validate_commit_msg.py`
+- [x] REQ-3: Add test coverage for `deps:` type in `tests/unit/test_config.py`
+  and `tests/unit/test_validate_commit_msg.py`
diff --git a/docs/specs/DEVX-165.md b/docs/specs/DEVX-165.md
index 5f4424c..e05aba9 100644
--- a/docs/specs/DEVX-165.md
+++ b/docs/specs/DEVX-165.md
@@ -1,31 +1,63 @@
-# DEVX-165: Accept deps: as valid conventional commit type
+# DEVX-165: Manifest-aware dependency PRs and registry cleanup protection
 
 ## Problem
-The commit validator rejects `deps:` as a conventional commit type, causing
-post-merge CI failures on grm and sso-bridge repos where automated dependency
-bump PRs use `deps: bump devx...` as the commit message.
+
+S03 (OBL-INFRA-548 REQ-3) requires an immutable delivery contract: infra
+pins the sso-bridge release as {version, git ref, image tag, OCI digest}
+in a JSON manifest. Two gaps in devx block that:
+
+1. `create_dependency_pr` only regex-bumps a version string in
+   pyproject/ansible vars — it cannot update a structured manifest with
+   the resolved image digest, and it does not verify the producer
+   artifact exists before opening the PR.
+2. `clean_images` deletes all but the newest N tags — a tag/digest that
+   infra still pins gets deleted once newer releases land, breaking
+   deploys.
 
 ## Approach
-REQ-1: Add `deps` to `CONVENTIONAL_RE` in `src/devx/config.py`
-REQ-2: Update the allowed types list in the error message in
-  `src/devx/ci/validate_commit_msg.py`
-REQ-3: Add test coverage for `deps:` type in `tests/unit/test_config.py`
-  and `tests/unit/test_validate_commit_msg.py`
+
+REQ-1: `create_dependency_pr` gains `--manifest <path>` +
+`--verify-container <owner/name>` + `--container-tag` +
+`--source-ref`: before opening the PR it resolves the container tag's
+OCI digest via the packages API (`manifest.json` blob sha256), then
+updates manifest fields `{version, git_ref, image_tag, image_digest,
+source_run_id, updated_at}` in the PR branch instead of a regex bump.
+`--container-tag` decouples the image tag from the release version
+(sso-bridge images tag `__init__.py.__version__`, not the git tag).
+
+REQ-1b: `create_dependency_pr` clones the *target* repo into a tempdir
+and performs all file lookups and git operations inside it. Previously
+it operated on CWD — the producer repo's own checkout — so file updates
+silently targeted the wrong repo and the whole dep-PR path no-oped
+behind `|| echo warning`.
+
+REQ-2: `clean_images` gains `--protect` (repeatable): named versions are
+never deleted regardless of `--keep` trimming.
+
+REQ-3: Regression tests for manifest update, digest resolution,
+verify-then-PR ordering, and protect filtering.
+
+## Files Affected
+
+- `src/devx/ci/create_dependency_pr.py`
+- `src/devx/tools/clean_images.py`
+- `tests/unit/test_create_dependency_pr.py`
+- `tests/unit/test_clean_images.py`
 
 ## Test Plan
-- `make pytest-cov` passes with 100% coverage
-- `make lint-all` passes
+
+- New unit tests per REQ; `make pytest-cov`, `make lint-all`.
 
 ## Deploy Plan
-- Merge to master → post-merge auto-publishes new devx version
-- grm and sso-bridge bump devx version to pick up the fix
+
+- Merge → devx release → consumer repos pick up via dependency PRs.
 
 ## Rollback Plan
-- Revert the merge commit
+
+- Revert; regex version bump and unprotected cleanup return.
 
 ## Acceptance Criteria
-- [x] REQ-1: Add `deps` to `CONVENTIONAL_RE` in `src/devx/config.py`
-- [x] REQ-2: Update the allowed types list in the error message in
-  `src/devx/ci/validate_commit_msg.py`
-- [x] REQ-3: Add test coverage for `deps:` type in `tests/unit/test_config.py`
-  and `tests/unit/test_validate_commit_msg.py`
+
+- [x] REQ-1: Manifest update + pre-PR OCI digest verification
+- [x] REQ-2: `--protect` exempts versions from cleanup
+- [x] REQ-3: Regression tests added and passing
diff --git a/src/devx/ci/create_dependency_pr.py b/src/devx/ci/create_dependency_pr.py
index a5fd5a7..9efbe08 100644
--- a/src/devx/ci/create_dependency_pr.py
+++ b/src/devx/ci/create_dependency_pr.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import re
 import subprocess  # nosec B404
 import tempfile
+from datetime import UTC, datetime
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import click
@@ -143,6 +144,54 @@ def resolve_container_digest(api_url: str, owner: str, name: str, tag: str, toke
     )
 
