0005. Prefer reproducible, automation-first homelab management

Status

Accepted

Date

2026-10-05

Context

Rebuilding the homelab should be predictable and reasonably fast, without relying on memory or undocumented manual steps.

Decision

Manage infrastructure and configuration declaratively in version control wherever practical. Use GitOps where continuous reconciliation is appropriate.

Consequences

• Definitions and documentation are the source of truth and need maintenance.
• Document manual steps, including bootstrap and hardware changes; not everything is worth automating.
• Keep secrets and generated state out of version control, and document their backup and recovery.