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Backstage

This course teaches how to set up and customize Backstage, an open-source developer portal, for improved productivity and collaboration.

Welcome to the Certified Backstage Associate course! Backstage is an open-source developer portal platform that helps software teams discover, manage, and standardize their services. Organizations like Spotify, American Airlines, and Peloton have seen up to a 30% increase in developer productivity and smoother cross-team collaboration after adopting Backstage.

I’m Sanjeev Thiyagarajan, and I’ll guide you from your first Backstage setup all the way to becoming a Certified Backstage Associate. Whether you want to streamline your internal developer portal or prepare for the CBA exam, this course is engineered for hands-on learning and real-world scenarios.

Why This Course Stands Out

Instead of theory-only lectures, you’ll dive into interactive labs where you can experiment, learn by doing, and troubleshoot common pitfalls. By the end of this course, you’ll confidently tackle everyday Backstage tasks and advanced customizations.

You’ll need Node.js (v16+) and Yarn installed before starting. Refer to the Backstage installation guide for detailed prerequisites.

Course Outline

We’ll explore six core modules that build on each other:

  1. Fundamentals\ Get to know Backstage’s architecture. You’ll learn how to bootstrap a new Backstage app, configure the frontend and backend, and integrate essential plugins.

  2. Catalog Module\ Define and manage entities, register services, components, and APIs, and explore the relationships that power your developer portal.

  3. Templates\ Automate project scaffolding and infrastructure setup with custom Backstage templates. Standardize workflows and reduce onboarding time.

  4. TechDocs & Search\ Publish and host Markdown-based documentation directly in Backstage. Implement full-text search to make your docs and services easily discoverable.

  5. Custom UI & Plugins\ Extend the Backstage UI with built-in components or build your own plugins to meet unique organizational needs.

  6. Production Management\ Configure databases, secure your Backstage instance with authentication providers, and deploy with Docker or Kubernetes for a production-ready setup.

Join our KodeKloud forums to discuss labs, ask questions, and share your progress with fellow learners.

By the end of this course, you’ll be equipped to:

  • Launch and maintain a production-grade Backstage instance
  • Customize Catalog entities and templates
  • Develop bespoke plugins and user interfaces
  • Optimize search and documentation workflows

You’ll also be ready to ace the Certified Backstage Associate (CBA) exam.

Learn to streamline software management, boost productivity, and customize Backstage for your team—all in one expert-led course.

The Certified Backstage Associate (CBA) course offers an essential guide to mastering Backstage, the innovative platform that empowers developers by centralizing and managing software infrastructure. This course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to implement and customize Backstage effectively within their organizations.

Module 1: Backstage Basics

Start with an overview of Backstage, understanding its architecture and learning how to create and configure a Backstage instance to streamline your organization's software management.

Module 2: Catalog

Dive into the Catalog module to gain proficiency in defining and managing entities, registering software components, and understanding the complexities of relationships and integrations within Backstage.

Module 3: Templates

Discover the power of Templates in Backstage, learning how to use them to standardize processes and automate infrastructure setups.

Module 4: Docs & Search

Learn to leverage TechDocs for effective documentation and implement search capabilities, ensuring easy accessibility of information across your development ecosystem.

Module 5: Customization & Plugins

Explore ways to customize the Backstage user interface and develop plugins to enhance functionality, tailoring Backstage to better meet specific organizational needs.

Module 6: Production Backstage

Acquire the necessary skills for managing Backstage in production, including database configuration, authentication setup, and deployment using Docker. By completing this course, you'll be prepared to fully harness the power of Backstage to create a centralized, efficient developer portal that supports your organization's software development initiatives. You’ll be ready to clear the Certified Backstage Associate (CBA) like a PRO.

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