Learning Outcome

Backstage.io is a popular open source Platform Engineering framework for creating Internal Developer Portals (IDPs). Adapting it to your environment requires learning to do some light Node.js programming to build your own views, templates and scaffolds.

After this workshop, you will have a basic understanding of Backstage architecture and know how to make modifications that allow you to create a basic self-service portal for infrastructure.

The workshop will provide a step-by-step guide to accomplish basic integrations with sufficient time available for advanced students to explore and expand the integrations on their own.

Objective

We can hide complexity behind a Dev Portal curtain, but there’s still automation doing heavy lifting somewhere. In this hands-on lab, we’re going to learn how to create Backstage.io scaffolding that connects to actual infrastructure. By the end of the session, you’ll be able to build a simple working self-service portal that requests a cluster of servers.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Since Backstage is written in Node.js, it is helpful to be familiar with that syntax. The class will be using Linux command line text editors and VS.code SSH interfaces for coding. Comfort navigating a command line will be important.

Basic Outline

The course covers two primary areas: view construction and template construction. After a brief introduction and getting lab environments setup, The morning session will focus on views. The afternoon session will have a review and then focus on template construction.

BackStage.io Environments

The workshop will provide each student with a dedicated Backstage.io server running in development mode and shared access to a Digital Rebar system for infrastructure provisioning. These environments will be created dynamically for students when they join the class,

Students will need a laptop with internet capabilities and a web browser to access the development environment. Having VS.code installed with the SSH plugin would make development work easier, but is not required.

Detailed Agenda

Since Backstage has two primary development areas: views and templates, we are able to have students pick up in the middle and be productive.

Tutorial: https://youtu.be/cAQQOmKz4OI