Backstage 101: Building Internal Developer Portals
Learn to build developer portals with Backstage, the open-source platform created by Spotify. Master the five core pillars: Service Catalog, Software Templates, TechDocs, Authentication, and Search. Build a working developer portal from scratch, starting with local development and progressing through Docker to production Kubernetes deployment. This course covers 100% of the CNCF Certified Backstage Associate (CBA) exam curriculum, preparing you for certification while building real-world skills.
Why This Course is Different
Get everything you need to master platform engineering and advance your career
Certificate of Completion
Earn a certificate while gaining real-world skills that go beyond traditional certification prep
Hands-on Labs
13 practical labs with real-world scenarios in pre-configured cloud environments
Expert-Led
Learn from Sam Gabrail, Former HashiCorp Sr. Solutions Engineer with 18+ years experience
Community Support
Join our community where members help each other and collaborate on learning
What You'll Master
Set up and run Backstage locally, in Docker, and in production Kubernetes
Create and manage a Software Catalog with services, teams, and documentation
Build Software Templates that help developers create new projects quickly
Configure TechDocs for documentation-as-code workflows
Set up authentication with OIDC providers specifically: Keycloak
Build a complete developer portal with all five core Backstage features
Import sample organizations with proper service relationships
Create 'golden path' templates for common project types
Set up automated discovery from GitHub repositories
Configure basic group mapping and permissions
Develop simple plugins to extend Backstage functionality
Configure the Kubernetes plugin for developer visibility into workloads
Map catalog entities to Kubernetes resources using annotations
Understand business value and adoption measurement strategies
Integrate ArgoCD with Backstage for GitOps deployment visibility
Build production-ready templates with complete CI/CD pipelines
Experience end-to-end developer self-service workflows
Configure GitHub Actions workflows with proper permissions for container registry access
Implement multi-stage Docker builds for production security and efficiency
Deploy services to dedicated namespaces following production best practices
Integrate GitHub Container Registry (GHCR) for Docker image storage
Understand GitOps principles with Git as the single source of truth
Troubleshoot common catalog ingestion errors and entity validation issues
Configure the Jenkins community plugins to display build history and status in Backstage catalog entities
Annotate catalog entities with jenkins.io annotations to link them to Jenkins jobs
Create a Backstage Software Template that triggers a Jenkins job using the jenkins:job:build scaffolder action
Understand how Docker Compose networking affects Backstage-to-Jenkins communication
Customize Backstage themes and apply Material-UI components effectively
Replicate production Backstage setup on your own laptop, server, or cloud VM
Prepare for the CNCF Certified Backstage Associate (CBA) exam with comprehensive curriculum coverage
What You'll Build
Real portfolio artifacts you can put on your GitHub and show hiring managers.
Production Backstage developer portal on Kubernetes with OIDC authentication
Build and deploy a complete Backstage developer portal to Kubernetes with Keycloak-based OIDC authentication, GitHub integration, and a custom Software Catalog populated with real services. Demonstrates the exact architecture used by platform engineering teams building internal developer platforms at scale.
Custom Software Templates for developer self-service
Create Backstage Software Templates that allow developers to scaffold new services, repositories, and infrastructure components through a self-service portal. Shows platform engineering teams how to reduce onboarding time and enforce organizational standards through golden paths.
TechDocs documentation-as-code pipeline
Set up the Backstage TechDocs system to automatically render Markdown documentation from GitHub repositories into a searchable, versioned documentation site integrated with the Service Catalog. Demonstrates the documentation-as-code workflow that modern engineering organizations use to keep docs current.
Course Curriculum
SECTION 1 – WHY IDPS AND BACKSTAGE BASICS
Understanding Internal Developer Portals, setting up Backstage locally, and exploring the Software Catalog
- •What is Backstage?
- •Community
- •Local Backstage SetupLab
- •Project Structure and Configuration
- •Plugins, Build, and Development
- •Entity Types - Components, APIs, and Systems
- •Entity Types - Users, Groups, and Resources
- •Catalog Organization and Discovery
- •Basic Software CatalogLab
- •Catalog Troubleshooting
- •Day 1: Getting Started with BackstageQuiz
SECTION 2 – TEMPLATES, DOCUMENTATION, AND AUTOMATION
Building Software Templates with the Scaffolder, implementing TechDocs for documentation-as-code, and configuring automated discovery
- •Software Templates Fundamentals
- •Template Actions and Skeleton Content
- •Template Integration and Best Practices
- •Build Your First TemplateLab
- •Advanced Scaffolder Patterns
- •TechDocs and MkDocs Fundamentals
- •TechDocs Integration and Publishing
- •TechDocs SetupLab
- •Automated DiscoveryLab
- •Day 2: Templates and DocumentationQuiz
SECTION 3 – DOCKER AND POSTGRESQL DEPLOYMENT
Moving from local development to Docker deployment with PostgreSQL and production security using Docker secrets
- •Docker Deployment & PostgreSQL
- •Docker Security & Production Deployment
- •Docker DeploymentLab
- •Day 3: Docker and DatabaseQuiz
SECTION 4 – AUTHENTICATION AND AUTHORIZATION
OIDC authentication with Keycloak and role-based access control using the permissions framework
- •OIDC Authentication with Keycloak
- •Keycloak IntegrationLab
- •Role-Based Access Control with Permissions
- •Basic PermissionsLab
- •Day 4: Authentication and PermissionsQuiz
SECTION 5 – KUBERNETES DEPLOYMENT
Deploy PostgreSQL and Backstage to Kubernetes using raw manifests following the official guide, build custom Docker images, and access applications using port-forwarding
- •Kubernetes Fundamentals and Building Images
- •Deploying to Kubernetes with Manifests
- •Kubernetes DeploymentLab
- •Kubernetes Deployment and OrchestrationQuiz
SECTION 6 – KUBERNETES INTEGRATION
Configure the Kubernetes plugin to provide developers with visibility into their workloads across multiple clusters
- •Kubernetes Plugin Overview
- •Kubernetes Plugin Configuration
- •Kubernetes Plugin SetupLab
- •Kubernetes Integration Knowledge CheckQuiz
SECTION 7 – PLUGINS AND PRODUCTION GITOPS
Plugin development fundamentals, Material-UI customization, GitOps deployment patterns with ArgoCD, and building production-grade developer portals with complete CI/CD workflows
- •Plugin Development Fundamentals
- •Material-UI Customization
- •Build a Simple PluginLab
- •Production GitOps and Platform Engineering Patterns
- •Backstage in Production with GitOpsLab
- •Final Assessment: Plugins and Production GitOpsQuiz
SECTION 8 – JENKINS INTEGRATION
Integrate Jenkins CI with Backstage to display build runs in the catalog and trigger Jenkins jobs from Software Templates using the community Jenkins plugins.
