SUSE · jtomasek · May 25, 2026
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ Ultimately, there are two types of release manifests:
 * [Solution Release Manifest](#solution-release-manifest)
 * [Core Platform Release Manifest](#core-platform-release-manifest)
 
+## Schema versions
+
+Manifests may declare a schema version with a top-level `schema` field. Both `v0` and `v1` are accepted; when the field is omitted, the manifest is treated as `v0`. The `lifecycle` section is optional; when supplied, `availabilityDate` is required and all other lifecycle fields remain optional.
+
 ## Solution Release Manifest
 
 > **NOTE:** Elemental is in active development and the Solution manifest API may change over time.
@@ -20,10 +24,14 @@ Enables consumers to extend a specific `Core Platform` release with additional c
 Consumers who wish to create a release manifest for their solution should refer to the below API reference for information.
 
 ```yaml
+schema: v1
 metadata:
   name: "SUSE Solution"
   version: "4.2.0"
-  creationDate: "2025-07-10"
+lifecycle:
+  availabilityDate: "2025-07-10"
+  fullSupportEndDate: "2026-07-10"
+  maintenanceSupportEndDate: "2027-07-10"
 corePlatform:
   image: "registry.suse.com/uc/release-manifest:0.0.1"
 components:
@@ -54,10 +62,14 @@ components:
       url: "https://charts.jetstack.io"
 ```
 
+* `schema` - Optional; Schema version of this manifest. Accepted values are `v0` and `v1`; defaults to `v0` when omitted.
 * `metadata` - Optional; General information about the solution version that this manifest describes.
   * `name` - Required; Name of the solution that this manifest describes.
   * `version` - Required; Version of the solution release that this manifest describes.
-  * `creationDate` - Optional; Defines the release date for the specified version.
+* `lifecycle` - Optional; Release lifecycle metadata. When supplied, dates must use ISO `YYYY-MM-DD` format.
+  * `availabilityDate` - Required (when `lifecycle` is present); Date when this release became available.
+  * `fullSupportEndDate` - Optional; Date when full support for this release ends.
+  * `maintenanceSupportEndDate` - Optional; Date when maintenance support for this release ends.
 * `corePlatform` - Required; Defines the `Core Platform` release version that this solution wishes to be based upon and extend.
   * `image` - Required; Container image pointing to the desired `Core Platform` release manifest.
 * `components` - Optional; Components with which to extend the `Core Platform`.
@@ -102,10 +114,14 @@ Defines the set of components that make up a specific `Core Platform` release ve
 ```yaml
 # The values shown in this example are for illustrative purposes only
 # and should not be used directly
+schema: v1
 metadata:
   name: "SUSE Core Platform"
   version: "0.0.2"
-  creationDate: "2025-07-14"
+lifecycle:
+  availabilityDate: "2025-07-14"
+  fullSupportEndDate: "2026-07-14"
+  maintenanceSupportEndDate: "2027-07-14"
 components:
   operatingSystem:
     image:
@@ -126,7 +142,7 @@ components:
       url: "https://metallb.github.io/metallb"
 ```
 
-The manifest's structure is similar to that of the [Solution Release Manifest](#solution-release-manifest-api), with the key difference being the inclusion of components unique to the Core Platform (e.g. `operatingSystem` and `kubernetes`). 
+The manifest's structure is similar to that of the [Solution Release Manifest](#solution-release-manifest-api), with the key difference being the inclusion of components unique to the Core Platform (e.g. `operatingSystem` and `kubernetes`). The `schema`, `metadata`, and `lifecycle` sections follow the same rules as in the `Solution Release Manifest`.
 
 This reference focuses only on the unique to the Core Platform component APIs. Any components not mentioned here share the same description as those in the `Solution Release Manifest`.
 

@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
+schema: v1
 metadata:
   name: "suse-solution"
   version: "4.2.0"
-  creationDate: "2025-12-08"
+lifecycle:
+  availabilityDate: "2025-12-08"
+  fullSupportEndDate: "2026-12-08"
+  maintenanceSupportEndDate: "2027-12-08"
 corePlatform:
   # Registry path to the release manifest OCI image of the Core Platform that this SUSE Solution extends
   image: "registry.suse.com/beta/uc/release-manifest:0.6_rke2_1.35"

@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 # This configuration represents a fictional SUSE Solution and is meant for example purposes only.
+schema: v1
 metadata:
   name: "suse-solution"
   version: "4.2.0"
-  creationDate: "2025-12-08"
+lifecycle:
+  availabilityDate: "2025-12-08"
+  fullSupportEndDate: "2026-12-08"
+  maintenanceSupportEndDate: "2027-12-08"
 corePlatform:
   # Release manifest OCI image of the Core Platform that this SUSE Solution extends
   image: "registry.suse.com/beta/uc/release-manifest:0.6_rke2_1.35"

@@ -51,10 +51,9 @@ const (
 var markdown bool
 
 type basicInfo struct {
-	Name         string
-	Version      string
-	CreationDate string
-	Source       string
+	Name    string
+	Version string
+	Source  string
 }
 
 func ReleaseInfo(_ context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
@@ -224,42 +223,62 @@ func newTable(markdown bool, out io.Writer) *tablewriter.Table {
 // most basic information that shall be printed for all the optional flags
 func printBasicData(cm *core.ReleaseManifest, sm *solution.ReleaseManifest, arg string, out io.Writer) error {
 	var data [][]string
-	var cmBasic, smBasic *basicInfo
 	table := newTable(markdown, out)
 
