diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index cd62793d..e152de4f 100755
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ from error import NoManifestException
 from error import NoSuchProjectError
 from error import RepoChangedException
 import gitc_utils
-from manifest_xml import GitcManifest, XmlManifest
+from manifest_xml import GitcClient, RepoClient
 from pager import RunPager, TerminatePager
 from wrapper import WrapperPath, Wrapper
 
@@ -212,14 +212,15 @@ class _Repo(object):
       return 1
 
     cmd.repodir = self.repodir
-    cmd.manifest = XmlManifest(cmd.repodir)
+    cmd.client = RepoClient(cmd.repodir)
+    cmd.manifest = cmd.client.manifest
     cmd.gitc_manifest = None
     gitc_client_name = gitc_utils.parse_clientdir(os.getcwd())
     if gitc_client_name:
-      cmd.gitc_manifest = GitcManifest(cmd.repodir, gitc_client_name)
-      cmd.manifest.isGitcClient = True
+      cmd.gitc_manifest = GitcClient(cmd.repodir, gitc_client_name)
+      cmd.client.isGitcClient = True
 
-    Editor.globalConfig = cmd.manifest.globalConfig
+    Editor.globalConfig = cmd.client.globalConfig
 
     if not isinstance(cmd, MirrorSafeCommand) and cmd.manifest.IsMirror:
       print("fatal: '%s' requires a working directory" % name,
@@ -247,7 +248,7 @@ class _Repo(object):
       return 1
 
     if gopts.pager is not False and not isinstance(cmd, InteractiveCommand):
-      config = cmd.manifest.globalConfig
+      config = cmd.client.globalConfig
       if gopts.pager:
         use_pager = True
       else:
diff --git a/manifest_xml.py b/manifest_xml.py
index e1ef330f..95c67d73 100644
--- a/manifest_xml.py
+++ b/manifest_xml.py
@@ -187,12 +187,24 @@ class _XmlRemote(object):
 class XmlManifest(object):
   """manages the repo configuration file"""
 
-  def __init__(self, repodir):
+  def __init__(self, repodir, manifest_file, local_manifests=None):
+    """Initialize.
+
+    Args:
+      repodir: Path to the .repo/ dir for holding all internal checkout state.
+          It must be in the top directory of the repo client checkout.
+      manifest_file: Full path to the manifest file to parse.  This will usually
+          be |repodir|/|MANIFEST_FILE_NAME|.
+      local_manifests: Full path to the directory of local override manifests.
+          This will usually be |repodir|/|LOCAL_MANIFESTS_DIR_NAME|.
+    """
+    # TODO(vapier): Move this out of this class.
+    self.globalConfig = GitConfig.ForUser()
+
     self.repodir = os.path.abspath(repodir)
     self.topdir = os.path.dirname(self.repodir)
-    self.manifestFile = os.path.join(self.repodir, MANIFEST_FILE_NAME)
-    self.globalConfig = GitConfig.ForUser()
-    self.isGitcClient = False
+    self.manifestFile = manifest_file
+    self.local_manifests = local_manifests
     self._load_local_manifests = True
 
     self.repoProject = MetaProject(self, 'repo',
@@ -602,20 +614,11 @@ https://gerrit.googlesource.com/git-repo/+/HEAD/docs/manifest-format.md
       nodes.append(self._ParseManifestXml(self.manifestFile,
                                           self.manifestProject.worktree))
 
-      if self._load_local_manifests:
-        if os.path.exists(os.path.join(self.repodir, LOCAL_MANIFEST_NAME)):
-          print('error: %s is not supported; put local manifests in `%s`'
-                'instead' % (LOCAL_MANIFEST_NAME,
-                             os.path.join(self.repodir, LOCAL_MANIFESTS_DIR_NAME)),
-                file=sys.stderr)
-          sys.exit(1)
-
-        local_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(self.repodir,
-                                                 LOCAL_MANIFESTS_DIR_NAME))
+      if self._load_local_manifests and self.local_manifests:
         try:
-          for local_file in sorted(platform_utils.listdir(local_dir)):
+          for local_file in sorted(platform_utils.listdir(self.local_manifests)):
             if local_file.endswith('.xml'):
-              local = os.path.join(local_dir, local_file)
+              local = os.path.join(self.local_manifests, local_file)
               nodes.append(self._ParseManifestXml(local, self.repodir))
         except OSError:
           pass
@@ -1253,15 +1256,7 @@ https://gerrit.googlesource.com/git-repo/+/HEAD/docs/manifest-format.md
 
