Merge ~sylvain-pineau/checkbox-ng:urwid_manifest into checkbox-ng:master

[Sylvain Pineau]

Manifest V2 (backward compatible with existing test plans, collect manifest will be automatically excluded from run list)

Tested with the following variants:

$ checkbox-cli
$ checkbox-cli launcher
$ checkbox-cli ./mylauncher
$ checkbox-cli master 127.0.0.1 ./mylauncher
$ checkbox-cli master 127.0.0.1
$ checkbox-cli master 192.168.1.47 ./mylauncher
$ checkbox-cli master 192.168.1.47

w/ and w/o an existing ~/.local/share/plainbox/machine-manifest.json

using this type of launcher:

[launcher]
app_id = com.canonical.certification:checkbox-test
launcher_version = 1
stock_reports = text, submission_files

[test plan]
unit = com.canonical.certification::touchscreen-cert-manual
forced = yes

[test selection]
forced = yes

[manifest]
com.canonical.certification::has_touchscreen = no
com.canonical.certification::has_usb_type_c = true
com.canonical.certification::test_enum = 418

[Maciej Kisielewski (kissiel)]

URWID review:

The new urwid screen is very difficult to use.
It took me solid one minute to figure out you have to use left/right arrows and a space-bar.
For a screen with one manifest option, there's no cursor movement, giving an impression that the program is frozen.
The '-' in front of the manifest option is misleading (on other screens it means unfolded tree).
I would prefer radio buttons to be on the left of the screen (or anywhere nearby to the label) - on panoramic screens it's easy to miss (happened to me the first time I tried it).
I think tooltip in the footer is necessary to guide the operator.
I would like a shortcut to select options (like y/n), so I could quickly go through the list.
I don't get why do we need two radio buttons for boolean variables. Why not use checkboxes as we do on other screens? Simpler code, simpler UX, etc.

Remote review:
- branch is not based on a fresh master, so testing remote as-is can by crashy, but I found that it can be rebased on master cleanly
- there's no distinct interaction step on the manifest screen, breaking the remote connection on that screen rolls the session back to test selection screen (just noticing, I'm not bothered by it)
- new RemoteSA method call means API bump is necessary

Code review:
Pleasant read. Some codes below.

review: Needs Fixing

[Jonathan Cave (jocave)]

Really like this, I think it is a big improvement over the existing implementation already.

A few of the usability tweaks Maciej mentions could elevate it even further, although I personally think the two radio buttons works in this case. The tweaks I would like are mostly the shortcut related functionality:
 - shortcut keys y/n for selection of bool entries
 - hitting y/n advances the active entry i.e. drops it down a line
 - some kind of surround for the edit widget on natural entries to make them easier to spot
     square brackets could be enough: [ 123 ]
 - hitting return on natural entries advances the active entry

This means that for quick completion of e.g.:
  bool
  bool
  natural
  bool
you could hit:
  y n 123 enter y t

[Sylvain Pineau (sylvain-pineau)]

just rebased on master to include the latest commits (and resolving conflicts around chosen_jobs).

Thanks for the shortcuts ideas, I'll add them to the unhandled_input urwid method(s).

Original comments can still be visible if you select a the first version in the Preview Diff dropdown list below.

[Sylvain Pineau (sylvain-pineau)]

resubmitting after another rebase

review: Needs Resubmitting

[Jonathan Cave (jocave)]

My only objections are UI imperfections which I do not think should block landing the improvement in overall functionality.

review: Approve

[Devices Certification Bot (ce-certification-qa)]

I tried to merge it but there are some problems. Typically you want to merge or rebase and try again.

review: Needs Fixing

[Sylvain Pineau (sylvain-pineau)]

I tried to merge it but there are some problems. Typically you want to merge or rebase and try again.

review: Needs Fixing

[Sylvain Pineau (sylvain-pineau)]

I tried to merge it but there are some problems. Typically you want to merge or rebase and try again.

