diff --git a/metadata/layout.conf b/metadata/layout.conf
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--- /dev/null
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+# This goes live after stabilization of portage-2.1.10.21
+#manifest-hashes = SHA256 SHA512 WHIRLPOOL
+
+# Bug #337853 - gentoo's council says to enable
+# --echangelog by default for the "gentoo" repo
+# we do too, since we like to follow upstream standards
+update-changelog = true
+
+# thin manifests are to be enabled somewhen after
+# portage-2.1.10.31 stabling. might do commit signing
+# differently then, or probably drop it alltogether.
+#thin-manifests = true