PRISM Documentation: Registries Page

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Getting Started

PRISM Registries Page

The Registries page is your central hub for exploring and managing package registries and their editions. This page provides a focused view of all available package sources, organized by registry type, without the distraction of individual package listings.

Quick Actions:

  1. 🏗️ Explore registry types - Browse Repository, Collection, and Individual Package registries
  2. 📅 View editions - See all available editions within each registry
  3. 📋 Copy repository URLs - Get direct links for package installation
  4. 📊 Switch views - Toggle between card and table layouts
  5. 🔍 Filter registries - Use the registry filter to focus on specific sources

Understanding Registry Types

The registries page organizes package sources into three distinct categories, each serving different purposes:

Repository Registries

PRISM Registries Page

Date-based snapshots of complete package ecosystems:

  • Time-stamped editions - Each edition represents packages available on a specific date
  • Complete environments - All package dependencies included and tested together
  • Immutable snapshots - Package versions never change once published
  • Reproducible builds - Guaranteed compatibility within each edition

💡 Best For: Production deployments, reproducible research, regulatory compliance, stable environments

Collection Registries

PRISM Registries Page

Curated package sets for specialized workflows:

  • Domain-specific - Packages selected for particular use cases or industries
  • Quality-assured - Tested combinations optimized for specific workflows
  • Regularly updated - New versions added as they become available
  • Thematic organization - Packages grouped by functionality, organization, or purpose

💡 Best For: Specialized workflows, getting started with related packages, domain expertise

Individual Package Registries

PRISM Registries Page

Single-package focus for specific needs:

  • Latest versions - Access to the most recent package releases
  • Development builds - Pre-release or experimental versions
  • Frequent updates - Packages that update independently
  • Custom builds - Specialized versions for specific requirements

💡 Best For: Package development, testing latest features, accessing cutting-edge functionality

Interface Navigation

Registry Type Sections

PRISM Registries sections

Each registry type appears as a collapsible section:

Section Headers

  • Registry type name - Clear identification (Repository, Collection, Individual Package)
  • Count indicator - Number of registries available in parentheses
  • Expand/collapse chevron - Click to show or hide registries in this category
  • Visual feedback - Active sections have a gray background

Section Behavior

  • Independent operation - Each section can be expanded or collapsed separately
  • Persistent state - Section states remain as you navigate
  • Default view - Repository registries typically start expanded

Registry Tabs

PRISM Registries tabs

Within each expanded section, registries appear as tabs:

Tab Structure

  • Registry name - Identifier for the package source (e.g., “stratus”, “ghqc-eco”)
  • Selected state - Active tab has distinct visual styling
  • Click activation - Click any tab to view its editions

Tab Behavior

  • Single selection - Only one registry visible at a time within each section
  • Automatic switching - Content updates immediately when clicking tabs
  • Memory retention - Last selected tab remembered when returning

Edition Display

View Options

Choose how to display edition information:

Grid View (Default)

PRISM Registries grid view
  • Card layout - Each edition displayed as an individual card
  • Visual browsing - Easy to scan and compare editions at a glance
  • Edition details - Package count and mutability indicators visible
  • Copy buttons - Direct URL copying from each card

Each edition card displays essential information:

Card Elements

  • Edition name - Clickable link to detailed edition view
  • Package count - Number of packages available in this edition
  • Copy URL button - Clipboard icon for direct edition URL copying
  • Mutability indicator - Lock icons showing whether editions can change
    • 🔒 Locked - Edition contents are fixed and immutable
    • 🔓 Unlocked - Edition contents may be updated over time

Card Actions

  • Click title - Navigate to detailed edition page
  • Click clipboard - Copy edition URL for package installation
  • Hover information - Additional details via tooltips

Table View

PRISM Registries table view
  • Structured display - Editions listed in sortable rows and columns
  • Detailed information - Edition name, package count, fetch date, and URL access
  • Sorting capabilities - Click column headers to sort by different criteria
  • Compact view - More editions visible in the same space

The table view provides structured access to edition information:

Column Details

  • Edition - Edition name with mutability indicator
  • Packages - Package count with singular/plural grammar
  • Fetched At - Date when edition data was last updated
  • URL - Clipboard button for repository URL copying

Table Features

  • Sortable columns - Click headers to sort by any field
  • Click navigation - Click edition names to view details
  • Responsive layout - Adjusts to screen size automatically

Registry Filtering

PRISM Registries filter

The registry filter (located in the top navigation) controls which registries are visible:

Filter Behavior

  • Site-wide effect - Affects this page and all other PRISM pages
  • Multiple selection - Choose specific registries or “All Registries”
  • Instant updates - Changes apply immediately to visible content
  • Session persistence - Settings remembered until browser closure
  • Visual feedback - Filtered registries simply don’t appear in the interface

Using Registry Filtering

  1. Access filter - Click the registry dropdown in the top navigation
  2. Select registries - Check/uncheck specific registries
  3. Apply changes - Updates happen automatically
  4. Verify results - Only selected registries appear in sections

Common Workflows

Finding the Right Package Source

  1. Assess your needs - Determine if you need stability (Repository) or cutting-edge (Individual Package)
  2. Explore registry types - Expand relevant sections based on your requirements
  3. Browse available registries - Click through tabs to see available options
  4. Review editions - Look at available editions and their package counts
  5. Copy repository URLs - Use clipboard buttons to get installation links

Setting Up Reproducible Environments

  1. Focus on Repository registries - Expand the Repository section
  2. Select appropriate registry - Choose based on your package ecosystem needs
  3. Pick date-based edition - Select edition from your desired time period
  4. Copy repository URL - Use the clipboard button to get the exact URL
  5. Document the URL - Save the URL for your project’s dependency management

Comparing Registry Options

  1. Use table view - Switch to table view for easier comparison
  2. Sort by package count - Click the Packages column to compare sizes
  3. Check fetch dates - Ensure editions are up-to-date for your needs
  4. Note mutability - Consider whether you need fixed or updating editions
  5. Access detailed views - Click edition names for comprehensive information

Managing Registry Visibility

  1. Access registry filter - Use the dropdown in the top navigation
  2. Select relevant registries - Choose only the registries you work with
  3. Simplify interface - Reduce clutter by hiding irrelevant options
  4. Maintain focus - Keep settings consistent across PRISM pages

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Registry sections not expanding?

  • Ensure JavaScript is enabled in your browser
  • Try refreshing the page if sections seem unresponsive
  • Check that you’re clicking the section header, not just the text

No registries visible in a section?

  • Check your registry filter settings in the top navigation
  • Verify you haven’t filtered out all registries in that category
  • Try setting the filter to “All Registries” to see everything

Edition cards/tables not loading?

  • Verify you’ve selected a registry tab within the section
  • Try clicking different registry tabs to see if content appears
  • Refresh the page if content seems stuck loading

Copy URL button not working?

  • Ensure JavaScript is enabled and clipboard permissions are granted
  • Try right-clicking and “Copy” if the button doesn’t respond
  • Check your browser’s clipboard permissions for this site

View toggle not switching properly?

  • Ensure JavaScript is enabled in your browser
  • Try refreshing the page to reset the view state
  • Check browser console for any JavaScript errors