-	cmBasic = &basicInfo{
-		Name:         cm.Metadata.Name,
-		Version:      cm.Metadata.Version,
-		CreationDate: cm.Metadata.CreationDate,
-		Source:       arg,
+	cmBasic := &basicInfo{
+		Name:    cm.Metadata.Name,
+		Version: cm.Metadata.Version,
+		Source:  arg,
 	}
+	cmLifecycle := lifecycleRowValues(cm.Lifecycle)
+
 	if sm != nil {
 		// we are dealing with a solution manifest
-		smBasic = &basicInfo{
-			Name:         sm.Metadata.Name,
-			Version:      sm.Metadata.Version,
-			CreationDate: sm.Metadata.CreationDate,
-			Source:       arg,
+		smBasic := &basicInfo{
+			Name:    sm.Metadata.Name,
+			Version: sm.Metadata.Version,
+			Source:  arg,
 		}
+		smLifecycle := lifecycleRowValues(sm.Lifecycle)
 		cmBasic.Source = sm.CorePlatform.Image
 
 		table.Header([]string{"Attribute", "Core Platform (Base)", "Solution Manifest (Extension)"})
 		data = append(data, []string{"Name", cmBasic.Name, smBasic.Name})
-		data = append(data, []string{versionHdr, cmBasic.Version, sm.Metadata.Version})
-		data = append(data, []string{"Release Date", cmBasic.CreationDate, sm.Metadata.CreationDate})
+		data = append(data, []string{versionHdr, cmBasic.Version, smBasic.Version})
+		data = append(data, []string{"Availability Date", cmLifecycle.availability, smLifecycle.availability})
+		data = append(data, []string{"Full Support End", cmLifecycle.fullSupportEnd, smLifecycle.fullSupportEnd})
+		data = append(data, []string{"Maintenance Support End", cmLifecycle.maintenanceSupportEnd, smLifecycle.maintenanceSupportEnd})
 		data = append(data, []string{sourceHdr, cmBasic.Source, smBasic.Source})
 	} else {
 		// we are dealing with a core manifest
 		table.Header([]string{"Attribute", "Core Platform (Base)"})
 		data = append(data, []string{"Name", cmBasic.Name})
 		data = append(data, []string{versionHdr, cmBasic.Version})
-		data = append(data, []string{"Release Data", cmBasic.CreationDate})
+		data = append(data, []string{"Availability Date", cmLifecycle.availability})
+		data = append(data, []string{"Full Support End", cmLifecycle.fullSupportEnd})
+		data = append(data, []string{"Maintenance Support End", cmLifecycle.maintenanceSupportEnd})
 		data = append(data, []string{sourceHdr, cmBasic.Source})
-
 	}
 	return printAndClearData(table, data, out)
 }
 
+type lifecycleRow struct {
+	availability          string
+	fullSupportEnd        string
+	maintenanceSupportEnd string
+}
+
+func lifecycleRowValues(l *api.Lifecycle) lifecycleRow {
+	if l == nil {
+		return lifecycleRow{}
+	}
+	return lifecycleRow{
+		availability:          l.AvailabilityDate,
+		fullSupportEnd:        l.FullSupportEndDate,
+		maintenanceSupportEnd: l.MaintenanceSupportEndDate,
+	}
+}
+
 func printInfraData(cm *core.ReleaseManifest, out io.Writer) error {
 	var data [][]string
 	table := newTable(markdown, out)

@@ -23,10 +23,14 @@ var _ = Describe("Release info tests", Label("release-info"), func() {
 	var cliCmd *cli.Command
 	var buffer *bytes.Buffer
 	var ctx context.Context
-	var manifest = `metadata:
+	var manifest = `schema: v1
+metadata:
   name: suse-core-test
   version: 0.6-rc.20260317
-  creationDate: '2026-03-17'
+lifecycle:
+  availabilityDate: '2026-03-17'
+  fullSupportEndDate: '2027-03-17'
+  maintenanceSupportEndDate: '2028-03-17'
 components:
   operatingSystem:
     image:

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 type ReleaseManifest struct {
 	Schema     api.SchemaVersion `yaml:"schema,omitempty"`
 	Metadata   *api.Metadata     `yaml:"metadata,omitempty"`
+	Lifecycle  *api.Lifecycle    `yaml:"lifecycle,omitempty"`
 	Components Components        `yaml:"components" validate:"required"`
 }
 
@@ -56,7 +57,8 @@ type Image struct {
 }
 
 func Parse(data []byte) (*ReleaseManifest, error) {
-	if _, err := api.LoadSchemaVersion(data); err != nil {
+	schema, err := api.LoadSchemaVersion(data)
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("parsing 'core' release manifest: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -77,5 +79,9 @@ func Parse(data []byte) (*ReleaseManifest, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("validating 'core' release manifest: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	if err := api.ValidateMetadata(schema, rm.Metadata); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("validating 'core' release manifest: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	return rm, nil
 }