feat: support structured Manifest.PrivateData in generated module manifests

.github/skills/skills/SKILL.md

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+---
+name: skills
+description: Index folder for vendored shared skills used by NovaModuleTools scaffolding and local guidance.
+---
+
+# Skill: skills
+
+## When to use
+
+Use this folder only as a container for nested shared skills that are maintained separately from the repository-local skill entry points.
+
+## Relevant files
+
+- `.github/skills/skills/*`
+
+## Expected practices
+
+- Do not reference this container skill directly from prompts or agents.
+- Keep nested shared skills organized beneath this folder when they are intentionally vendored for local reuse.
+- Prefer the repository-local top-level skills under `.github/skills/*/SKILL.md` for normal NovaModuleTools task routing.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/),
 
 ### Added
 
+- `project.json` now supports `Manifest.PrivateData` for arbitrary consumer-defined manifest metadata.
+    - Nova still uses `New-ModuleManifest` for the standard manifest flow, but now serializes structured `PrivateData` itself so nested objects, arrays, booleans, numbers, strings, and `null` values survive in the generated `.psd1`.
+    - Generated manifests now preserve both PowerShell/Nova-managed `PrivateData.PSData` metadata and custom `Manifest.PrivateData` entries, and reject reserved-key collisions instead of overwriting `PSData` silently.
+
 ### Changed
 
 ### Deprecated
@@ -15,6 +19,12 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/),
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- `Update-NovaModuleTool` and `% nova update` now split self-update failure details and recovery guidance across separate terminal lines, so long dependency errors stay readable instead of wrapping mid-sentence.
+- `Invoke-NovaTest`, `Test-NovaBuild`, and `% nova test` now resolve and import a supported installed `Pester` version from `5.7.1` through `5.10.0` instead of using an unsupported `Pester 6.x` installation automatically.
+    - Nova test workflows now fail early with a clear dependency error when only unsupported `Pester 6.x` versions are available.
+- Nova test workflows now reuse an already loaded supported `Pester 5.x` version in the current PowerShell session before selecting a different installed version.
+    - Repository CI no longer trips the `Pester` assembly loader by importing a gallery-installed `NovaModuleTools` module, building the local module, and then switching to another supported `Pester` version in the same session.
+
 ### Security
 
 ## [3.3.1] - 2026-07-15
@@ -535,4 +545,3 @@ This release was yanked because it removed the implicit `Pester` dependency, bef
 [0.0.6]: https://github.com/stiwicourage/NovaModuleTools/compare/Version_0.0.5...Version_0.0.6
 [0.0.5]: https://github.com/stiwicourage/NovaModuleTools/compare/Version_0.0.4...Version_0.0.5
 [0.0.4]: https://github.com/stiwicourage/NovaModuleTools/compare/Version_0.0.3...Version_0.0.4
-

RELEASE_NOTE.md

@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ This file summarizes the release notes for NovaModuleTools. **UNRELEASED** chang
 
 ### Added
 
+- `project.json` now supports `Manifest.PrivateData` for arbitrary consumer-defined module manifest metadata.
+    - Nova still uses `New-ModuleManifest` for the standard manifest flow, but now serializes structured `PrivateData` itself so nested values remain valid in the generated `.psd1`.
+    - Generated manifests preserve both `PrivateData.PSData` and custom `Manifest.PrivateData` entries, and reject reserved-key collisions instead of overwriting manifest metadata silently.
+
 ### Changed
 
 ### Deprecated
@@ -14,6 +18,9 @@ This file summarizes the release notes for NovaModuleTools. **UNRELEASED** chang
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- `Update-NovaModuleTool` and `% nova update` now keep self-update failure details and recovery guidance on separate terminal lines so the error is easier to scan.
+- `Invoke-NovaTest`, `Test-NovaBuild`, and `% nova test` now stay on Nova's supported `Pester 5.x` range and stop with a clear error instead of trying to run with an installed `Pester 6.x` version.
+
 ### Security
 
 ## [3.3.1] - 2026-07-15
@@ -276,4 +283,3 @@ This release was yanked because it removed the implicit `Pester` dependency befo
 ## [0.0.4] - 2024-06-25
 ### Added
 - First PowerShell Gallery release of NovaModuleTools with the initial module workflow support.
-

