diff --git a/lib/main.js b/lib/main.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/main.js
+++ b/lib/main.js
@@ -241,6 +241,8 @@ function convertResource(data, dir, props, opts) {
             let packageData = {
                 package_version: spec.version,
                 type: props.container_type,
+                // TRICKY: resource.modified_at comes from the format.modified_at in resource.formats.
+                // we assume this to have been normalized before hand.
                 modified_at: props.resource.modified_at,
                 content_mime_type: mimeType,
                 language: props.language,
@@ -412,12 +414,27 @@ function typeToMime(container_type) {
     return 'application/ts+' + type;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Reads the resource container info without opening it.
+ *
+ * @param container_path {string} path to the container archive or directory
+ * @returns {Promise.<{}>} the resource container info (package.json)
+ */
+function inspectContainer(container_path) {
+    return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {
+        // TODO: look in the container and get the package info
+        throw new Error('Not implemented');
+        // return {};
+    });
+}
+
 module.exports = {
     load: loadContainer,
     make: makeContainer,
     open: openContainer,
     close: closeContainer,
     tools: {
+        inspect: inspectContainer,
         convertResource: convertResource,
         makeSlug: containerSlug,
         mimeToType: mimeToType,
stubbed out inspecting a container