review: Needs Fixing

[Devices Certification Bot (ce-certification-qa)]

I tried to merge it but there are some problems. Typically you want to merge or rebase and try again.

review: Needs Fixing

[Sylvain Pineau (sylvain-pineau)]

Merged here https://code.launchpad.net/~sylvain-pineau/checkbox-ng/+git/checkbox-ng/+merge/375845

Unmerged commits

d7ad6d6... by Sylvain Pineau on 2019-11-11

master: Save the launcher manifest section on disk when test_selection_forced is set

d5da540... by Sylvain Pineau on 2019-11-11

master: Add the system manifest urwird step

507efcb... by Sylvain Pineau on 2019-11-11

subcommands:launcher: Save the launcher manifest section on disk when test_selection_forced is set

05b98b1... by Sylvain Pineau on 2019-11-11

subcommands:launcher: Add the system manifest urwird step

cc4bdae... by Sylvain Pineau on 2019-11-11

urwid: Add the ManifestBrowser screen

6a355c4... by Sylvain Pineau on 2019-11-11

session:remote_assistant: Add both get_manifest_repr and save_manifest

diff --git a/checkbox_ng/launcher/master.py b/checkbox_ng/launcher/master.py
index 5c9afcf..2107fbf 100644
--- a/checkbox_ng/launcher/master.py
+++ b/checkbox_ng/launcher/master.py
@@ -36,11 +36,13 @@ from tempfile import SpooledTemporaryFile
 
 from plainbox.impl.color import Colorizer
 from plainbox.impl.launcher import DefaultLauncherDefinition
+from plainbox.impl.secure.config import Unset
 from plainbox.impl.secure.sudo_broker import SudoProvider
 from plainbox.impl.session.remote_assistant import RemoteSessionAssistant
 from plainbox.vendor import rpyc
 from checkbox_ng.urwid_ui import TestPlanBrowser
 from checkbox_ng.urwid_ui import CategoryBrowser
+from checkbox_ng.urwid_ui import ManifestBrowser
 from checkbox_ng.urwid_ui import ReRunBrowser
 from checkbox_ng.urwid_ui import interrupt_dialog
 from checkbox_ng.urwid_ui import resume_dialog
@@ -284,7 +286,13 @@ class RemoteMaster(ReportsStage, MainLoopStage):
         self.jobs = self.sa.finish_bootstrap()
 
     def select_jobs(self, all_jobs):
-        if not self.launcher.test_selection_forced:
+        if self.launcher.test_selection_forced:
+            if self.launcher.manifest is not Unset:
+                self.sa.save_manifest(
+                    {manifest_id: self.launcher.manifest[manifest_id] for
+                     manifest_id in self.launcher.manifest}
+                )
+        else:
             _logger.info("master: Selecting jobs.")
             reprs = self.sa.get_jobs_repr(all_jobs)
             wanted_set = CategoryBrowser(
@@ -296,6 +304,11 @@ class RemoteMaster(ReportsStage, MainLoopStage):
                 chosen_jobs = [job for job in all_jobs if job in wanted_set]
                 _logger.debug("master: Selected jobs: %s", chosen_jobs)
                 self.sa.modify_todo_list(chosen_jobs)
+            manifest_repr = self.sa.get_manifest_repr()
+            if manifest_repr:
+                manifest_answers = ManifestBrowser(
+                    "System Manifest:", manifest_repr).run()
+                self.sa.save_manifest(manifest_answers)
         self.sa.finish_job_selection()
         self.run_jobs()
 
