The build failed. The pipeline halted. One commit stood between release and rollback—because a manpages query-level approval check had triggered.
Manpages query-level approval is a control gate. It requires specific documentation queries to be reviewed and verified before code can ship. Instead of relying on broad approvals, query-level rules hit precise targets: a single API endpoint, a config flag, a database schema line. The system reads manpages, matches them to defined queries, and stops deployment until every match is approved.
This method solves a common problem: scattered approvals that miss critical points. With query-level enforcement, the process is deterministic. If the manpage query detects a term tied to a sensitive change, approval is mandatory. No exceptions slip past because the check runs at the exact granularity you define.
For example, you might require review for any change that modifies the ssh_config manpage references. Only tagged reviewers with the right expertise can clear it. This tightens compliance, strengthens audit trails, and prevents accidental misconfigurations in production.