 
 class GitcManifest(XmlManifest):
-
-  def __init__(self, repodir, gitc_client_name):
-    """Initialize the GitcManifest object."""
-    super(GitcManifest, self).__init__(repodir)
-    self.isGitcClient = True
-    self.gitc_client_name = gitc_client_name
-    self.gitc_client_dir = os.path.join(gitc_utils.get_gitc_manifest_dir(),
-                                        gitc_client_name)
-    self.manifestFile = os.path.join(self.gitc_client_dir, '.manifest')
+  """Parser for GitC (git-in-the-cloud) manifests."""
 
   def _ParseProject(self, node, parent=None):
     """Override _ParseProject and add support for GITC specific attributes."""
@@ -1272,3 +1267,38 @@ class GitcManifest(XmlManifest):
     """Output GITC Specific Project attributes"""
     if p.old_revision:
       e.setAttribute('old-revision', str(p.old_revision))
+
+
+class RepoClient(XmlManifest):
+  """Manages a repo client checkout."""
+
+  def __init__(self, repodir, manifest_file=None):
+    self.isGitcClient = False
+
+    if os.path.exists(os.path.join(repodir, LOCAL_MANIFEST_NAME)):
+      print('error: %s is not supported; put local manifests in `%s` instead' %
+            (LOCAL_MANIFEST_NAME, os.path.join(repodir, LOCAL_MANIFESTS_DIR_NAME)),
+            file=sys.stderr)
+      sys.exit(1)
+
+    if manifest_file is None:
+      manifest_file = os.path.join(repodir, MANIFEST_FILE_NAME)
+    local_manifests = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(repodir, LOCAL_MANIFESTS_DIR_NAME))
+    super(RepoClient, self).__init__(repodir, manifest_file, local_manifests)
+
+    # TODO: Completely separate manifest logic out of the client.
+    self.manifest = self
+
+
+class GitcClient(RepoClient, GitcManifest):
+  """Manages a GitC client checkout."""
+
+  def __init__(self, repodir, gitc_client_name):
+    """Initialize the GitcManifest object."""
+    self.gitc_client_name = gitc_client_name
+    self.gitc_client_dir = os.path.join(gitc_utils.get_gitc_manifest_dir(),
+                                        gitc_client_name)
+
+    super(GitcManifest, self).__init__(
+        repodir, os.path.join(self.gitc_client_dir, '.manifest'))
+    self.isGitcClient = True
diff --git a/project.py b/project.py
index 50bb53c3..29f6b1e8 100644
--- a/project.py
+++ b/project.py
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ class Project(object):
                      with exponential backoff and jitter.
       old_revision: saved git commit id for open GITC projects.
     """
-    self.manifest = manifest
+    self.client = self.manifest = manifest
     self.name = name
     self.remote = remote
     self.gitdir = gitdir.replace('\\', '/')
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ class Project(object):
     self.linkfiles = []
     self.annotations = []
     self.config = GitConfig.ForRepository(gitdir=self.gitdir,
-                                          defaults=self.manifest.globalConfig)
+                                          defaults=self.client.globalConfig)
 
     if self.worktree:
       self.work_git = self._GitGetByExec(self, bare=False, gitdir=gitdir)
@@ -1168,7 +1168,7 @@ class Project(object):
     self._InitHooks()
 
   def _CopyAndLinkFiles(self):
-    if self.manifest.isGitcClient:
+    if self.client.isGitcClient:
       return
     for copyfile in self.copyfiles:
       copyfile._Copy()
diff --git a/subcmds/diffmanifests.py b/subcmds/diffmanifests.py
index 72c441ac..409bbdac 100644
--- a/subcmds/diffmanifests.py
+++ b/subcmds/diffmanifests.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 from color import Coloring
 from command import PagedCommand
-from manifest_xml import XmlManifest
+from manifest_xml import RepoClient
 
