Which files are required to publish a module to the Puppet Forge?

To successfully publish a module to the Puppet Forge, it is crucial to include the metadata.json file, which contains essential information about the module such as its name, version, author, dependencies, and a brief description. This file plays a key role in defining the module’s characteristics and ensuring that users can understand what the module does and how to use it properly.

The modulefile is another important component, traditionally used for defining module metadata and its structure. Though the concept of modulefile is somewhat legacy within the Puppet ecosystem, it is still relevant for compatibility reasons and might be encountered in existing modules. This file facilitates the organization of the module and helps in managing its components.

In contrast, while a README.md file is a useful addition for providing documentation and guidelines for users, it is not strictly required for the publication process on Puppet Forge. Similarly, the module.json file is a format that has been largely replaced by metadata.json in the context of Forge submissions and is not a requirement for publishing.

Thus, the combination of metadata.json and modulefile is essential for the publishing process to ensure both compliance with Puppet Forge requirements and proper module functionality.