diff --git a/checkbox_ng/launcher/subcommands.py b/checkbox_ng/launcher/subcommands.py
index 2a33b13..75e6770 100644
--- a/checkbox_ng/launcher/subcommands.py
+++ b/checkbox_ng/launcher/subcommands.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ from plainbox.impl.providers import get_providers
 from plainbox.impl.providers.embedded_providers import (
     EmbeddedProvider1PlugInCollection)
 from plainbox.impl.result import MemoryJobResult
+from plainbox.impl.secure.config import Unset
 from plainbox.impl.secure.sudo_broker import sudo_password_provider
 from plainbox.impl.session.assistant import SessionAssistant, SA_RESTARTABLE
 from plainbox.impl.session.jobs import InhibitionCause
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ from checkbox_ng.launcher.startprovider import (
 from checkbox_ng.launcher.run import Action
 from checkbox_ng.launcher.run import NormalUI
 from checkbox_ng.urwid_ui import CategoryBrowser
+from checkbox_ng.urwid_ui import ManifestBrowser
 from checkbox_ng.urwid_ui import ReRunBrowser
 from checkbox_ng.urwid_ui import TestPlanBrowser
 
@@ -401,6 +403,11 @@ class Launcher(MainLoopStage, ReportsStage):
 
     def _pick_jobs_to_run(self):
         if self.launcher.test_selection_forced:
+            if self.launcher.manifest is not Unset:
+                self.ctx.sa.save_manifest(
+                    {manifest_id: self.launcher.manifest[manifest_id] for
+                     manifest_id in self.launcher.manifest}
+                )
             # by default all tests are selected; so we're done here
             return
         job_list = [self.ctx.sa.get_job(job_id) for job_id in
@@ -411,6 +418,11 @@ class Launcher(MainLoopStage, ReportsStage):
         test_info_list = self._generate_job_infos(job_list)
         wanted_set = CategoryBrowser(
             _("Choose tests to run on your system:"), test_info_list).run()
+        manifest_repr = self.ctx.sa.get_manifest_repr()
+        if manifest_repr:
+            manifest_answers = ManifestBrowser(
+                "System Manifest:", manifest_repr).run()
+            self.ctx.sa.save_manifest(manifest_answers)
         # no need to set an alternate selection if the job list not changed
         if len(test_info_list) == len(wanted_set):
             return
diff --git a/checkbox_ng/urwid_ui.py b/checkbox_ng/urwid_ui.py
index 569e0df..2d5b579 100644
--- a/checkbox_ng/urwid_ui.py
+++ b/checkbox_ng/urwid_ui.py
@@ -744,6 +744,137 @@ class CountdownWidget(urwid.BigText):
             raise urwid.ExitMainLoop
 
