chefのmetadata.rbをchef以外から利用する

chefのmetadata.rbには、そのcookbookに関する様々な情報を書いておくことができます。

• attributeの情報
• 提供するrecipe, resourcesのリスト
• サポートするplatform
• cookbook間の依存関係
• その他: http://docs.opscode.com/essentials_cookbook_metadata.html

実際community cookbookのcookbookを見てみると、metadata.rbに色々書いてあるのもあります。
例: https://github.com/opscode-cookbooks/mysql/blob/master/metadata.rb

この情報を使うと色々な便利なことができるような気がします。
chefと外部システムの連携、自動テストとか、cookbook viewerとかeditorとか？
以下の方法でchefの外からこのファイルを読み込めます。

require 'chef/cookbook/metadata'

metadata = Chef::Cookbook::Metadata.new
metadata.from_file('./metadata.rb')

で読み込めます。
pry上ですが、上で紹介したmysql cookbookのmetadata.rbに対して実際にやってみると、

$ pry -rchef/cookbook/metadata
[1] pry(main)> metadata = Chef::Cookbook::Metadata.new
=> #<Chef::Cookbook::Metadata:0x007fd6830505f8
 @attributes={},
 @conflicting={},
 @cookbook=nil,
 @dependencies={},
 @description="A fabulous new cookbook",
 @groupings={},
 @license="none",
 @long_description="",
 @maintainer="YOUR_COMPANY_NAME",
 @maintainer_email="YOUR_EMAIL",
 @name="",
 @platforms={},
 @providing={},
 @recipes={},
 @recommendations={},
 @replacing={},
 @suggestions={},
 @version=0.0.0>

[2] pry(main)> metadata.from_file('./metadata.rb')
=> {"display_name"=>"Ruby Executable Directory which should gain MySQL support",
 "default"=>"system ruby",
 "choice"=>[],
 "calculated"=>false,
 "type"=>"string",
 "required"=>"optional",
 "recipes"=>[]}
[3] pry(main)> metadata
=> #<Chef::Cookbook::Metadata:0x007fd6830505f8
 @attributes=
  {"mysql/server_root_password"=>
    {"display_name"=>"MySQL Server Root Password",
     "description"=>"Randomly generated password for the mysqld root user",
     "default"=>"randomly generated",
     "choice"=>[],
     "calculated"=>false,
     "type"=>"string",
     "required"=>"optional",
     "recipes"=>[]},
   "mysql/bind_address"=>
    {"display_name"=>"MySQL Bind Address",
     "description"=>"Address that mysqld should listen on",
     "default"=>"ipaddress",
     "choice"=>[],
     "calculated"=>false,
     "type"=>"string",
     "required"=>"optional",
     "recipes"=>[]},
   "mysql/data_dir"=>
    {"display_name"=>"MySQL Data Directory",
     "description"=>"Location of mysql databases",
     "default"=>"/var/lib/mysql",
     "choice"=>[],
     "calculated"=>false,
     "type"=>"string",
     "required"=>"optional",
     "recipes"=>[]}
(中略)
},
 @conflicting={},
 @cookbook=nil,
 @dependencies=
  {"openssl"=>"~> 1.1",
   "build-essential"=>"~> 1.4",
   "homebrew"=>">= 0.0.0",
   "windows"=>">= 0.0.0"},
 @description="Installs and configures mysql for client or server",
 @groupings={},
 @license="Apache 2.0",
 @long_description=
  "setup Cookbook\n==============\nTODO: Enter the cookbook description here.\n\ne.g.\nThis cookbook makes your favorite breakfast sandwhich.\n\nRequirements\n------------\nTODO: List your cookbook requirements. Be sure to include
 @maintainer="Opscode, Inc.",
 @maintainer_email="[e-mail]",
 @name="mysql",
 @platforms=
  {"redhat"=>">= 0.0.0",
   "amazon"=>">= 0.0.0",
   "centos"=>">= 0.0.0",
   "debian"=>">= 0.0.0",
   "ubuntu"=>">= 0.0.0",
   "freebsd"=>">= 0.0.0",
   "mac_os_x"=>">= 0.0.0",
   "scientific"=>">= 0.0.0",
   "suse"=>">= 0.0.0",
   "windows"=>">= 0.0.0"},
 @providing={},
 @recipes=
  {"mysql"=>"Includes the client recipe to configure a client",
   "mysql::client"=>
    "Installs packages required for mysql clients using run_action magic",
   "mysql::server"=>
    "Installs packages required for mysql servers w/o manual intervention",
   "mysql::server_ec2"=>"Performs EC2-specific mountpoint manipulation"},
 @recommendations={},
 @replacing={},
 @suggestions={},
 @version=4.1.1>
[4] pry(main)>