Managing metadata in a metadata repository that includes parsing metadata to determine an identity of the metadata and individual items associated with the metadata. Converting the identity of the metadata and the individual items associated with the metadata into corresponding object structures. Storing the object structure representing the identity of the metadata into a first table of the metadata repository and storing the object structures that represent the individual items associated with the metadata into a second table of the metadata repository. Responsive to receiving a request to modify a row in the first table or a row in the second table, logically deleting the row being modified without actually deleting or modifying the row, and creating a new row within the first table or the second table having the modified row, in which the new row further includes a link to the logically deleted row.