diff --git a/app/bin/build_and_test.sh b/app/bin/build_and_test.sh
index a5afb6a3ee..da1af910ed 100755
--- a/app/bin/build_and_test.sh
+++ b/app/bin/build_and_test.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ if [ ! -f "pubspec.yaml" -a ! -f "app.yaml" ]; then
 fi
 
 rm -rf build
-pub get
+pub get --no-packages-dir
 pub run test
 pub build
 cp web/*.dart build/web/
diff --git a/app/pubspec.yaml b/app/pubspec.yaml
index d32d0e8229..15a6837914 100644
--- a/app/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/app/pubspec.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ homepage: https://github.com/flutter/cocoon
 environment:
   sdk: '>=1.13.0 <2.0.0'
 dependencies:
-  angular2: 2.0.0-beta.17
+  angular2: 2.0.0-beta.21
   args: ^0.13.4
   browser: ^0.10.0
   charted: ^0.4.0
diff --git a/commands/get_status.go b/commands/get_status.go
index ad34b4c8d6..74906ba5d7 100644
--- a/commands/get_status.go
+++ b/commands/get_status.go
@@ -35,11 +35,11 @@ func GetStatus(c *db.Cocoon, inputJSON []byte) (interface{}, error) {
 
 	var statuses []*BuildStatus
 	for _, checklist := range checklists {
-		// Need to define another error variable to not "shadow" the other one, Go figure!
-		stages, errr := c.QueryTasksGroupedByStage(checklist.Key)
+		var stages []*db.Stage
+		stages, err = c.QueryTasksGroupedByStage(checklist.Key)
 
-		if errr != nil {
-			return nil, errr
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
 		}
 
 		statuses = append(statuses, &BuildStatus{
diff --git a/commands/refresh_chromebot_status.go b/commands/refresh_chromebot_status.go
index 427d0e6788..0a75ec9325 100644
--- a/commands/refresh_chromebot_status.go
+++ b/commands/refresh_chromebot_status.go
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"cocoon/db"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-	"io/ioutil"
-
-	"google.golang.org/appengine/urlfetch"
 )
 
 // RefreshChromebotStatusResult contains chromebot status results.
@@ -113,15 +110,8 @@ func fetchChromebotBuildStatuses(cocoon *db.Cocoon, builderName string) ([]*Chro
 }
 
 func fetchJSON(cocoon *db.Cocoon, url string) (interface{}, error) {
-	httpClient := urlfetch.Client(cocoon.Ctx)
-	response, err := httpClient.Get(url)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	defer response.Body.Close()
+	body, err := cocoon.FetchURL(url)
 
-	body, err := ioutil.ReadAll(response.Body)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/commands/refresh_github_commits.go b/commands/refresh_github_commits.go
index 5aeac7b6b3..87c4dc98e1 100644
--- a/commands/refresh_github_commits.go
+++ b/commands/refresh_github_commits.go
@@ -8,13 +8,12 @@ import (
 	"cocoon/db"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-	"io/ioutil"
 
 	"golang.org/x/net/context"
 
 	"google.golang.org/appengine/datastore"
 	"google.golang.org/appengine/log"
-	"google.golang.org/appengine/urlfetch"
+	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
 )
 
 // RefreshGithubCommitsResult pulls down the latest GitHub commit data and
@@ -32,21 +31,7 @@ type CommitSyncResult struct {
 
 // RefreshGithubCommits returns the information about the latest GitHub commits.
 func RefreshGithubCommits(cocoon *db.Cocoon, inputJSON []byte) (interface{}, error) {
-	httpClient := urlfetch.Client(cocoon.Ctx)
-
-	// Fetch data from GitHub
-	githubResp, err := httpClient.Get("https://api.github.com/repos/flutter/flutter/commits")
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	if githubResp.StatusCode != 200 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("GitHub API responded with a non-200 HTTP status: %v", githubResp.StatusCode)
-	}
-
-	defer githubResp.Body.Close()
-	commitData, err := ioutil.ReadAll(githubResp.Body)
+	commitData, err := cocoon.FetchURL("https://api.github.com/repos/flutter/flutter/commits")
 
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -56,7 +41,7 @@ func RefreshGithubCommits(cocoon *db.Cocoon, inputJSON []byte) (interface{}, err
 	err = json.Unmarshal(commitData, &commits)
 
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%v: %v", err, string(commitData))
 	}
 
 	if len(commits) > 0 {
@@ -98,7 +83,13 @@ func RefreshGithubCommits(cocoon *db.Cocoon, inputJSON []byte) (interface{}, err
 				return err
 			}
 
-			tasks := createTaskList(nowMillisSinceEpoch, checklistKey)
+			var tasks []*db.Task
+			tasks, err = createTaskList(cocoon, nowMillisSinceEpoch, checklistKey, commit.Sha)
+
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
 			for _, task := range tasks {
 				_, err = txc.PutTask(nil, task)
 				if err != nil {
@@ -127,8 +118,7 @@ func RefreshGithubCommits(cocoon *db.Cocoon, inputJSON []byte) (interface{}, err
 	return RefreshGithubCommitsResult{commitResults}, nil
 }
 
-// TODO(yjbanov): the task list should be stored in the flutter/flutter repo.
-func createTaskList(createTimestamp int64, checklistKey *datastore.Key) []*db.Task {
+func createTaskList(cocoon *db.Cocoon, createTimestamp int64, checklistKey *datastore.Key, commit string) ([]*db.Task, error) {
 	var makeTask = func(stageName string, name string, requiredCapabilities []string) *db.Task {
 		return &db.Task{
 			ChecklistKey:         checklistKey,
@@ -142,31 +132,42 @@ func createTaskList(createTimestamp int64, checklistKey *datastore.Key) []*db.Ta
 		}
 	}
 
