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docs: fill the avocado.yaml configuration gaps - #516

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@lee-reinhardt lee-reinhardt commented Sep 25, 2026 •

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Important

Don't merge until avocado-linux/avocado-cli#286 ships in a CLI release. The "Checking your config" section documents warnings that only exist once that release is out. Merging after the release also triggers the docs deploy that picks up the released schema (#515).

Problem

A user evaluating Avocado couldn't find how rootfs, initramfs and permissions work: the configuration guide gave rootfs and initramfs a three-field table, had no permissions section at all, and explained the one-entry versus named-entries forms only for kernel. The overlay section was also wrong about what the two modes do.

Change

All in docs-guides/avocado-cli/configuration.md:

  • One entry or named entries: how the CLI tells the two forms apart for rootfs, initramfs, kernel and permissions, and the misspelling that silently turns a field into an entry name (permissions: { user: ... }). Notes that for images only the default entry is built and some fields are read only in the one-configuration form.
  • Rootfs and initramfs: every field, including permissions, post_install (which replaces the built-in post-install steps), image and source, and that a target-<name>: block only carries post_install and image.
  • Overlay, corrected: merge copies with cp -a (not rsync), opaque copies with cp -r, and neither removes files already in the sysroot. The old text said opaque "fully replaces directory contents". dir defaults to overlay rather than being required, and preprocess is documented.
  • Permissions, new: profiles and how images reference them, every user and group field, and the behaviour that surprises people: the first groups entry is skipped, an omitted gid takes the UID value, and a user's disabled and a group's password have no effect.
  • Checking your config: the CLI's warnings for keys it ignores, and the yaml-language-server schema comment for editor support.

Every statement was checked against avocado-cli's source at d5d7049.

Merge order

The "Checking your config" section describes behaviour from avocado-linux/avocado-cli#286, and the editor-support line assumes the site serves the new schema (#515). The rest is accurate for today's CLI. Merge with or after the CLI release that ships #286, or drop that section until then.

Testing

prettier --check ., lint, the full build (which fails on broken links and anchors) and check-mermaid pass.

The configuration guide gave rootfs and initramfs a three-field table,
had no permissions section, and explained the one-entry versus
named-entries forms only for kernel, which is where users get lost.

Adds a section on how the CLI tells the two forms apart and the typo
that silently turns a field into an entry name; documents every rootfs
and initramfs field, including post_install replacing the built-in
steps and which fields a per-target block carries; and adds a
permissions section with every user and group field and its quirks.

The overlay section described merge as rsync and opaque as replacing
directory contents. Merge is cp -a, opaque is cp -r, and neither removes
anything, so that is corrected. A short section covers the CLI's
warnings for ignored keys and the schema comment for editor support.
Copilot AI lite review requested due to automatic review settings September 25, 2026 03:01

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Copilot review overview

🟢 Approval recommended

Only minor documentation clarifications remain; no blocking issues were identified.

Review effort: Lite
Findings: None

What changed in this PR

Expands the Avocado CLI configuration guide with documentation for rootfs, initramfs, overlays, permissions, and validation.

Changes:

  • Clarifies configuration entry forms and field behavior.
  • Documents rootfs, initramfs, overlay, and permissions options.
  • Adds configuration warnings and YAML schema editor guidance.
File Description
src/​docs-guides/​avocado-cli/​configuration.md Expands Avocado configuration documentation.

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