 
+def update_manifest(file_path: str, section: str, fields: dict[str, str]) -> bool:
+    """Update a release-manifest JSON section in place. Returns True if changed.
+
+    Implements REQ-1: manifest fields record the immutable release contract
+    (version, git ref, image tag, resolved OCI digest) in the target repo.
+    """
+    import json as _json
+
+    path = Path(file_path)
+    if not path.exists():
+        raise click.ClickException(_("Manifest file not found: {file}", file=file_path))
+    try:
+        manifest = _json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    except _json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+        raise click.ClickException(_("Manifest file {file} is not valid JSON: {error}", file=file_path, error=e)) from e
+    existing = manifest.get(section)
+    if not isinstance(existing, dict):
+        raise click.ClickException(
+            _("Manifest file {file} has no object section {section}", file=file_path, section=section)
+        )
+    changed = False
+    for k, v in fields.items():
+        if existing.get(k) != v:
+            existing[k] = v
+            changed = True
+    if changed:
+        path.write_text(_json.dumps(manifest, indent=2) + "\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    return changed
+
+
+def read_manifest_version(file_path: str, section: str) -> str | None:
+    """Read the currently pinned version from a release manifest section."""
+    import json as _json
+
+    path = Path(file_path)
+    if not path.exists():
+        return None
+    try:
+        manifest = _json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    except _json.JSONDecodeError:
+        return None
+    existing = manifest.get(section)
+    if isinstance(existing, dict):
+        version = existing.get("version")
+        return str(version) if version is not None else None
+    return None
+
+
 def create_vikunja_task(title: str, description: str) -> str | None:
     """Create a Vikunja task and return its identifier (e.g., OBL-INFRA-531)."""
     try:
@@ -163,15 +212,28 @@ def create_vikunja_task(title: str, description: str) -> str | None:
 @click.option("--new-version", required=True, help=_("New version to pin"))
 @click.option("--source-repo", required=True, help=_("Source repo that published (owner/name)"))
 @click.option("--source-run-id", default="", help=_("CI run ID that triggered the publish"))
+@click.option(
+    "--manifest",
+    "manifest_path",
+    default="",
+    help=_(
+        "Path to a release-manifest JSON in the target repo. When set, the PR updates "
+        "the manifest section named after --package instead of a regex version bump."
+    ),
+)
 @click.option(
     "--verify-container",
     default="",
     help=_(
         "Container to verify before opening the PR (owner/name). Resolves the OCI "
-        "digest of the tag matching --new-version (or --container-tag); the PR is "
-        "refused when the artifact is missing or unreadable."
+        "digest of the tag matching --new-version and records it in the manifest."
     ),
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--source-ref",
+    default="",
+    help=_("Git ref of the producer release (default: v<new-version>), recorded in the manifest."),
+)
 @click.option(
     "--container-tag",
     default="",
@@ -188,7 +250,9 @@ def cli(
     new_version: str,
     source_repo: str,
     source_run_id: str,
+    manifest_path: str,
     verify_container: str,
+    source_ref: str,
     container_tag: str,
     dry_run: bool,
 ) -> None:
@@ -234,11 +298,15 @@ def cli(
     # Find current pinned version
     old_version = None
     changed_file = None
-    for f in [PYPROJECT_PATH, IMAGES_YML_PATH, ROLE_DEFAULTS_PATH]:
-        old_version = find_pinned_version(package, str(workdir / f))
-        if old_version:
-            changed_file = f
-            break
+    if manifest_path:
+        old_version = read_manifest_version(str(workdir / manifest_path), package)
+        changed_file = manifest_path if old_version else None
+    else:
+        for f in [PYPROJECT_PATH, IMAGES_YML_PATH, ROLE_DEFAULTS_PATH]:
+            old_version = find_pinned_version(package, str(workdir / f))
+            if old_version:
+                changed_file = f
+                break
 
     if not old_version:
         click.echo(_("[dep-pr] Could not find pinned version for {pkg} in infra repo.", pkg=package))
@@ -291,8 +359,23 @@ def cli(
     subprocess.run(["git", "fetch", "origin", f"{branch_name}"], check=False, capture_output=True, cwd=workdir)  # nosec B603 B607
     subprocess.run(["git", "checkout", branch_name], check=False, capture_output=True, cwd=workdir)  # nosec B603 B607
 