 
+class ManifestNaturalEdit(urwid.IntEdit):
+
+    def keypress(self, size, key):
+        (maxcol,) = size
+        return urwid.Edit.keypress(self, (maxcol,), key)
+
+    def value(self):
+        if self.edit_text:
+            return int(self.edit_text)
+
+
+class ManifestQuestion(urwid.WidgetWrap):
+
+    def __init__(self, question):
+        self.id = question['id']
+        self._value = question['value']
+        self._value_type = question['value_type']
+        if self._value_type == 'bool':
+            self.options = []
+            yes = urwid.RadioButton(
+                self.options, "Yes", state=False,
+                on_state_change=self._set_bool_value)
+            no = urwid.RadioButton(
+                self.options, "No", state=False,
+                on_state_change=self._set_bool_value)
+            if question['value'] is not None:
+                if question['value'] is True:
+                    yes.set_state(True)
+                else:
+                    no.set_state(True)
+            self.display_widget = urwid.Columns([
+                urwid.Padding(urwid.Text(question['name']), left=2),
+                urwid.GridFlow([yes, no], 7, 3, 1, align='left')
+            ], dividechars=5)
+            urwid.WidgetWrap.__init__(self, self.display_widget)
+        elif self._value_type == 'natural':
+            self._edit_widget = ManifestNaturalEdit(u"", self._value)
+            self.display_widget = urwid.Columns([
+                urwid.Padding(urwid.Text(question['name']), left=2),
+                (8, urwid.Padding(urwid.Text("["), left=7)),
+                self._edit_widget,
+                (1, urwid.Text("]"))
+            ])
+            urwid.WidgetWrap.__init__(self, self.display_widget)
+
+    def _set_bool_value(self, w, new_state, user_data=None):
+        if w.label == 'Yes' and new_state:
+            self._value = new_state
+        elif w.label == 'No' and new_state:
+            self._value = False
+
+    @property
+    def value(self):
+        if self._value_type == 'bool':
+            return self._value
+        elif self._value_type == 'natural':
+            return self._edit_widget.value()
+
+
+class ManifestBrowser:
+    palette = [
+        ('body', 'light gray', 'black'),
+        ('buttnf', 'black', 'light gray'),
+        ('buttn', 'light gray', 'black', 'bold'),
+        ('head', 'black', 'light gray', 'standout'),
+        ('foot', 'light gray', 'black'),
+        ('title', 'white', 'black', 'bold'),
+        ('start', 'dark green,bold', 'black'),
+        ('bold', 'bold', 'black'),
+    ]
+
+    footer_text = [('Press ('), ('start', 'T'), (') to start Testing')]
+    footer_shortcuts = [('Shortcuts: '), ('bold', 'y'), ('/'), ('bold', 'n ')]
+
+    def __init__(self, title, manifest):
+        self.manifest = manifest
+        self._manifest_out = {}
+        self._widget_cache = []
+        # Header
+        self.header = urwid.Padding(urwid.Text(title), left=1)
+        # Body
+        content = []
+        for prompt, questions in sorted(self.manifest.items()):
+            content.append(urwid.Text(prompt))
+            for q in sorted(questions, key=lambda i: i['name']):
+                question_widget = ManifestQuestion(q)
+                content.append(urwid.AttrWrap(question_widget,
+                               'buttn', 'buttnf'))
+                self._widget_cache.append(question_widget)
+        self._pile = urwid.Pile(content)
+        listbox_content = [
+            urwid.Padding(self._pile, left=1, right=1, min_width=13),
+        ]
+        self.listbox = urwid.ListBox(urwid.SimpleListWalker(listbox_content))
+        # Footer
+        self.default_footer = urwid.AttrWrap(urwid.Columns(
+            [urwid.Padding(urwid.Text(self.footer_text), left=1),
+             urwid.Text(self.footer_shortcuts, 'right')]), 'foot')
+        # Main frame
+        self.frame = urwid.Frame(
+            urwid.AttrWrap(urwid.LineBox(self.listbox), 'body'),
+            header=urwid.AttrWrap(self.header, 'head'),
+            footer=self.default_footer)
+
+    def run(self):
+        """Run the urwid MainLoop."""
+        self.loop = urwid.MainLoop(
+            self.frame, self.palette, unhandled_input=self.unhandled_input,
+            handle_mouse=False)
+        self.loop.run()
+        for w in self._widget_cache:
+            self._manifest_out.update({w.id: w.value})
+        return self._manifest_out
+
+    def unhandled_input(self, key):
+        if key in ('t', 'T'):
+            for w in self._widget_cache:
+                if w.value is None:
+                    break
+            else:
+                raise urwid.ExitMainLoop()
+        if self._pile.focus._value_type == 'bool':
+            if key in ('y', 'Y'):
+                self.loop.process_input(["left", " ", "down"])
+            elif key in ('n', 'N'):
+                self.loop.process_input(["right", " ", "down"])
+        elif self._pile.focus._value_type == 'natural':
+            if key == 'enter':
+                self.loop.process_input(["down"])
+
+
 def resume_dialog(duration):
     palette = [
         ('body', 'light gray', 'black', 'standout'),
diff --git a/docs/launcher-tutorial.rst b/docs/launcher-tutorial.rst
index 81c8d41..5d50e48 100644
--- a/docs/launcher-tutorial.rst
+++ b/docs/launcher-tutorial.rst
@@ -392,6 +392,26 @@ Checkbox-slave daemon is run by root so in order to run some jobs as an
 unpriviledged user this variable can be used.
 
