docs: update CLI reference to match actual code

cli.md:
- Document `start`/`stop` as preferred commands (`up`/`down` as legacy)
- Add --skip-cluster-management flag for start and stop
- Add --delete-volumes flag for stop
- Add missing subcommands: restart, exec, status, port, push-images, run-job
- Add --helm-chart option to deploy create
- Reorganize deploy vs deployment sections for clarity

deployment_patterns.md:
- Add missing --stack flag to deploy create example

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

docs/cli.md

@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ $ laconic-so build-npms --include <package-name> --force-rebuild
 
 ## deploy
 
-The `deploy` command group manages persistent deployments. The general workflow is `deploy init` to generate a spec file, then `deploy create` to create a deployment directory from the spec, then runtime commands like `deploy up` and `deploy down`.
+The `deploy` command group manages persistent deployments. The general workflow is `deploy init` to generate a spec file, then `deploy create` to create a deployment directory from the spec, then runtime commands like `deployment start` and `deployment stop`.
 
 ### deploy init
 
@@ -101,35 +101,91 @@ Options:
 - `--spec-file` (required): spec file to use
 - `--deployment-dir`: target directory for deployment files
 - `--update`: update an existing deployment directory, preserving data volumes and env file. Changed files are backed up with a `.bak` suffix. The deployment's `config.env` and `deployment.yml` are also preserved.
+- `--helm-chart`: generate Helm chart instead of deploying (k8s only)
 - `--network-dir`: network configuration supplied in this directory
 - `--initial-peers`: initial set of persistent peers
 
-### deploy up
+## deployment
 
-Start a deployment:
+Runtime commands for managing a created deployment. Use `--dir` to specify the deployment directory.
+
+### deployment start
+
+Start a deployment (`up` is a legacy alias):
 ```
-$ laconic-so deployment --dir <deployment-dir> up
+$ laconic-so deployment --dir <deployment-dir> start
 ```
 
-### deploy down
+Options:
+- `--stay-attached` / `--detatch-terminal`: attach to container stdout (default: detach)
+- `--skip-cluster-management` / `--perform-cluster-management`: skip kind cluster creation/teardown (default: perform management). Only affects k8s-kind deployments. Use this when multiple stacks share a single cluster.
 
-Stop a deployment:
-```
-$ laconic-so deployment --dir <deployment-dir> down
-```
-Use `--delete-volumes` to also remove data volumes.
+### deployment stop
 
-### deploy ps
+Stop a deployment (`down` is a legacy alias):
+```
+$ laconic-so deployment --dir <deployment-dir> stop
+```
+
+Options:
+- `--delete-volumes` / `--preserve-volumes`: delete data volumes on stop (default: preserve)
+- `--skip-cluster-management` / `--perform-cluster-management`: skip kind cluster teardown (default: perform management). Use this to stop a single deployment without destroying a shared cluster.
+
+### deployment restart
+
+Restart a deployment with GitOps-aware workflow. Pulls latest stack code, syncs the deployment directory from the git-tracked spec, and restarts services:
+```
+$ laconic-so deployment --dir <deployment-dir> restart
+```
+
+See [deployment_patterns.md](deployment_patterns.md) for the recommended GitOps workflow.
+
+### deployment ps
 
 Show running services:
 ```
 $ laconic-so deployment --dir <deployment-dir> ps
 ```
 
-### deploy logs
+### deployment logs
 
 View service logs:
 ```
 $ laconic-so deployment --dir <deployment-dir> logs
 ```
 Use `-f` to follow and `-n <count>` to tail.
+
+### deployment exec
+
+Execute a command in a running service container:
+```
+$ laconic-so deployment --dir <deployment-dir> exec <service-name> "<command>"
+```
+
+### deployment status
+
+Show deployment status:
+```
+$ laconic-so deployment --dir <deployment-dir> status
+```
+
+### deployment port
+
+Show mapped ports for a service:
+```
+$ laconic-so deployment --dir <deployment-dir> port <service-name> <port>
+```
+
+### deployment push-images
+
+Push deployment images to a registry:
+```
+$ laconic-so deployment --dir <deployment-dir> push-images
+```
+
+### deployment run-job
+
+Run a one-time job in the deployment:
+```
+$ laconic-so deployment --dir <deployment-dir> run-job <job-name>
+```

docs/deployment_patterns.md

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ git commit -m "Add my-stack deployment configuration"
 git push
 