 
 class _Coloring(Coloring):
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ synced and their revisions won't be found.
       self.OptionParser.error('missing manifests to diff')
 
   def Execute(self, opt, args):
-    self.out = _Coloring(self.manifest.globalConfig)
+    self.out = _Coloring(self.client.globalConfig)
     self.printText = self.out.nofmt_printer('text')
     if opt.color:
       self.printProject = self.out.nofmt_printer('project', attr='bold')
@@ -193,12 +193,12 @@ synced and their revisions won't be found.
     else:
       self.printProject = self.printAdded = self.printRemoved = self.printRevision = self.printText
 
-    manifest1 = XmlManifest(self.manifest.repodir)
+    manifest1 = RepoClient(self.manifest.repodir)
     manifest1.Override(args[0], load_local_manifests=False)
     if len(args) == 1:
       manifest2 = self.manifest
     else:
-      manifest2 = XmlManifest(self.manifest.repodir)
+      manifest2 = RepoClient(self.manifest.repodir)
       manifest2.Override(args[1], load_local_manifests=False)
 
     diff = manifest1.projectsDiff(manifest2)
diff --git a/subcmds/help.py b/subcmds/help.py
index 1e16019a..c219a763 100644
--- a/subcmds/help.py
+++ b/subcmds/help.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ Displays detailed usage information about a command.
     def gitc_supported(cmd):
       if not isinstance(cmd, GitcAvailableCommand) and not isinstance(cmd, GitcClientCommand):
         return True
-      if self.manifest.isGitcClient:
+      if self.client.isGitcClient:
         return True
       if isinstance(cmd, GitcClientCommand):
         return False
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ Displays detailed usage information about a command.
           self.wrap.end_paragraph(1)
         self.wrap.end_paragraph(0)
 
-    out = _Out(self.manifest.globalConfig)
+    out = _Out(self.client.globalConfig)
     out._PrintSection('Summary', 'helpSummary')
     cmd.OptionParser.print_help()
     out._PrintSection('Description', 'helpDescription')
diff --git a/subcmds/info.py b/subcmds/info.py
index f4d6f98c..60149975 100644
--- a/subcmds/info.py
+++ b/subcmds/info.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class Info(PagedCommand):
                  help="Disable all remote operations")
 
   def Execute(self, opt, args):
-    self.out = _Coloring(self.manifest.globalConfig)
+    self.out = _Coloring(self.client.globalConfig)
     self.heading = self.out.printer('heading', attr='bold')
     self.headtext = self.out.nofmt_printer('headtext', fg='yellow')
     self.redtext = self.out.printer('redtext', fg='red')
diff --git a/subcmds/init.py b/subcmds/init.py
index 5ba0d074..f46babfe 100644
--- a/subcmds/init.py
+++ b/subcmds/init.py
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ to update the working directory files.
     return a
 
   def _ShouldConfigureUser(self, opt):
-    gc = self.manifest.globalConfig
+    gc = self.client.globalConfig
     mp = self.manifest.manifestProject
 
     # If we don't have local settings, get from global.
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ to update the working directory files.
     return False
 
   def _ConfigureColor(self):
-    gc = self.manifest.globalConfig
+    gc = self.client.globalConfig
     if self._HasColorSet(gc):
       return
 
diff --git a/subcmds/status.py b/subcmds/status.py
index c380dba3..dfa974e9 100644
--- a/subcmds/status.py
+++ b/subcmds/status.py
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ the following meanings:
                           proj_dirs, proj_dirs_parents, outstring)
 
         if outstring:
-          output = StatusColoring(self.manifest.globalConfig)
+          output = StatusColoring(self.client.globalConfig)
           output.project('Objects not within a project (orphans)')
           output.nl()
           for entry in outstring:
diff --git a/tests/test_manifest_xml.py b/tests/test_manifest_xml.py
index aa6cb7df..40385cce 100644
--- a/tests/test_manifest_xml.py
+++ b/tests/test_manifest_xml.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 from __future__ import print_function
 
 import os
+import shutil
+import tempfile
 import unittest
 import xml.dom.minidom
 