-    if not changed_file or not update_pinned_version(str(workdir / changed_file), package, old_version, new_version):
+    if manifest_path:
+        fields = {
+            "version": new_version,
+            "git_ref": source_ref or f"v{new_version}",
+            "image_tag": container_tag or new_version,
+            "updated_at": datetime.now(UTC).strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ"),
+        }
+        if image_digest:
+            fields["image_digest"] = image_digest
+        if source_run_id:
+            fields["source_run_id"] = source_run_id
+        if not update_manifest(str(workdir / manifest_path), package, fields):
+            raise click.ClickException(_("Failed to update {file}", file=manifest_path))
+    elif not changed_file or not update_pinned_version(str(workdir / changed_file), package, old_version, new_version):
         raise click.ClickException(_("Failed to update {file}", file=changed_file))
+
+    assert changed_file is not None  # nosec B101 — narrowed by the early exit above
     subprocess.run(["git", "add", changed_file], check=True, cwd=workdir)  # nosec B603 B607
     commit_msg = f"deps: bump {package} from {old_version} to {new_version}"
     subprocess.run(["git", "commit", "-m", commit_msg], check=True, cwd=workdir)  # nosec B603 B607
diff --git a/src/devx/tools/clean_images.py b/src/devx/tools/clean_images.py
index 05ef755..1646a76 100644
--- a/src/devx/tools/clean_images.py
+++ b/src/devx/tools/clean_images.py
@@ -150,15 +150,20 @@ def sort_versions_by_date(
 def select_for_deletion(
     versions: list[dict[str, Any]],
     keep: int,
+    protect: frozenset[str] = frozenset(),
 ) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     """Select versions to delete, keeping the most recent ``keep`` versions.
 
-    Versions named ``latest`` are always preserved.
+    Versions named ``latest`` and any version listed in ``protect`` are
+    always preserved. Implements REQ-2 (DEVX-165): tags/digests that a
+    release manifest still pins must survive registry cleanup.
     """
     sorted_versions = sort_versions_by_date(versions)
     to_delete = sorted_versions[keep:]
     # Always preserve 'latest' tag
     to_delete = [v for v in to_delete if v.get("version") != "latest"]
+    # Preserve explicitly protected versions (e.g., pinned by a release manifest)
+    to_delete = [v for v in to_delete if v.get("version") not in protect]
     return to_delete
 
 
@@ -182,6 +187,12 @@ def select_for_deletion(
     show_default=True,
     help="Number of recent versions to keep (excluding 'latest').",
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--protect",
+    "protect",
+    multiple=True,
+    help="Version/tag to never delete (e.g., pinned by a release manifest). Can be repeated.",
+)
 @click.option(
     "--dry-run",
     is_flag=True,
@@ -197,6 +208,7 @@ def main(
     owner: str | None,
     names: tuple[str, ...],
     keep: int,
+    protect: tuple[str, ...],
     dry_run: bool,
     api_url: str | None,
 ) -> None:
@@ -238,7 +250,7 @@ def main(
                 _("  {version} (created: {created})", version=v.get("version", "?"), created=v.get("created_at", "?"))
             )
 
-        to_delete = select_for_deletion(versions, keep)
+        to_delete = select_for_deletion(versions, keep, frozenset(protect))
         kept_count = len(versions) - len(to_delete)
         click.echo(_("\nKeeping {kept}, would delete {count}", kept=kept_count, count=len(to_delete)))
 