 # On deployment server: deploy from git-tracked spec
-laconic-so deploy create \
+laconic-so --stack my-stack deploy create \
   --spec-file /path/to/operator-repo/spec.yml \
   --deployment-dir my-deployment
 

stack_orchestrator/constants.py

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ network_key = "network"
 http_proxy_key = "http-proxy"
 image_registry_key = "image-registry"
 configmaps_key = "configmaps"
+secrets_key = "secrets"
 resources_key = "resources"
 volumes_key = "volumes"
 security_key = "security"

stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployment_create.py

@@ -477,6 +477,9 @@ def init_operation(
             spec_file_content["volumes"] = {**volume_descriptors, **orig_volumes}
         if configmap_descriptors:
             spec_file_content["configmaps"] = configmap_descriptors
+        if "k8s" in deployer_type:
+            if "secrets" not in spec_file_content:
+                spec_file_content["secrets"] = {}
 
     if opts.o.debug:
         print(

stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/cluster_info.py

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ from stack_orchestrator.deploy.k8s.helpers import (
     envs_from_environment_variables_map,
     envs_from_compose_file,
     merge_envs,
+    translate_sidecar_service_names,
 )
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.deploy_util import (
     parsed_pod_files_map_from_file_names,
@@ -439,6 +440,12 @@ class ClusterInfo:
                     if "environment" in service_info
                     else self.environment_variables.map
                 )
+                # Translate docker-compose service names to localhost for sidecars
+                # All services in the same pod share the network namespace
+                sibling_services = [s for s in services.keys() if s != service_name]
+                merged_envs = translate_sidecar_service_names(
+                    merged_envs, sibling_services
+                )
                 envs = envs_from_environment_variables_map(merged_envs)
                 if opts.o.debug:
                     print(f"Merged envs: {envs}")
@@ -476,6 +483,16 @@ class ClusterInfo:
                         )
                     )
                 ]
+                # Mount user-declared secrets from spec.yml
+                for user_secret_name in self.spec.get_secrets():
+                    env_from.append(
+                        client.V1EnvFromSource(
+                            secret_ref=client.V1SecretEnvSource(
+                                name=user_secret_name,
+                                optional=True,
+                            )
+                        )
+                    )
                 container = client.V1Container(
                     name=container_name,
                     image=image_to_use,

stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/deploy_k8s.py

@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
     core_api: client.CoreV1Api
     apps_api: client.AppsV1Api
     networking_api: client.NetworkingV1Api
-    k8s_namespace: str = "default"
+    k8s_namespace: str
     kind_cluster_name: str
     skip_cluster_management: bool
     cluster_info: ClusterInfo
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
     ) -> None:
         self.type = type
         self.skip_cluster_management = False
+        self.k8s_namespace = "default"  # Will be overridden below if context exists
         # TODO: workaround pending refactoring above to cope with being
         # created with a null deployment_context
         if deployment_context is None:
@@ -120,6 +121,8 @@ class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
         self.deployment_dir = deployment_context.deployment_dir
         self.deployment_context = deployment_context
         self.kind_cluster_name = compose_project_name
+        # Use deployment-specific namespace for resource isolation and easy cleanup
+        self.k8s_namespace = f"laconic-{compose_project_name}"
         self.cluster_info = ClusterInfo()
         self.cluster_info.int(
             compose_files,
@@ -149,6 +152,46 @@ class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
         self.apps_api = client.AppsV1Api()
         self.custom_obj_api = client.CustomObjectsApi()
 