 
+Manifest section
+================
+
+``[manifest]``
+
+Beginning of the manifest section.
+
+Each variable present in the ``manifest`` section will be used a a preset value
+for the system manifest, taking precedence over the disk cache.
+
+Example:
+
+::
+
+    [manifest]
+    com.canonical.certification::has_touchscreen = yes
+    com.canonical.certification::has_usb_type_c = true
+    com.canonical.certification::foo = 23
+
+
 Generating reports
 ==================
 
diff --git a/plainbox/impl/launcher.py b/plainbox/impl/launcher.py
index 9c0b8f6..713d0af 100644
--- a/plainbox/impl/launcher.py
+++ b/plainbox/impl/launcher.py
@@ -252,5 +252,7 @@ class LauncherDefinition1(LauncherDefinition):
         name='daemon',
         help_text=_('Daemon-specific configuration'))
 
+    manifest = config.Section(
+        help_text=_('Manifest entries to use'))
 
 DefaultLauncherDefinition = LauncherDefinition1
diff --git a/plainbox/impl/resource.py b/plainbox/impl/resource.py
index 26dacc7..a0a74a6 100644
--- a/plainbox/impl/resource.py
+++ b/plainbox/impl/resource.py
@@ -394,6 +394,7 @@ class ResourceNodeVisitor(ast.NodeVisitor):
         """
         self._ids_seen_set = set()
         self._ids_seen_list = []
+        self._manifest_attr_seen_list = []
 
     @property
     def ids_seen_set(self):
@@ -409,6 +410,13 @@ class ResourceNodeVisitor(ast.NodeVisitor):
         """
         return self._ids_seen_list
 
+    @property
+    def manifest_attr_seen_list(self):
+        """
+        list() of ast.Attribute().attr values seen
+        """
+        return self._manifest_attr_seen_list
+
     def visit_Name(self, node):
         """
         Internal method of NodeVisitor.
@@ -421,6 +429,20 @@ class ResourceNodeVisitor(ast.NodeVisitor):
             self._ids_seen_set.add(node.id)
             self._ids_seen_list.append(node.id)
 
+    def visit_Attribute(self, node):
+        """
+        Internal method of NodeVisitor.
+
+        This method is called whenever generic_visit() looks at an instance of
+        ast.Attribute(). It records the attr identifier
+        """
+        self._check_node(node)
+        if isinstance(node.value, ast.Name):
+            self.visit_Name(node.value)
+            if node.value.id == 'manifest':
+                if node.attr not in self._manifest_attr_seen_list:
+                    self._manifest_attr_seen_list.append(node.attr)
+
     def visit_Call(self, node):
         """
         Internal method of NodeVisitor.
@@ -516,6 +538,7 @@ class ResourceExpression:
         """
         self._implicit_namespace = implicit_namespace
         self._resource_alias_list = self._analyze(text)
+        self._manifest_id_list = self._analyze_manifest(text)
         self._resource_id_list = []
         if imports is None:
             imports = ()
@@ -572,6 +595,10 @@ class ResourceExpression:
         ]
 
     @property
+    def manifest_id_list(self):
+        return self._manifest_id_list
+
+    @property
     def resource_alias_list(self):
         """
         The alias of the resource object this expression operates on
@@ -648,6 +675,33 @@ class ResourceExpression:
         else:
             return list(visitor.ids_seen_list)
 