-	return []*db.Task{
+	// These built-in tasks are not listed in the manifest.
+	tasks := []*db.Task{
 		makeTask("travis", "travis", []string{"can-update-travis"}),
 
 		makeTask("chromebot", "mac_bot", []string{"can-update-chromebots"}),
 		makeTask("chromebot", "linux_bot", []string{"can-update-chromebots"}),
+	}
 
-		makeTask("devicelab", "complex_layout_scroll_perf__timeline_summary", []string{"has-android-device"}),
-		makeTask("devicelab", "flutter_gallery__start_up", []string{"has-android-device"}),
-		makeTask("devicelab", "complex_layout__start_up", []string{"has-android-device"}),
-		makeTask("devicelab", "flutter_gallery__transition_perf", []string{"has-android-device"}),
-		makeTask("devicelab", "mega_gallery__refresh_time", []string{"has-android-device"}),
-
-		makeTask("devicelab", "flutter_gallery__build", []string{"has-android-device"}),
-		makeTask("devicelab", "complex_layout__build", []string{"has-android-device"}),
-		makeTask("devicelab", "basic_material_app__size", []string{"has-android-device"}),
+	url := fmt.Sprintf("https://raw.githubusercontent.com/flutter/flutter/%v/dev/devicelab/manifest.yaml", commit)
+	manifestYaml, err := cocoon.FetchURL(url)
 
-		makeTask("devicelab", "analyzer_cli__analysis_time", []string{"has-android-device"}),
-		makeTask("devicelab", "analyzer_server__analysis_time", []string{"has-android-device"}),
+	if err != nil {
+		// There is no guarantee that every commit will have a manifest file
+		log.Warningf(cocoon.Ctx, "Error fetching CI manifest at %v. Error: %v", url, err)
+		return tasks, nil
+	}
 
-		makeTask("devicelab", "hot_mode_dev_cycle__benchmark", []string{"has-android-device"}),
+	var manifest Manifest
+	yaml.Unmarshal(manifestYaml, &manifest)
 
-		// iOS
-		makeTask("devicelab_ios", "complex_layout_scroll_perf_ios__timeline_summary", []string{"has-ios-device"}),
-		makeTask("devicelab_ios", "flutter_gallery_ios__start_up", []string{"has-ios-device"}),
-		makeTask("devicelab_ios", "complex_layout_ios__start_up", []string{"has-ios-device"}),
-		makeTask("devicelab_ios", "flutter_gallery_ios__transition_perf", []string{"has-ios-device"}),
+	for name, info := range manifest.Tasks {
+		tasks = append(tasks, makeTask(info.Stage, name, info.RequiredAgentCapabilities))
 	}
+
+	return tasks, nil
+}
+
+// Manifest contains CI tasks.
+type Manifest struct {
+	Tasks map[string]ManifestTask
+}
+
+// ManifestTask contains information about a CI task.
+type ManifestTask struct {
+	Name                      string
+	Description               string
+	Stage                     string
+	RequiredAgentCapabilities []string
 }
diff --git a/commands/refresh_travis_status.go b/commands/refresh_travis_status.go
index b40676d1c4..305fbf0866 100644
--- a/commands/refresh_travis_status.go
+++ b/commands/refresh_travis_status.go
@@ -7,9 +7,6 @@ package commands
 import (
 	"cocoon/db"
 	"encoding/json"
-	"io/ioutil"
-
-	"google.golang.org/appengine/urlfetch"
 )
 
 // RefreshTravisStatusResult pulls down the latest Travis builds and updates
@@ -40,15 +37,7 @@ func RefreshTravisStatus(cocoon *db.Cocoon, inputJSON []byte) (interface{}, erro
 	}
 
 	// Fetch data from Travis
-	httpClient := urlfetch.Client(cocoon.Ctx)
-	travisResp, err := httpClient.Get("https://api.travis-ci.org/repos/flutter/flutter/builds")
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	defer travisResp.Body.Close()
-
-	buildData, err := ioutil.ReadAll(travisResp.Body)
+	buildData, err := cocoon.FetchURL("https://api.travis-ci.org/repos/flutter/flutter/builds")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/db/db.go b/db/db.go
index 61f981fd00..f5e906f844 100644
--- a/db/db.go
+++ b/db/db.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"crypto/rand"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"sort"
 	"time"
 
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/net/context"
 
 	"google.golang.org/appengine/datastore"
+	"google.golang.org/appengine/urlfetch"
 )
 
 // NewCocoon creates a new Cocoon.
@@ -580,3 +582,27 @@ func NowMillis() int64 {
 func (t *Task) AgeInMillis() int64 {
 	return NowMillis() - t.CreateTimestamp
 }
+
+// FetchURL performs an HTTP GET request on the given URL and returns data if
+// response is HTTP 200.
+func (c *Cocoon) FetchURL(url string) ([]byte, error) {
+	httpClient := urlfetch.Client(c.Ctx)
+	response, err := httpClient.Get(url)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if response.StatusCode != 200 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("HTTP GET %v responded with a non-200 HTTP status: %v", url, response.StatusCode)
+	}
+
+	defer response.Body.Close()
+	commitData, err := ioutil.ReadAll(response.Body)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return commitData, err
+}