@@ -146,3 +148,90 @@ class ValueTests(unittest.TestCase):
     with self.assertRaises(error.ManifestParseError):
       node = self._get_node('<node a="xx"/>')
       manifest_xml.XmlInt(node, 'a')
+
+
+class XmlManifestTests(unittest.TestCase):
+  """Check manifest processing."""
+
+  def setUp(self):
+    self.tempdir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='repo_tests')
+    self.repodir = os.path.join(self.tempdir, '.repo')
+    self.manifest_dir = os.path.join(self.repodir, 'manifests')
+    self.manifest_file = os.path.join(
+        self.repodir, manifest_xml.MANIFEST_FILE_NAME)
+    self.local_manifest_dir = os.path.join(
+        self.repodir, manifest_xml.LOCAL_MANIFESTS_DIR_NAME)
+    os.mkdir(self.repodir)
+    os.mkdir(self.manifest_dir)
+
+    # The manifest parsing really wants a git repo currently.
+    gitdir = os.path.join(self.repodir, 'manifests.git')
+    os.mkdir(gitdir)
+    with open(os.path.join(gitdir, 'config'), 'w') as fp:
+      fp.write("""[remote "origin"]
+        url = https://localhost:0/manifest
+""")
+
+  def tearDown(self):
+    shutil.rmtree(self.tempdir, ignore_errors=True)
+
+  def getXmlManifest(self, data):
+    """Helper to initialize a manifest for testing."""
+    with open(self.manifest_file, 'w') as fp:
+      fp.write(data)
+    return manifest_xml.XmlManifest(self.repodir, self.manifest_file)
+
+  def test_empty(self):
+    """Parse an 'empty' manifest file."""
+    manifest = self.getXmlManifest(
+        '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>'
+        '<manifest></manifest>')
+    self.assertEqual(manifest.remotes, {})
+    self.assertEqual(manifest.projects, [])
+
+  def test_link(self):
+    """Verify Link handling with new names."""
+    manifest = manifest_xml.XmlManifest(self.repodir, self.manifest_file)
+    with open(os.path.join(self.manifest_dir, 'foo.xml'), 'w') as fp:
+      fp.write('<manifest></manifest>')
+    manifest.Link('foo.xml')
+    with open(self.manifest_file) as fp:
+      self.assertIn('<include name="foo.xml" />', fp.read())
+
+  def test_toxml_empty(self):
+    """Verify the ToXml() helper."""
+    manifest = self.getXmlManifest(
+        '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>'
+        '<manifest></manifest>')
+    self.assertEqual(manifest.ToXml().toxml(), '<?xml version="1.0" ?><manifest/>')
+
+  def test_todict_empty(self):
+    """Verify the ToDict() helper."""
+    manifest = self.getXmlManifest(
+        '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>'
+        '<manifest></manifest>')
+    self.assertEqual(manifest.ToDict(), {})
+
+  def test_project_group(self):
+    """Check project group settings."""
+    manifest = self.getXmlManifest("""
+<manifest>
+  <remote name="test-remote" fetch="http://localhost" />
+  <default remote="test-remote" revision="refs/heads/main" />
+  <project name="test-name" path="test-path"/>
+  <project name="extras" path="path" groups="g1,g2,g1"/>
+</manifest>
+""")
+    self.assertEqual(len(manifest.projects), 2)
+    # Ordering isn't guaranteed.
+    result = {
+        manifest.projects[0].name: manifest.projects[0].groups,
+        manifest.projects[1].name: manifest.projects[1].groups,
+    }
+    project = manifest.projects[0]
+    self.assertCountEqual(
+        result['test-name'],
+        ['name:test-name', 'all', 'path:test-path'])
+    self.assertCountEqual(
+        result['extras'],
+        ['g1', 'g2', 'g1', 'name:extras', 'all', 'path:path'])