Create Cross-Repository Change Management

[adriandarian]

Create system for coordinating changes that affect multiple repositories simultaneously.

Details

Tool and workflow for planning, executing, and verifying changes across multiple repos.

System Components

• Change planning tool
• Execution orchestrator
• Verification system
• Rollback capability
• Audit logging

Use Cases

• Update shared dependencies
• Migrate to new CI/CD workflows
• Update GitHub Actions versions
• Change coding standards
• Rename default branches
• Update license files
• Migrate configuration formats
• Update documentation templates

Change Process

1. Planning Phase

   • Define scope (which repos)
   • Specify changes (files, patterns)
   • Test on sample repos
   • Review and approve plan

2. Execution Phase

   • Create branches in all repos
   • Apply changes automatically
   • Run validation tests
   • Create PRs for review

3. Verification Phase

   • Check CI passes on all PRs
   • Verify changes applied correctly
   • Review diff for accuracy
   • Collect approval status

4. Completion Phase

   • Merge approved PRs
   • Monitor for issues
   • Generate completion report
   • Archive change documentation

Configuration File

change-plans/plan-name.yml:

name: "Update CI workflow to v2"
description: "Migrate all repos to new test workflow"
target_repos:
  - all
  exclude:
    - archived-repos
    - template-repos

changes:
  - file: ".github/workflows/test.yml"
    action: replace
    source: "templates/workflows/test-v2.yml"
  
  - file: "package.json"
    action: update_json
    path: "scripts.test"
    value: "jest --coverage"

validation:
  - run: "npm test"
    required: true
  - check: "ci-passes"
    required: true

rollback_plan:
  - restore_from: "backup"

Command Interface

# Plan a change
python scripts/cross-repo-change.py plan --config change.yml

# Preview (dry-run)
python scripts/cross-repo-change.py execute --config change.yml --dry-run

# Execute
python scripts/cross-repo-change.py execute --config change.yml

# Verify
python scripts/cross-repo-change.py verify --config change.yml

# Rollback
python scripts/cross-repo-change.py rollback --config change.yml

Safety Features

• Mandatory dry-run before execution
• Automatic backup before changes
• Per-repo validation before merge
• Easy rollback mechanism
• Change impact analysis
• Approval workflow for sensitive changes

Reporting

• Pre-change impact report
• Execution progress tracking
• Post-change verification report
• Success/failure summary
• Issues encountered log

Acceptance Criteria

• Planning tool generates valid plans
• Execution orchestrator reliable
• Changes applied correctly
• Validation catches errors
• PRs created properly
• Rollback works correctly
• Audit logging complete
• Documentation comprehensive
• Tested with complex changes
• No repos left in inconsistent state