+    def _analyze_manifest(self, text):
+        """
+        Analyze the expression and return the id of the manifest resource
+
+        May raise SyntaxError or a ResourceProgramError subclass
+        """
+        # Use the ast module to build an abstract syntax tree of the expression
+        try:
+            node = ast.parse(text)
+        except SyntaxError:
+            raise ResourceSyntaxError
+        # Use ResourceNodeVisitor to see what kind of ast.Name objects are
+        # referenced by the expression. This may also raise CodeNotAllowed
+        # which should be captured by the higher layers.
+        visitor = ResourceNodeVisitor()
+        visitor.visit(node)
+        # Bail if the expression is not using exactly one resource id
+        if len(visitor.ids_seen_list) == 0:
+            raise NoResourcesReferenced()
+        else:
+            return [
+                "{}::{}".format(self._implicit_namespace, manifest_id)
+                if "::" not in manifest_id and self._implicit_namespace
+                else manifest_id
+                for manifest_id in list(visitor.manifest_attr_seen_list)
+            ]
+
 
 def parse_imports_stmt(imports):
     """
diff --git a/plainbox/impl/session/assistant.py b/plainbox/impl/session/assistant.py
index 8ef05e7..653bc4c 100644
--- a/plainbox/impl/session/assistant.py
+++ b/plainbox/impl/session/assistant.py
@@ -50,9 +50,11 @@ from plainbox.impl.providers.embedded_providers import (
 from plainbox.impl.result import JobResultBuilder
 from plainbox.impl.result import MemoryJobResult
 from plainbox.impl.runner import JobRunnerUIDelegate
+from plainbox.impl.secure.config import Unset
 from plainbox.impl.secure.origin import Origin
 from plainbox.impl.secure.qualifiers import select_jobs
 from plainbox.impl.secure.qualifiers import FieldQualifier
+from plainbox.impl.secure.qualifiers import JobIdQualifier
 from plainbox.impl.secure.qualifiers import PatternMatcher
 from plainbox.impl.secure.qualifiers import RegExpJobQualifier
 from plainbox.impl.session import SessionMetaData
@@ -209,6 +211,9 @@ class SessionAssistant:
                 "configure automatic restart capability")
             allowed_calls[self.use_alternate_restart_strategy] = (
                 "configure automatic restart capability")
+        # Manifest
+        self._manifest_path = os.path.expanduser(
+            '~/.local/share/plainbox/machine-manifest.json')
 
     @raises(UnexpectedMethodCall, LookupError)
     def configure_application_restart(
@@ -930,7 +935,9 @@ class SessionAssistant:
         desired_job_list = select_jobs(
             self._context.state.job_list,
             [plan.get_qualifier() for plan in self._manager.test_plans] +
-                self._exclude_qualifiers)
+                self._exclude_qualifiers +
+                [JobIdQualifier(
+                    'com.canonical.plainbox::collect-manifest', None, False)])
         self._context.state.update_desired_job_list(desired_job_list)
         # Set subsequent usage expectations i.e. all of the runtime parts are
         # available now.
@@ -1244,6 +1251,100 @@ class SessionAssistant:
             if jsm[job.id].result.outcome is None
         ]
 
