> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tinycloud.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# App manifests

> Understand how manifests shape TinyCloud sign-in and requested capabilities.

An app manifest is the input the SDK uses to build the sign-in capability
request. It describes the app, the resources it needs, and any derived
delegations it should request on the user's behalf.

Use a manifest when you want one sign-in flow to cover:

* the app's own data surface
* any backend or agent permissions that should be bundled at sign-in
* optional account-registry writes for the signed-in user

## What the SDK does

During sign-in, the SDK resolves the manifest or pre-composed capability
request, unions the requested permissions, and signs a single recap. For owned
encryption networks, the SDK can also request `tinycloud.encryption/network.create`
alongside `tinycloud.encryption/decrypt` so the network exists after sign-in.

The manifest is not backend configuration. It is a client-side declaration that
the SDK turns into a capability request before the user signs in.

## What manifests are good at

* keeping app permissions in one place
* giving consent UIs and agents a readable summary of intent
* describing app-scoped prefixes and default spaces
* carrying optional knowledge-bundle metadata for agent-readable apps

## What to avoid

* do not treat a manifest as a substitute for server policy
* do not duplicate exact permission syntax here if you only need the field list
* do not invent a backend/delegation section that the SDK does not support

## Reference

For the exact manifest fields, defaults, and composition rules, see
[App manifest reference](/reference/protocol/app-manifests).

For the app-authoring bundle shape, see
[Agent-readable Apps](/guides/agent-readable-apps).

## Source note

The manifest behavior described here follows the TinyCloud JS SDK manifest
composer and sign-in tests. The reference page contains the field-level shape.