diff --git a/src/devx/translations.json b/src/devx/translations.json
index 2a39203..ef1b95d 100644
--- a/src/devx/translations.json
+++ b/src/devx/translations.json
@@ -1359,13 +1359,13 @@
     "ru": "Тег контейнера для проверки с --verify-container (по умолчанию: --new-version). Используйте, когда тег образа отличается от версии релиза, например тег __version__ пакета против git-тега релиза.",
     "zh": "用 --verify-container 验证的容器标签（默认：--new-version）。当镜像标签与发布版本不同时使用，例如包的 __version__ 标签与发布 git 标签。"
   },
-  "Container to verify before opening the PR (owner/name). Resolves the OCI digest of the tag matching --new-version (or --container-tag); the PR is refused when the artifact is missing or unreadable.": {
-    "bg": "Контейнер за проверка преди отваряне на PR (собственик/име). Разрешава OCI дайджеста на тага, отговарящ на --new-version (или --container-tag); PR се отказва, ако артефактът липсва или е нечетим.",
-    "de": "Container zur Verifizierung vor dem Öffnen des PR (owner/name). Löst den OCI-Digest des zu --new-version (oder --container-tag) passenden Tags auf; der PR wird abgelehnt, wenn das Artefakt fehlt oder unlesbar ist.",
-    "en": "Container to verify before opening the PR (owner/name). Resolves the OCI digest of the tag matching --new-version (or --container-tag); the PR is refused when the artifact is missing or unreadable.",
-    "pl": "Kontener do weryfikacji przed otwarciem PR (właściciel/nazwa). Rozwiązuje skrót OCI tagu pasującego do --new-version (lub --container-tag); PR jest odrzucany, gdy artefakt nie istnieje lub jest nieczytelny.",
-    "ru": "Контейнер для проверки перед открытием PR (владелец/имя). Разрешает OCI-дайджест тега, соответствующего --new-version (или --container-tag); PR отклоняется, если артефакт отсутствует или недоступен.",
-    "zh": "在打开 PR 前要验证的容器（所有者/名称）。解析与 --new-version（或 --container-tag）匹配标签的 OCI 摘要；当工件缺失或不可读时拒绝创建 PR。"
+  "Container to verify before opening the PR (owner/name). Resolves the OCI digest of the tag matching --new-version and records it in the manifest.": {
+    "bg": "Контейнер за проверка преди отваряне на PR (owner/name). Разрешава OCI дайджеста на тага, съвпадащ с --new-version, и го записва в манифеста.",
+    "de": "Container, der vor dem Öffnen des PR verifiziert wird (owner/name). Ermittelt den OCI-Digest des zu --new-version passenden Tags und trägt ihn ins Manifest ein.",
+    "en": "Container to verify before opening the PR (owner/name). Resolves the OCI digest of the tag matching --new-version and records it in the manifest.",
+    "pl": "Kontener do zweryfikowania przed otwarciem PR (owner/name). Rozwiązuje skrót OCI tagu pasującego do --new-version i zapisuje go w manifeście.",
+    "ru": "Контейнер для проверки перед открытием PR (owner/name). Разрешает OCI-дайджест тега, соответствующего --new-version, и записывает его в манифест.",
+    "zh": "在打开 PR 前要验证的容器 (owner/name)。解析与 --new-version 匹配的标签的 OCI 摘要并记录到清单中。"
   },
   "Could not detect PR number. Use --pr to specify it explicitly,\nor run this command from a branch with an open PR.": {
     "bg": "Не може да се определи номерът на PR. Използвайте --pr, за да го зададете изрично,\nили изпълнете командата от клон с отворен PR.",
@@ -1847,6 +1847,14 @@
     "ru": "Генерация значков в {out}...",
     "zh": "正在 {out} 中生成徽章..."
   },
+  "Git ref of the producer release (default: v<new-version>), recorded in the manifest.": {
+    "bg": "Git референция на продуцентското издание (по подразбиране: v<new-version>), записана в манифеста.",
+    "de": "Git-Ref des Producer-Releases (Standard: v<new-version>), im Manifest verzeichnet.",
+    "en": "Git ref of the producer release (default: v<new-version>), recorded in the manifest.",
+    "pl": "Referencja git wydania producenta (domyślnie: v<new-version>), zapisana w manifeście.",
+    "ru": "Git-ссылка релиза производителя (по умолчанию: v<new-version>), записанная в манифест.",
+    "zh": "生产者发布的 git 引用（默认：v<new-version>），记录在清单中。"
+  },
   "Git tag or ref that was deployed": {
     "bg": "Git таг или референция, която беше разгърната",
     "de": "Git-Tag oder Ref, der bereitgestellt wurde",
@@ -2103,6 +2111,14 @@
     "ru": "Цикл с {count} итерациями в тесте '{test}' — используйте property-based тестирование (hypothesis) или уменьшите до <= {max} итераций.",
     "zh": "测试 '{test}' 中有 {count} 次迭代的循环 — 考虑使用基于属性的测试 (hypothesis) 或减少到 <= {max} 次迭代。"
   },
+  "Manifest file not found: {file}": {
+    "bg": "Файлът на манифеста не е намерен: {file}",
+    "de": "Manifest-Datei nicht gefunden: {file}",
+    "en": "Manifest file not found: {file}",
+    "pl": "Nie znaleziono pliku manifestu: {file}",
+    "ru": "Файл манифеста не найден: {file}",
+    "zh": "未找到清单文件：{file}"
+  },
   "Manifest file not found: {path}": {
     "bg": "Файлът на манифеста не е намерен: {path}",
     "de": "Manifestdatei nicht gefunden: {path}",
@@ -2111,6 +2127,22 @@
     "ru": "Файл манифеста не найден: {path}",
     "zh": "未找到清单文件：{path}"
   },
+  "Manifest file {file} has no object section {section}": {
+    "bg": "Файлът на манифеста {file} няма обектна секция {section}",
+    "de": "Manifest-Datei {file} hat keinen Objektabschnitt {section}",
+    "en": "Manifest file {file} has no object section {section}",
+    "pl": "Plik manifestu {file} nie ma sekcji obiektu {section}",
+    "ru": "Файл манифеста {file} не содержит объектного раздела {section}",
+    "zh": "清单文件 {file} 没有对象节 {section}"
+  },
+  "Manifest file {file} is not valid JSON: {error}": {
+    "bg": "Файлът на манифеста {file} не е валиден JSON: {error}",
+    "de": "Manifest-Datei {file} ist kein gültiges JSON: {error}",
+    "en": "Manifest file {file} is not valid JSON: {error}",
+    "pl": "Plik manifestu {file} nie jest prawidłowym JSON: {error}",
+    "ru": "Файл манифеста {file} не является допустимым JSON: {error}",
+    "zh": "清单文件 {file} 不是有效的 JSON：{error}"
+  },
   "Manifest must be a JSON list": {
     "bg": "Манифестът трябва да е JSON списък",
     "de": "Manifest muss eine JSON-Liste sein",
@@ -2703,6 +2735,14 @@
     "ru": "Извлечён owner={owner}, repo={repo} из DEVX_REPO_NAME",
     "zh": "从 DEVX_REPO_NAME 解析 owner={owner}, repo={repo}"
   },
+  "Path to a release-manifest JSON in the target repo. When set, the PR updates the manifest section named after --package instead of a regex version bump.": {
+    "bg": "Път към release-manifest JSON в целевото хранилище. Когато е зададен, PR актуализира секцията на манифеста, наречена след --package, вместо regex bump на версията.",
+    "de": "Pfad zu einer Release-Manifest-JSON im Ziel-Repo. Wenn gesetzt, aktualisiert der PR den nach --package benannten Manifest-Abschnitt statt eines Regex-Versionsbumps.",
+    "en": "Path to a release-manifest JSON in the target repo. When set, the PR updates the manifest section named after --package instead of a regex version bump.",
+    "pl": "Ścieżka do pliku JSON manifestu wydania w docelowym repozytorium. Po ustawieniu PR aktualizuje sekcję manifestu nazwaną po --package zamiast podbicia wersji regexem.",
+    "ru": "Путь к JSON манифеста релиза в целевом репозитории. Если задан, PR обновляет раздел манифеста, названный по --package, вместо повышения версии по regex.",
+    "zh": "目标仓库中发布清单 JSON 的路径。设置后，PR 更新以 --package 命名的清单节，而不是正则版本提升。"
+  },
   "Path to pyproject.toml (default: pyproject.toml in CWD).": {
     "bg": "Път до pyproject.toml (по подразбиране: pyproject.toml в CWD).",
     "de": "Pfad zu pyproject.toml (Standard: pyproject.toml im CWD).",
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_build_image.py b/tests/unit/test_build_image.py
index b516250..35f0db1 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_build_image.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_build_image.py
@@ -485,6 +485,38 @@ class TestSelectForDeletion:
         to_delete = select_for_deletion(versions, keep=5)
         assert len(to_delete) == 0
 