+    def _strtobool(self, val):
+        return val.lower() in ('y', 'yes', 't', 'true', 'on', '1')
+
+    @raises(SystemExit, UnexpectedMethodCall)
+    def get_manifest_repr(self) -> 'Dict[List[Dict]]':
+        """
+        Get the manifest units required by the jobs selection.
+
+        :returns:
+            A dict of manifest questions.
+        :raises SystemExit:
+            When the launcher manifest section contains invalid entries.
+        :raises UnexpectedMethodCall:
+            If the call is made at an unexpected time. Do not catch this error.
+            It is a bug in your program. The error message will indicate what
+            is the likely cause.
+        """
+        UsageExpectation.of(self).enforce()
+        # XXX: job_state_map is a bit low level, can we avoid that?
+        jsm = self._context.state.job_state_map
+        todo_list = [
+            job for job in self._context.state.run_list
+            if jsm[job.id].result.outcome is None
+        ]
+        expression_list = []
+        manifest_id_set = set()
+        for job in todo_list:
+            if job.get_resource_program():
+                expression_list.extend(
+                    job.get_resource_program().expression_list)
+        for e in expression_list:
+            manifest_id_set.update(e.manifest_id_list)
+        manifest_list = [unit for unit in self._context.unit_list
+                        if unit.Meta.name == 'manifest entry'
+                        and unit.id in manifest_id_set]
+        manifest_cache = {}
+        if os.path.isfile(self._manifest_path):
+            with open(self._manifest_path, 'rt', encoding='UTF-8') as stream:
+                manifest_cache = json.load(stream)
+        if self._config is not None and self._config.manifest is not Unset:
+            for manifest_id in self._config.manifest:
+                manifest_cache.update(
+                    {manifest_id: self._config.manifest[manifest_id]})
+        manifest_info_dict = dict()
+        for m in manifest_list:
+            prompt = m.prompt()
+            if prompt is None:
+                if m.value_type == 'bool':
+                    prompt = "Does this machine have this piece of hardware?"
+                elif m.value_type == 'natural':
+                    prompt = "Please enter the requested data:"
+                else:
+                    _logger.error("Unsupported value-type: '%s'", m.value_type)
+                    continue
+            if prompt not in manifest_info_dict:
+                manifest_info_dict[prompt] = []
+            manifest_info = {
+                "id": m.id,
+                "partial_id": m.partial_id,
+                "name": m.name,
+                "value_type": m.value_type,
+            }
+            try:
+                value = manifest_cache[m.id]
+                if m.value_type == 'bool':
+                    if isinstance(manifest_cache[m.id], str):
+                        value = self._strtobool(manifest_cache[m.id])
+                elif m.value_type == 'natural':
+                    value = int(manifest_cache[m.id])
+            except ValueError:
+                _logger.error(
+                    ("Invalid manifest %s value '%s'"),
+                    m.id, manifest_cache[m.id])
+                raise SystemExit(1)
+            except KeyError:
+                value = None
+            manifest_info.update({'value': value})
+            manifest_info_dict[prompt].append(manifest_info)
+        return manifest_info_dict
+
+    def save_manifest(self, manifest_answers):
+        """
+        Record the manifest on disk.
+        """
+        manifest_cache = dict()
+        if os.path.isfile(self._manifest_path):
+            with open(self._manifest_path, 'rt', encoding='UTF-8') as stream:
+                manifest_cache = json.load(stream)
+        os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(self._manifest_path), exist_ok=True)
+        manifest_cache.update(manifest_answers)
+        print("Saving manifest to {}".format(self._manifest_path))
+        with open(self._manifest_path, 'wt', encoding='UTF-8') as stream:
+            json.dump(manifest_cache, stream, sort_keys=True, indent=2)
+
     @raises(ValueError, TypeError, UnexpectedMethodCall)
     def run_job(
         self, job_id: str, ui: 'Union[str, IJobRunnerUI]',
@@ -1728,6 +1829,8 @@ class SessionAssistant:
             self.remove_all_filters: "to remove all filters",
             self.get_static_todo_list: "to see what is meant to be executed",
             self.get_dynamic_todo_list: "to see what is yet to be executed",
+            self.get_manifest_repr: (
+                "to get participating manifest units"),
             self.run_job: "to run a given job",
             self.use_alternate_selection: "to change the selection",
             self.hand_pick_jobs: "to generate new selection and use it",
diff --git a/plainbox/impl/session/remote_assistant.py b/plainbox/impl/session/remote_assistant.py
index 9b91aeb..f5eb00e 100644
--- a/plainbox/impl/session/remote_assistant.py
+++ b/plainbox/impl/session/remote_assistant.py
@@ -286,6 +286,12 @@ class RemoteSessionAssistant():
                 job_state.attempts = self._launcher.max_attempts
         return self._sa.get_static_todo_list()
 
+    def get_manifest_repr(self):
+        return self._sa.get_manifest_repr()
+
+    def save_manifest(self, manifest_answers):
+        return self._sa.save_manifest(manifest_answers)
+
     def modify_todo_list(self, chosen_jobs):
         self._sa.use_alternate_selection(chosen_jobs)