+    def _ensure_namespace(self):
+        """Create the deployment namespace if it doesn't exist."""
+        if opts.o.dry_run:
+            print(f"Dry run: would create namespace {self.k8s_namespace}")
+            return
+        try:
+            self.core_api.read_namespace(name=self.k8s_namespace)
+            if opts.o.debug:
+                print(f"Namespace {self.k8s_namespace} already exists")
+        except ApiException as e:
+            if e.status == 404:
+                # Create the namespace
+                ns = client.V1Namespace(
+                    metadata=client.V1ObjectMeta(
+                        name=self.k8s_namespace,
+                        labels={"app": self.cluster_info.app_name},
+                    )
+                )
+                self.core_api.create_namespace(body=ns)
+                if opts.o.debug:
+                    print(f"Created namespace {self.k8s_namespace}")
+            else:
+                raise
+
+    def _delete_namespace(self):
+        """Delete the deployment namespace and all resources within it."""
+        if opts.o.dry_run:
+            print(f"Dry run: would delete namespace {self.k8s_namespace}")
+            return
+        try:
+            self.core_api.delete_namespace(name=self.k8s_namespace)
+            if opts.o.debug:
+                print(f"Deleted namespace {self.k8s_namespace}")
+        except ApiException as e:
+            if e.status == 404:
+                if opts.o.debug:
+                    print(f"Namespace {self.k8s_namespace} not found")
+            else:
+                raise
+
     def _create_volume_data(self):
         # Create the host-path-mounted PVs for this deployment
         pvs = self.cluster_info.get_pvs()
@@ -314,6 +357,8 @@ class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
                         load_images_into_kind(self.kind_cluster_name, local_images)
                 # Note: if no local containers defined, all images come from registries
             self.connect_api()
+            # Create deployment-specific namespace for resource isolation
+            self._ensure_namespace()
             if self.is_kind() and not self.skip_cluster_management:
                 # Configure ingress controller (not installed by default in kind)
                 # Skip if already running (idempotent for shared cluster)
@@ -381,17 +426,12 @@ class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
                     print("NodePort created:")
                     print(f"{nodeport_resp}")
 
-    def down(self, timeout, volumes, skip_cluster_management):  # noqa: C901
+    def down(self, timeout, volumes, skip_cluster_management):
         self.skip_cluster_management = skip_cluster_management
         self.connect_api()
 
-        # Query K8s for resources by label selector instead of generating names
-        # from config. This ensures we clean up orphaned resources when deployment
-        # IDs change (e.g., after force_redeploy).
-        label_selector = f"app={self.cluster_info.app_name}"
-
+        # PersistentVolumes are cluster-scoped (not namespaced), so delete by label
         if volumes:
-            # Delete PVs for this deployment (PVs use volume-label pattern)
             try:
                 pvs = self.core_api.list_persistent_volume(
                     label_selector=f"app={self.cluster_info.app_name}"
@@ -407,97 +447,9 @@ class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
                 if opts.o.debug:
                     print(f"Error listing PVs: {e}")
 
-            # Delete PVCs for this deployment
-            try:
-                pvcs = self.core_api.list_namespaced_persistent_volume_claim(
-                    namespace=self.k8s_namespace, label_selector=label_selector
-                )
-                for pvc in pvcs.items:
-                    if opts.o.debug:
-                        print(f"Deleting PVC: {pvc.metadata.name}")
-                    try:
-                        self.core_api.delete_namespaced_persistent_volume_claim(
-                            name=pvc.metadata.name, namespace=self.k8s_namespace
-                        )
-                    except ApiException as e:
-                        _check_delete_exception(e)
-            except ApiException as e:
-                if opts.o.debug:
-                    print(f"Error listing PVCs: {e}")
-
-        # Delete ConfigMaps for this deployment
-        try:
-            cfg_maps = self.core_api.list_namespaced_config_map(
-                namespace=self.k8s_namespace, label_selector=label_selector
-            )
-            for cfg_map in cfg_maps.items:
-                if opts.o.debug:
-                    print(f"Deleting ConfigMap: {cfg_map.metadata.name}")
-                try:
-                    self.core_api.delete_namespaced_config_map(
-                        name=cfg_map.metadata.name, namespace=self.k8s_namespace
-                    )
-                except ApiException as e:
-                    _check_delete_exception(e)
-        except ApiException as e:
-            if opts.o.debug:
-                print(f"Error listing ConfigMaps: {e}")
-
-        # Delete Deployments for this deployment
-        try:
-            deployments = self.apps_api.list_namespaced_deployment(
-                namespace=self.k8s_namespace, label_selector=label_selector
-            )
-            for deployment in deployments.items:
-                if opts.o.debug:
-                    print(f"Deleting Deployment: {deployment.metadata.name}")
-                try:
-                    self.apps_api.delete_namespaced_deployment(
-                        name=deployment.metadata.name, namespace=self.k8s_namespace
-                    )
-                except ApiException as e:
-                    _check_delete_exception(e)
-        except ApiException as e:
-            if opts.o.debug:
-                print(f"Error listing Deployments: {e}")
-
-        # Delete Services for this deployment (includes both ClusterIP and NodePort)
-        try:
-            services = self.core_api.list_namespaced_service(
-                namespace=self.k8s_namespace, label_selector=label_selector
-            )
-            for service in services.items:
-                if opts.o.debug:
-                    print(f"Deleting Service: {service.metadata.name}")
-                try:
-                    self.core_api.delete_namespaced_service(
-                        namespace=self.k8s_namespace, name=service.metadata.name
-                    )
-                except ApiException as e:
-                    _check_delete_exception(e)
-        except ApiException as e:
-            if opts.o.debug:
-                print(f"Error listing Services: {e}")
-
-        # Delete Ingresses for this deployment
-        try:
-            ingresses = self.networking_api.list_namespaced_ingress(
-                namespace=self.k8s_namespace, label_selector=label_selector
-            )
-            for ingress in ingresses.items:
-                if opts.o.debug:
-                    print(f"Deleting Ingress: {ingress.metadata.name}")
-                try:
-                    self.networking_api.delete_namespaced_ingress(
-                        name=ingress.metadata.name, namespace=self.k8s_namespace
-                    )
-                except ApiException as e:
-                    _check_delete_exception(e)
-            if not ingresses.items and opts.o.debug:
-                print("No ingress to delete")
-        except ApiException as e:
-            if opts.o.debug:
-                print(f"Error listing Ingresses: {e}")
+        # Delete the deployment namespace - this cascades to all namespaced resources
+        # (PVCs, ConfigMaps, Deployments, Services, Ingresses, etc.)
+        self._delete_namespace()
 