docs/project-json-reference.html

@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ <h2>How to read this file</h2>
                     <strong>Schema coverage.</strong>
                     <p>The unified JSON schema covers all documented fields including
                         <code>Manifest.ReleaseNotes</code>, <code>Manifest.LicenseUri</code>,
-                        <code>Manifest.IconUri</code>, and <code>Pester.TestResult.OutputFormat</code>. VS Code picks
+                        <code>Manifest.IconUri</code>, <code>Manifest.PrivateData</code>, and <code>Pester.TestResult.OutputFormat</code>. VS Code picks
                         up the schema automatically when the <code>$schema</code> field is present in
                         <code>project.json</code>.</p>
                 </div>
@@ -142,7 +142,13 @@ <h2>Complete example</h2>
     "Tags": ["Example", "NovaModuleTools", "PowerShell"],
     "ProjectUri": "https://www.novamoduletools.com/",
     "ReleaseNotes": "https://www.novamoduletools.com/release-notes.html",
-    "LicenseUri": "https://www.novamoduletools.com/license.html"
+    "LicenseUri": "https://www.novamoduletools.com/license.html",
+    "PrivateData": {
+      "ExampleProduct": {
+        "Enabled": true,
+        "ApiVersion": "1"
+      }
+    }
   },
   "Package": {
     "Id": "NovaExampleModule",
@@ -372,12 +378,41 @@ <h2><code>Manifest</code> settings</h2>
                                 publicly.
                             </td>
                         </tr>
+                        <tr>
+                            <td><code>PrivateData</code></td>
+                            <td>No</td>
+                            <td>Adds arbitrary consumer-defined metadata to the manifest <code>PrivateData</code> hashtable.</td>
+                            <td>Nova serializes this data itself so arbitrary property names and nested objects, arrays, booleans, numbers, strings, and <code>null</code> values remain valid PowerShell data in the generated manifest.</td>
+                        </tr>
                         </tbody>
                     </table>
                 </div>
                 <p class="tiny-note">If <code>Tags</code>, <code>ProjectUri</code>, <code>ReleaseNotes</code>, or <code>LicenseUri</code>
                     are omitted, packaging still succeeds. The corresponding package metadata fields are simply left
                     out.</p>
+                <p>Use <code>Manifest.PrivateData</code> for arbitrary module metadata. Nova keeps the standard PowerShell-generated
+                    <code>PrivateData.PSData</code> metadata and merges your configured keys into the same top-level
+                    <code>PrivateData</code> hashtable. Property names remain consumer-defined, so keys such as
+                    <code>Example Product</code>, <code>Feature-Flag</code>, or <code>123abc</code> are serialized safely.</p>
+                <p class="tiny-note">Nova validates the rewritten manifest by re-importing the generated
+                    <code>.psd1</code>. PowerShell's own <code>Test-ModuleManifest</code> cmdlet can still reject
+                    consumer-defined top-level <code>PrivateData</code> entries even when the manifest is valid
+                    PowerShell data, so Nova treats the data-file import round-trip as the compatibility check for
+                    custom metadata.</p>
+                <pre><code>{
+  "Manifest": {
+    "PrivateData": {
+      "Example Product": {
+        "Feature-Flag": true,
+        "ApiVersion": "1",
+        "RetryCount": 3,
+        "Nested Data": {
+          "Mode": "Test"
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}</code></pre>
             </section>
 
             <section class="content-section" id="package">

docs/schema/v3/project.json

@@ -85,6 +85,11 @@
           "type": "string",
           "description": "Sets the copyright string in the module manifest."
         },
+        "PrivateData": {
+          "type": "object",
+          "additionalProperties": true,
+          "description": "Arbitrary consumer-defined module metadata serialized into the generated manifest PrivateData hashtable."
+        },
         "RequiredModules": {
           "type": "array",
           "description": "Lists modules that must be imported before this module. Each entry is either a module name string or a module-specification object.",

project.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "ProjectName": "NovaModuleTools",
   "Description": "NovaModuleTools is an enterprise-focused build tool for PowerShell module development, with a strong emphasis on structure, maintainability, and build for automated CI/CD pipelines.",
-  "Version": "3.3.1",
+  "Version": "3.3.2-preview",
   "Preamble": [
     "Set-StrictMode -Version Latest",
     "$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'"

src/private/build/BuildManifest.ps1

@@ -6,66 +6,111 @@ function Build-Manifest {
 
     Write-Verbose 'Building psd1 data file Manifest'
     $data = Get-NovaBuildProjectInfo -ProjectInfo $ProjectInfo
-
-    $PubFunctionFiles = @(Get-ChildItem -Path $data.PublicDir -Filter *.ps1)
-    $functionToExport = @()
-    $aliasToExport = @()
-    foreach ($pubFunctionFile in $PubFunctionFiles) {
-        $functionToExport += Get-FunctionNameFromFile -filePath $pubFunctionFile.FullName
-        $aliasToExport += Get-AliasInFunctionFromFile -filePath $pubFunctionFile.FullName
-    }
-
-    ## Import Format.ps1xml (if any)
-    $FormatsToProcess = @()
-    Get-ChildItem -Path $data.ResourcesDir -File -Filter '*Format.ps1xml' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | ForEach-Object {
-        if ($data.CopyResourcesToModuleRoot) {
-            $FormatsToProcess += $_.Name
-        } else {
-            $FormatsToProcess += Join-Path -Path 'resources' -ChildPath $_.Name
-        }
-    }
-
-    ## Import Types.ps1xml1 (if any)
-    $TypesToProcess = @()
-    Get-ChildItem -Path $data.ResourcesDir -File -Filter '*Types.ps1xml' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | ForEach-Object {
-        if ($data.CopyResourcesToModuleRoot) {
-            $TypesToProcess += $_.Name
-        } else {
-            $TypesToProcess += Join-Path -Path 'resources' -ChildPath $_.Name
-        }
-    }
+    $exportDefinition = Get-ManifestExportDefinition -PublicDir $data.PublicDir
+    $formatFiles = Get-ManifestResourceFilePath -ResourcesDir $data.ResourcesDir -CopyResourcesToModuleRoot:$data.CopyResourcesToModuleRoot -Filter '*Format.ps1xml'
+    $typeFiles = Get-ManifestResourceFilePath -ResourcesDir $data.ResourcesDir -CopyResourcesToModuleRoot:$data.CopyResourcesToModuleRoot -Filter '*Types.ps1xml'
 
