Manpages as Security as Code

The terminal waits. You type a command. A wall of text floods the screen — the manpage. Dense, authoritative, and buried in syntax. Hidden inside is knowledge that defines how systems behave, but it lives apart from your code, locked in static documentation. That separation is a security gap.

Manpages as Security as Code is the practice of turning those static descriptions into executable, enforceable, and version-controlled policy. Instead of passively reading rules, you codify them. You integrate them directly into pipelines, CI/CD, and runtime checks. This makes manpage-defined behavior part of the codebase, subject to the same rigorous review, test coverage, and continuous monitoring as any feature.

When manpages describe file permissions, cryptographic requirements, input validation rules, or network configurations, they provide a blueprint for security. But unless those requirements are implemented as code, they are ephemeral. Security as Code means committing those requirements to source control. It means automating enforcement so the documented security model is always live, always tested.

The workflow starts with manpage parsing. Extract commands, flags, and environmental variables tied to security outcomes. Model them in code — using lint rules, scripts, or policy agents. Link them to deploy environments so every build validates compliance against the manpage specification. This is applicable to ssh, openssl, sudo, system calls, kernel parameters — anywhere manpages define safe defaults and edge cases.

Version control makes the process transparent. Each commit can be audited against manpage-derived policies. Rollbacks restore not just application code but the security posture defined in the documentation. CI/CD integration turns manpages into active guardians during builds, blocking misconfigurations before they reach production.

This method avoids gaps between documented intentions and actual implementations. It forces truth into code. Security is no longer a separate PDF or wiki page; it’s embedded, auditable, and executable.

Manpages Security as Code also supports regulatory compliance. Standards bodies and auditors can see live enforcement in repositories and pipelines, reducing manual review time. It closes the loop between operations, development, and security teams.

To see Manpages Security as Code running live, with code ready in minutes, explore hoop.dev and build your own automated enforcement from the source documentation now.