I keep finding examples on how to publish services using existing SD files but not a complete workflow from defining a feature layer or collection of feature layers to be published, creating the SDDraft, and then uploading and publishing it.
Step 1, create an sddraft file.
Step 2, Use "Stage Service" to turn an .sddraft into an .sd
Step 3, Use "Upload Service Definition" to upload and publish it.
Step 1 is missing. I found "CreateMapSDDraft" but this reads an MXD to publish a map and I want to publish feature services and I no longer use ArcMap or MXD files.
When I author in ArcPro, it creates the file, stages it, uploads it, and deletes it. I find this annoying, I'd like to at least get a copy of the sddraft so I can republish later under control of a Python script. I'd like to be able to create and maintain sddraft files without monkeying around in the ArcPro GUI.