Box2 reads the metadata.json file.

lib/vagrant/box2.rb

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+require "json"
+
 module Vagrant
   # Represents a "box," which is a package Vagrant environment that is used
   # as a base image when creating a new guest machine.
@@ -22,6 +24,12 @@ module Vagrant
     # @return [Pathname]
     attr_reader :directory
 
+    # This is the metadata for the box. This is read from the "metadata.json"
+    # file that all boxes require.
+    #
+    # @return [Hash]
+    attr_reader :metadata
+
     # This is used to initialize a box.
     #
     # @param [String] name Logical name of the box.
@@ -32,6 +40,7 @@ module Vagrant
       @name      = name
       @provider  = provider
       @directory = directory
+      @metadata  = JSON.parse(directory.join("metadata.json").read)
     end
 
     # This deletes the box. This is NOT undoable.

test/unit/support/isolated_environment.rb

@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ module Unit
       # Create a metadata.json file
       box_metadata_file = box_dir.join("metadata.json")
       box_metadata_file.open("w") do |f|
-        f.write("")
+        f.write("{}")
       end
 
       # Return the box directory

test/unit/vagrant/box2_test.rb

@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@ require "pathname"
 describe Vagrant::Box2 do
   include_context "unit"
 
+  let(:environment)   { isolated_environment }
+
   let(:name)          { "foo" }
   let(:provider)      { :virtualbox }
-  let(:directory)     { temporary_dir }
+  let(:directory)     { environment.box2("foo", :virtualbox) }
   let(:instance)      { described_class.new(name, provider, directory) }
 
   it "provides the name" do
@@ -22,6 +24,18 @@ describe Vagrant::Box2 do
     instance.directory.should == directory
   end
 
+  it "provides the metadata associated with a box" do
+    data = { "foo" => "bar" }
+
+    # Write the metadata
+    directory.join("metadata.json").open("w") do |f|
+      f.write(JSON.generate(data))
+    end
+
+    # Verify the metadata
+    instance.metadata.should == data
+  end
+
   describe "destroying" do
     it "should destroy an existing box" do
       # Verify that our "box" exists
@@ -35,11 +49,14 @@ describe Vagrant::Box2 do
     end
 
     it "should not error destroying a non-existent box" do
+      # Get the instance so that it is instantiated
+      box = instance
+
       # Delete the directory
       directory.rmtree
 
       # Destroy it
-      instance.destroy!.should be
+      box.destroy!.should be
     end
   end