+    def test_protect_exempts_version(self) -> None:
+        """REQ-2: a manifest-pinned version survives cleanup beyond --keep."""
+        versions = [
+            {"version": "0.1.0", "created_at": "2025-01-01"},
+            {"version": "0.2.0", "created_at": "2025-02-01"},
+            {"version": "0.3.0", "created_at": "2025-03-01"},
+            {"version": "0.4.0", "created_at": "2025-04-01"},
+        ]
+        to_delete = select_for_deletion(versions, keep=2, protect=frozenset({"0.1.0"}))
+        deleted = {v["version"] for v in to_delete}
+        assert "0.1.0" not in deleted
+        assert deleted == {"0.2.0"}
+
+    def test_protect_multiple_versions(self) -> None:
+        versions = [
+            {"version": "0.1.0", "created_at": "2025-01-01"},
+            {"version": "0.2.0", "created_at": "2025-02-01"},
+            {"version": "0.3.0", "created_at": "2025-03-01"},
+            {"version": "0.4.0", "created_at": "2025-04-01"},
+        ]
+        to_delete = select_for_deletion(versions, keep=1, protect=frozenset({"0.1.0", "0.2.0"}))
+        assert {v["version"] for v in to_delete} == {"0.3.0"}
+
+    def test_protect_default_empty_behaves_as_before(self) -> None:
+        versions = [
+            {"version": "0.1.0", "created_at": "2025-01-01"},
+            {"version": "0.2.0", "created_at": "2025-02-01"},
+            {"version": "0.3.0", "created_at": "2025-03-01"},
+        ]
+        to_delete = select_for_deletion(versions, keep=2)
+        assert {v["version"] for v in to_delete} == {"0.1.0"}
+
 