         if self.is_kind() and not self.skip_cluster_management:
             # Destroy the kind cluster
@@ -635,7 +587,7 @@ class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
                 log_data = ""
                 for container in containers:
                     container_log = self.core_api.read_namespaced_pod_log(
-                        k8s_pod_name, namespace="default", container=container
+                        k8s_pod_name, namespace=self.k8s_namespace, container=container
                     )
                     container_log_lines = container_log.splitlines()
                     for line in container_log_lines:

stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/helpers.py

@@ -942,6 +942,41 @@ def envs_from_compose_file(
     return result
 
 
+def translate_sidecar_service_names(
+    envs: Mapping[str, str], sibling_service_names: List[str]
+) -> Mapping[str, str]:
+    """Translate docker-compose service names to localhost for sidecar containers.
+
+    In docker-compose, services can reference each other by name (e.g., 'db:5432').
+    In Kubernetes, when multiple containers are in the same pod (sidecars), they
+    share the same network namespace and must use 'localhost' instead.
+
+    This function replaces service name references with 'localhost' in env values.
+    """
+    import re
+
+    if not sibling_service_names:
+        return envs
+
+    result = {}
+    for env_var, env_val in envs.items():
+        if env_val is None:
+            result[env_var] = env_val
+            continue
+
+        new_val = str(env_val)
+        for service_name in sibling_service_names:
+            # Match service name followed by optional port (e.g., 'db:5432', 'db')
+            # Handle URLs like: postgres://user:pass@db:5432/dbname
+            # and simple refs like: db:5432 or just db
+            pattern = rf"\b{re.escape(service_name)}(:\d+)?\b"
+            new_val = re.sub(pattern, lambda m: f'localhost{m.group(1) or ""}', new_val)
+
+        result[env_var] = new_val
+
+    return result
+
+
 def envs_from_environment_variables_map(
     map: Mapping[str, str]
 ) -> List[client.V1EnvVar]:

stack_orchestrator/deploy/spec.py

@@ -115,6 +115,9 @@ class Spec:
     def get_configmaps(self):
         return self.obj.get(constants.configmaps_key, {})
 
+    def get_secrets(self):
+        return self.obj.get(constants.secrets_key, {})
+
     def get_container_resources(self):
         return Resources(
             self.obj.get(constants.resources_key, {}).get("containers", {})
@@ -128,9 +131,6 @@ class Spec:
     def get_http_proxy(self):
         return self.obj.get(constants.network_key, {}).get(constants.http_proxy_key, [])
 
-    def get_acme_email(self):
-        return self.obj.get(constants.network_key, {}).get("acme-email", "")
-
     def get_annotations(self):
         return self.obj.get(constants.annotations_key, {})