     $ManfiestAllowedParams = (Get-Command New-ModuleManifest).Parameters.Keys
     Assert-ManifestSchema -Manifest $data.Manifest -AllowedParameter $ManfiestAllowedParams
     $sv = [semver]$data.Version
     $ParmsManifest = @{
         Path = $data.ManifestFilePSD1
         Description = $data.Description
-        FunctionsToExport = $functionToExport
-        AliasesToExport = $aliasToExport
+        FunctionsToExport = $exportDefinition.FunctionToExport
+        AliasesToExport = $exportDefinition.AliasToExport
         RootModule = "$( $data.ProjectName ).psm1"
         ModuleVersion = [version]$sv
-        FormatsToProcess = $FormatsToProcess
-        TypesToProcess = $TypesToProcess
+        FormatsToProcess = $formatFiles
+        TypesToProcess = $typeFiles
     }
 
     ## Release lable
     if ($sv.PreReleaseLabel) {
         $ParmsManifest['Prerelease'] = $sv.PreReleaseLabel
     }
 
-    # Accept only valid Manifest Parameters
-    $data.Manifest.Keys | ForEach-Object {
-        if ($ManfiestAllowedParams -contains $_) {
-            if ($data.Manifest.$_) {
-                $ParmsManifest.add($_, $data.Manifest.$_)
-            }
-        }
-    }
+    Add-AllowedManifestParameterEntry -ManifestParameters $ParmsManifest -Manifest $data.Manifest -AllowedParameter $ManfiestAllowedParams
 
     try {
         New-ModuleManifest @ParmsManifest
     } catch {
         Stop-NovaOperation -Message ('Failed to create Manifest: {0}' -f $_.Exception.Message) -ErrorId 'Nova.Dependency.ModuleManifestCreationFailed' -Category OpenError -TargetObject $data.ManifestFilePSD1
     }
+
+    if ($data.Manifest.Contains('PrivateData') -and $data.Manifest['PrivateData'] -is [System.Collections.IDictionary]) {
+        Update-ManifestPrivateData -ManifestPath $data.ManifestFilePSD1 -PrivateData $data.Manifest['PrivateData']
+        Assert-GeneratedManifestPrivateDataCanBeImported -ManifestPath $data.ManifestFilePSD1
+    }
+}
+
+function Assert-GeneratedManifestPrivateDataCanBeImported {
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$ManifestPath
+    )
+
+    try {
+        $null = Import-PowerShellDataFile -LiteralPath $ManifestPath -ErrorAction Stop
+    } catch {
+        Stop-NovaOperation -Message ('Generated manifest contains invalid PrivateData: {0}' -f $_.Exception.Message) -ErrorId 'Nova.Dependency.ModuleManifestPrivateDataValidationFailed' -Category InvalidData -TargetObject $ManifestPath
+    }
+}
+
+function Get-ManifestExportDefinition {
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$PublicDir
+    )
+
+    $functionToExport = @()
+    $aliasToExport = @()
+    foreach ($publicFunctionFile in @(Get-ChildItem -Path $PublicDir -Filter *.ps1)) {
+        $functionToExport += Get-FunctionNameFromFile -filePath $publicFunctionFile.FullName
+        $aliasToExport += Get-AliasInFunctionFromFile -filePath $publicFunctionFile.FullName
+    }
+
+    return [pscustomobject]@{
+        FunctionToExport = $functionToExport
+        AliasToExport = $aliasToExport
+    }
+}
+
+function Get-ManifestResourceFilePath {
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$ResourcesDir,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$Filter,
+        [switch]$CopyResourcesToModuleRoot
+    )
+
+    $resourceFilePath = @()
+    Get-ChildItem -Path $ResourcesDir -File -Filter $Filter -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | ForEach-Object {
+        if ($CopyResourcesToModuleRoot) {
+            $resourceFilePath += $_.Name
+            return
+        }
+
+        $resourceFilePath += Join-Path -Path 'resources' -ChildPath $_.Name
+    }
+
+    return $resourceFilePath
+}
+
+function Add-AllowedManifestParameterEntry {
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)][hashtable]$ManifestParameters,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)][System.Collections.IDictionary]$Manifest,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)][string[]]$AllowedParameter
+    )
+
+    foreach ($name in $Manifest.Keys) {
+        if ($name -eq 'PrivateData' -or $AllowedParameter -notcontains $name) {
+            continue
+        }
+
+        if ($Manifest.$name) {
+            $ManifestParameters.add($name, $Manifest.$name)
+        }
+    }
 }