 class TestCleanImagesAPI:
     """Tests for the clean_images module's API functions."""
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_create_dependency_pr.py b/tests/unit/test_create_dependency_pr.py
index 80ec748..5c4525a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_create_dependency_pr.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_create_dependency_pr.py
@@ -244,14 +244,119 @@ class TestResolveContainerDigest:
                 resolve_container_digest("https://git.example.com/api/v1", "oblachno", "sso-bridge", "0.9.1", "tok")
 
 
-class TestCliVerifyContainer:
-    """REQ-1: artifact verification gates the dependency PR."""
+class TestManifestHelpers:
+    """REQ-1: manifest read/update helpers."""
+
+    def test_read_version(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        import json
+
+        from devx.ci.create_dependency_pr import read_manifest_version
+
+        p = tmp_path / "m.json"
+        p.write_text(json.dumps({"schema_version": 1, "sso_bridge": {"version": "0.9.0"}}))
+        assert read_manifest_version(str(p), "sso_bridge") == "0.9.0"
+
+    def test_read_version_missing_file(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        from devx.ci.create_dependency_pr import read_manifest_version
+
+        assert read_manifest_version(str(tmp_path / "nope.json"), "sso_bridge") is None
+
+    def test_read_version_bad_json(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        from devx.ci.create_dependency_pr import read_manifest_version
+
+        p = tmp_path / "m.json"
+        p.write_text("not json{")
+        assert read_manifest_version(str(p), "sso_bridge") is None
+
+    def test_read_version_missing_section(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        import json
+
+        from devx.ci.create_dependency_pr import read_manifest_version
+
+        p = tmp_path / "m.json"
+        p.write_text(json.dumps({"schema_version": 1, "other": "x"}))
+        assert read_manifest_version(str(p), "sso_bridge") is None
+
+    def test_update_manifest_fields(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        import json
+
+        from devx.ci.create_dependency_pr import update_manifest
+
+        p = tmp_path / "m.json"
+        p.write_text(json.dumps({"schema_version": 1, "sso_bridge": {"version": "0.9.0"}}))
+        changed = update_manifest(
+            str(p),
+            "sso_bridge",
+            {"version": "0.9.1", "git_ref": "v0.9.1", "image_digest": "sha256:x"},
+        )
+        assert changed is True
+        data = json.loads(p.read_text())
+        assert data["sso_bridge"]["version"] == "0.9.1"
+        assert data["sso_bridge"]["git_ref"] == "v0.9.1"
+        assert data["sso_bridge"]["image_digest"] == "sha256:x"
+
+    def test_update_manifest_no_change(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        import json
+
+        from devx.ci.create_dependency_pr import update_manifest
+
+        p = tmp_path / "m.json"
+        p.write_text(json.dumps({"sso_bridge": {"version": "0.9.1"}}))
+        assert update_manifest(str(p), "sso_bridge", {"version": "0.9.1"}) is False
+
+    def test_update_manifest_missing_file(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        from devx.ci.create_dependency_pr import update_manifest
+
+        with pytest.raises(click.ClickException, match="not found"):
+            update_manifest(str(tmp_path / "nope.json"), "sso_bridge", {"version": "1"})
+
+    def test_update_manifest_bad_json(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        from devx.ci.create_dependency_pr import update_manifest
+
+        p = tmp_path / "m.json"
+        p.write_text("broken{")
+        with pytest.raises(click.ClickException, match="not valid JSON"):
+            update_manifest(str(p), "sso_bridge", {"version": "1"})
+
+    def test_update_manifest_missing_section(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        import json
+
+        from devx.ci.create_dependency_pr import update_manifest
+
+        p = tmp_path / "m.json"
+        p.write_text(json.dumps({"schema_version": 1}))
+        with pytest.raises(click.ClickException, match="no object section"):
+            update_manifest(str(p), "sso_bridge", {"version": "1"})
+
+
+class TestCliManifestMode:
+    @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.read_manifest_version")
+    @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.get_ci_token")
+    def test_manifest_same_version_no_pr(self, mock_token: MagicMock, mock_read: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_token.return_value = "fake-token"
+        mock_read.return_value = "0.9.1"
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(
+            cli,
+            [
+                "--package",
+                "sso_bridge",
+                "--new-version",
+                "0.9.1",
+                "--source-repo",
+                "oblachno/sso-bridge",
+                "--manifest",
+                "deploy/sso-bridge-release.json",
+            ],
+        )
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        assert "no pr needed" in result.output.lower()
 
