COMPEL Glossary / yaml-configuration
YAML Configuration
YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) is a human-readable data serialization format commonly used to define configuration settings, pipeline specifications, infrastructure definitions, and deployment parameters for AI systems and their supporting infrastructure.
What this means in practice
YAML files are central to infrastructure-as-code practices, CI/CD pipeline definitions, Kubernetes deployments, and MLOps configurations. For non-technical governance professionals, YAML configurations are relevant because they define how AI systems are deployed, scaled, and managed, and changes to these files can significantly affect system behavior, security, and compliance posture. In COMPEL, YAML configuration management falls under the Technology pillar's infrastructure governance, where configuration version control and change management are assessed as part of MLOps maturity.
Why it matters
YAML configuration management is a governance concern because these files define how AI systems are deployed, scaled, monitored, and managed in production. Uncontrolled configuration changes can silently alter system behavior, compromise security, or violate compliance requirements. Organizations that treat infrastructure configuration with the same governance rigor as application code prevent configuration drift from undermining their AI governance frameworks.
How COMPEL uses it
YAML configuration management falls under the Technology pillar's infrastructure governance, where configuration version control and change management are assessed as part of MLOps maturity during Calibrate. The Produce stage enforces configuration management discipline. The Evaluate stage audits configuration consistency between approved designs and production deployments, and the Governance pillar tracks configuration changes as governance-relevant events.
Related Terms
Other glossary terms mentioned in this entry's definition and context.