4 ms·

Backstage is built on a modular, plug-in based architecture that allows engineers to layer-up their developer portal to meet their own needs. Frankly, this is

Backstage is built on a modular, plug-in based architecture that allows engineers to layer-up their developer portal to meet their own needs. Frankly, this is just incorrect. Just read the configuration guide for "installing" a plugin to see what I mean. You have to modify the source code of your own deployment in several places. That's not a plugin based architecture. https://backstage.io/docs/getting-started/configure-app-with-plugins/ https://backstage.io/docs/getting-started/configure-app-with... Additionally, check out what it takes to stand up a standalone backstage server. You used to have to clone their repo if I remember right, but now they give you a starter template via npx and leave it up to you to put all of the pieces together. They don't even ship a docker image to get you started. https://backstage.io/docs/getting-started/ https://backstage.io/docs/getting-started/ Frankly, the architecture of Backstage is ill-conceived and a hassle to operate. If you have the budget their are vendors that will deal with all of this for you. I think the concept of Backstage is fine, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

MyFedora 2y ago
I did not expect that. So Backstage asks you to manually insert plugin components into the app source code? Yeah... that really doesn't feel like a plugin architecture to me. More like patch the source code so it does what you need it to do. Nothing wrong with that, but not a plugin architecture.
- frompdx 2y ago
  The trouble with the way Backstage is designed is that it makes keeping everything up to date difficult. It is also harder for them to ship updates for their core and plugins due to the labor involved in incorporating any updates. A plugin architecture like Wordpress or Grafana is much more manageable for an operator. In fact, a set of plugins for Wordpress could probably get you an equivalent solution, but it's PHP, so you know, ew. I'd love to see an alternative to backstage that gets it right.

MyFedora 2y ago

I did not expect that. So Backstage asks you to manually insert plugin components into the app source code? Yeah... that really doesn't feel like a plugin architecture to me. More like patch the source code so it does what you need it to do. Nothing wrong with that, but not a plugin architecture.

frompdx 2y ago
The trouble with the way Backstage is designed is that it makes keeping everything up to date difficult. It is also harder for them to ship updates for their core and plugins due to the labor involved in incorporating any updates. A plugin architecture like Wordpress or Grafana is much more manageable for an operator. In fact, a set of plugins for Wordpress could probably get you an equivalent solution, but it's PHP, so you know, ew. I'd love to see an alternative to backstage that gets it right.