     @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.resolve_container_digest")
-    @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.find_pinned_version")
+    @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.read_manifest_version")
     @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.get_ci_token")
     def test_verify_container_runs_before_lookup(
-        self, mock_token: MagicMock, mock_find: MagicMock, mock_digest: MagicMock
+        self, mock_token: MagicMock, mock_read: MagicMock, mock_digest: MagicMock
     ) -> None:
         """Verification failure aborts before the version lookup/PR steps."""
         mock_token.return_value = "fake-token"
@@ -266,21 +371,23 @@ class TestCliVerifyContainer:
                 "0.9.1",
                 "--source-repo",
                 "oblachno/sso-bridge",
+                "--manifest",
+                "deploy/m.json",
                 "--verify-container",
                 "oblachno/sso-bridge",
             ],
         )
         assert result.exit_code != 0
-        mock_find.assert_not_called()
+        mock_read.assert_not_called()
 
     @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.resolve_container_digest")
-    @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.find_pinned_version")
+    @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.read_manifest_version")
     @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.get_ci_token")
     def test_verify_container_resolves_digest(
-        self, mock_token: MagicMock, mock_find: MagicMock, mock_digest: MagicMock
+        self, mock_token: MagicMock, mock_read: MagicMock, mock_digest: MagicMock
     ) -> None:
         mock_token.return_value = "fake-token"
-        mock_find.return_value = "0.9.1"
+        mock_read.return_value = "0.9.1"
         mock_digest.return_value = "sha256:abc"
         runner = CliRunner()
         result = runner.invoke(
@@ -292,6 +399,8 @@ class TestCliVerifyContainer:
                 "0.9.1",
                 "--source-repo",
                 "oblachno/sso-bridge",
+                "--manifest",
+                "deploy/m.json",
                 "--verify-container",
                 "oblachno/sso-bridge",
             ],
@@ -321,14 +430,14 @@ class TestCliVerifyContainer:
         assert result.exit_code != 0
 
     @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.resolve_container_digest")
-    @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.find_pinned_version")
+    @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.read_manifest_version")
     @patch("devx.ci.create_dependency_pr.get_ci_token")
     def test_container_tag_overrides_new_version(
-        self, mock_token: MagicMock, mock_find: MagicMock, mock_digest: MagicMock
+        self, mock_token: MagicMock, mock_read: MagicMock, mock_digest: MagicMock
     ) -> None:
         """--container-tag selects the image tag when it differs from version."""
         mock_token.return_value = "fake-token"
-        mock_find.return_value = "0.9.1"
+        mock_read.return_value = "0.9.1"
         mock_digest.return_value = "sha256:abc"
         runner = CliRunner()
         result = runner.invoke(
@@ -340,6 +449,8 @@ class TestCliVerifyContainer:
                 "0.9.1",
                 "--source-repo",
                 "oblachno/sso-bridge",
+                "--manifest",
+                "deploy/m.json",
                 "--verify-container",
                 "oblachno/sso-bridge",
                 "--container-tag",