Add experimental stack manage explain command

src/stack/deploy/deployment.py

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 )
 from stack.deploy.deploy_types import DeployCommandContext
 from stack.deploy.deployment_context import DeploymentContext
+from stack.deploy.explain import explain_op
 from stack.deploy.stack import Stack
 from stack.log import output_main
 from stack.util import error_exit
@@ -79,6 +80,14 @@ def make_deploy_context(ctx) -> DeployCommandContext:
     )
 
 
+@command.command()
+@click.pass_context
+def explain(ctx):
+    """Explain the deployment (experimental)"""
+    ctx.obj = make_deploy_context(ctx)
+    explain_op(ctx)
+
+
 @command.command()
 @click.option(
     "--stay-attached/--detatch-terminal",
@@ -93,7 +102,7 @@ def make_deploy_context(ctx) -> DeployCommandContext:
 @click.argument("extra_args", nargs=-1)  # help: command: start <service1> <service2>
 @click.pass_context
 def start(ctx, stay_attached, skip_cluster_management, extra_args):
-    """start the stack"""
+    """start the deployment"""
     ctx.obj = make_deploy_context(ctx)
     services_list = list(extra_args) or None
     up_operation(ctx, services_list, stay_attached, skip_cluster_management)
@@ -109,7 +118,7 @@ def start(ctx, stay_attached, skip_cluster_management, extra_args):
 @click.argument("extra_args", nargs=-1)  # help: command: down <service1> <service2>
 @click.pass_context
 def stop(ctx, delete_volumes, skip_cluster_management, extra_args):
-    """stop the stack and remove the containers"""
+    """stop the deployment and remove the containers"""
     # TODO: add cluster name and env file here
     ctx.obj = make_deploy_context(ctx)
     down_operation(ctx, delete_volumes, extra_args, skip_cluster_management)

src/stack/deploy/explain.py

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# Copyright © 2026 Bozeman Pass, Inc.
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+import yaml
+
+from kubernetes import client
+
+from stack.deploy.k8s.deploy_k8s import K8sDeployer
+from stack.log import output_main
+from stack.util import error_exit
+
+
+def _k8s_object_to_yaml(obj):
+    api_client = client.ApiClient()
+    sanitized = api_client.sanitize_for_serialization(obj)
+    return yaml.dump(sanitized, default_flow_style=False, sort_keys=False)
+
+
+def _print_section(title, objects):
+    if not objects:
+        return
+    output_main(f"--- {title} ---")
+    for obj in objects:
+        output_main(_k8s_object_to_yaml(obj))
+
+
+def explain_op(ctx):
+    deployer = ctx.obj.deployer
+
+    if not isinstance(deployer, K8sDeployer):
+        error_exit("The explain command is currently only supported for k8s deployments")
+
+    cluster_info = deployer.cluster_info
+    is_kind = deployer.is_kind()
+
+    pvs = cluster_info.get_pvs()
+    _print_section("PersistentVolumes", pvs)
+
+    pvcs = cluster_info.get_pvcs()
+    _print_section("PersistentVolumeClaims", pvcs)
+
+    config_maps = cluster_info.get_configmaps()
+    _print_section("ConfigMaps", config_maps)
+
+    deployments = cluster_info.get_deployments(image_pull_policy=None if is_kind else "Always")
+    _print_section("Deployments", deployments)
+
+    services = cluster_info.get_services()
+    _print_section("Services", services)
+
+    http_proxy_info = cluster_info.spec.get_http_proxy()
+    use_tls = http_proxy_info and not is_kind
+    ingress = cluster_info.get_ingress(use_tls=use_tls)
+    if ingress:
+        _print_section("Ingress", [ingress])