diff --git a/app/deploy.py b/app/deploy.py
index 59fbf41c..b8173d2a 100644
--- a/app/deploy.py
+++ b/app/deploy.py
@@ -56,10 +56,10 @@ def command(ctx, include, exclude, env_file, cluster, deploy_to):
     # Subcommand is executed now, by the magic of click
 
 
-def create_deploy_context(global_context, stack, include, exclude, cluster, env_file, deploy_to):
+def create_deploy_context(global_context, stack, include, exclude, cluster, env_file, deployer):
     cluster_context = _make_cluster_context(global_context, stack, include, exclude, cluster, env_file)
     # See: https://gabrieldemarmiesse.github.io/python-on-whales/sub-commands/compose/
-    deployer = getDeployer(deploy_to, compose_files=cluster_context.compose_files, compose_project_name=cluster_context.cluster,
+    deployer = getDeployer(deployer, compose_files=cluster_context.compose_files, compose_project_name=cluster_context.cluster,
                            compose_env_file=cluster_context.env_file)
     return DeployCommandContext(stack, cluster_context, deployer)
 
diff --git a/app/deployment.py b/app/deployment.py
index c9c2bb98..3de8ac7a 100644
--- a/app/deployment.py
+++ b/app/deployment.py
@@ -14,20 +14,25 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import click
-from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
 import sys
 from app.deploy import up_operation, down_operation, ps_operation, port_operation
 from app.deploy import exec_operation, logs_operation, create_deploy_context
+from app.stack import Stack
+from app.spec import Spec
 
 
-@dataclass
 class DeploymentContext:
     dir: Path
+    spec: Spec
+    stack: Stack
 
     def get_stack_file(self):
         return self.dir.joinpath("stack.yml")
 
+    def get_spec_file(self):
+        return self.dir.joinpath("spec.yml")
+
     def get_env_file(self):
         return self.dir.joinpath("config.env")
 
@@ -35,12 +40,19 @@ class DeploymentContext:
     def get_cluster_name(self):
         return None
 
+    def init(self, dir):
+        self.dir = dir
+        self.stack = Stack()
+        self.stack.init_from_file(self.get_stack_file())
+        self.spec = Spec()
+        self.spec.init_from_file(self.get_spec_file())
+
 
 @click.group()
 @click.option("--dir", required=True, help="path to deployment directory")
 @click.pass_context
 def command(ctx, dir):
-    '''create a deployment'''
+    '''manage a deployment'''
 
     # Check that --stack wasn't supplied
     if ctx.parent.obj.stack:
@@ -55,14 +67,19 @@ def command(ctx, dir):
         print(f"Error: supplied deployment directory path {dir} exists but is a file not a directory")
         sys.exit(1)
     # Store the deployment context for subcommands
-    ctx.obj = DeploymentContext(dir_path)
+    deployment_context = DeploymentContext()
+    deployment_context.init(dir_path)
+    print(f"DEBUG dc: {deployment_context.spec.obj}")
+    ctx.obj = deployment_context
 
 
 def make_deploy_context(ctx):
-    stack_file_path = ctx.obj.get_stack_file()
-    env_file = ctx.obj.get_env_file()
-    cluster_name = ctx.obj.get_cluster_name()
-    return create_deploy_context(ctx.parent.parent.obj, stack_file_path, None, None, cluster_name, env_file, deploy_to)
+    context: DeploymentContext = ctx.obj
+    stack_file_path = context.get_stack_file()
+    env_file = context.get_env_file()
+    cluster_name = context.get_cluster_name()
+    return create_deploy_context(ctx.parent.parent.obj, stack_file_path, None, None, cluster_name, env_file,
+                                 context.spec.obj["deploy-to"])
 
 
 @command.command()
diff --git a/app/deployment_create.py b/app/deployment_create.py
index 7f416300..85835343 100644
--- a/app/deployment_create.py
+++ b/app/deployment_create.py
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ def init(ctx, config, output, map_ports_to_host):
     stack = global_options(ctx).stack
     debug = global_options(ctx).debug
     default_spec_file_content = call_stack_deploy_init(ctx.obj)
-    spec_file_content = {"stack": stack}
+    spec_file_content = {"stack": stack, "deploy-to": "compose"}
     if default_spec_file_content:
         spec_file_content.update(default_spec_file_content)
     config_variables = _parse_config_variables(config)
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ def create(ctx, spec_file, deployment_dir, network_dir, initial_peers):
         sys.exit(1)
     os.mkdir(deployment_dir)
     # Copy spec file and the stack file into the deployment dir
-    copyfile(spec_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, os.path.basename(spec_file)))
+    copyfile(spec_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, "spec.yml"))
     copyfile(stack_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, os.path.basename(stack_file)))
     # Copy any config varibles from the spec file into an env file suitable for compose
     _write_config_file(spec_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, "config.env"))
diff --git a/app/spec.py b/app/spec.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a23bc167
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/spec.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Copyright © 2022, 2023 Vulcanize
+
+# 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/>.
+
+from pathlib import Path
+import typing
+from app.util import get_yaml
+
+
+class Spec:
+
+    obj: typing.Any
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        pass
+
+    def init_from_file(self, file_path: Path):
+        with file_path:
+            self.obj = get_yaml().load(open(file_path, "r"))
diff --git a/app/stack.py b/app/stack.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1f94acdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/stack.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Copyright © 2023 Vulcanize
+
+# 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/>.
+
+from pathlib import Path
+import typing
+from app.util import get_yaml
+
+
+class Stack:
+
+    obj: typing.Any
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        pass
+
+    def init_from_file(self, file_path: Path):
+        with file_path:
+            self.obj = get_yaml().load(open(file_path, "r"))