- •Jenkins Integration with Backstage: The Big Picture
- •Configuring the Jenkins Backstage Plugins
- •Jenkins Integration with BackstageLab
SECTION 9 – BONUS: SELF-HOSTED BACKSTAGE SETUP
Learn how to replicate the production GitOps lab environment on your own laptop, server, or cloud VM. Understand the automation scripts and build your own production-ready Backstage deployment.
- •Self-Hosted Setup Overview
- •Installing Prerequisites
- •Kubernetes and PostgreSQL Setup
- •Keycloak SSO Configuration
- •Understanding the Docker Build Process
- •ArgoCD and Backstage Deployment
- •Self-Hosted Setup AssessmentQuiz
SECTION 10 – COURSE WRAP-UP
Celebrate your achievements, review what you've learned, prepare for the CBA certification exam, and discover next steps in your platform engineering journey
- •Preparing for the CBA Certification
- •Congratulations and Next Steps
Course Features
Hands-on Labs
Lots of hands-on labs to learn by doing
Join our Community
Community support to ask questions and collaborate
Test Your Knowledge
Quizzes to help you grasp the material well
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this course prepare me for the CNCF Certified Backstage Associate exam?
Yes. The course covers 100% of the CBA exam curriculum as defined by the CNCF. Every exam domain — the Software Catalog, Software Templates, TechDocs, Authentication, and Search — is covered in depth with hands-on labs. The course also includes dedicated exam preparation content reviewing the official objectives. Sam is an active contributor to the Backstage community and keeps the exam prep content current with CNCF updates.
How long does this course realistically take?
Most students complete the 35-lesson course in 6-8 weeks at 8-10 hours per week. The 13 hands-on labs cover the full journey from local Backstage setup through Docker to production Kubernetes deployment, and the lab time is substantial. If you are preparing for the CBA exam on a deadline, a focused 4-week push is achievable.
What if I have no Backstage experience?
The course starts from scratch — what a developer portal is, why platform teams build them, and how to get Backstage running locally for the first time. Basic JavaScript/TypeScript familiarity and Git fundamentals are the main prerequisites. No prior Backstage experience is required.
Are the labs current with the latest Backstage version?
Yes. The course targets the current stable Backstage release and the labs are updated when Backstage releases breaking changes to the plugin API or core configuration. All labs run in the TeKanAid academy lab system — no local install required unless you prefer to run Backstage on your own machine.
Do I need a cloud account to follow along?
No. All labs run in the TeKanAid academy lab system. The Kubernetes deployment labs use Kubernetes environments provisioned automatically by the platform. You do not need your own cloud account or cluster.
What happens when I cancel my subscription?
You lose access to the labs and future content updates. Your progress and quiz scores are saved so you can resume if you resubscribe. A Lifetime plan is available at academy.tekanaid.com for permanent access without a subscription.
What is the difference between Pro and Premium for this course?
Pro gives you all 35 lessons and quizzes. Premium adds the 13 hands-on labs in the TeKanAid academy lab system where you build a complete Backstage developer portal from local development through production Kubernetes. The labs are essential for the CBA exam — the practical questions require hands-on experience with the platform.
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“I just completed the Crossplane 101 course! Managing infrastructure as Kubernetes resources is a total game-changer. A huge thanks to TeKanAid and Sam Gabrail for the incredible training and insights.”
“Although I've worked with Crossplane in real production environments, I always felt there were gaps in my understanding. Completing this course filled those gaps perfectly. I had to unlearn and relearn quite a few things, especially around Crossplane v2.0 concepts. Well structured and thoughtfully put together. Highly recommended for building a strong, foundational understanding of Crossplane.”
“Dear Sam, I hope this email finds you well. If you remember before the end of last year I register for one your courses Terraform 101 – Certified Terraform Associate, I must admit that I learned a lot even though I was not patient enough for all videos to be available. All in all I enjoy the way you structured the course and how you went through it. The main reason of this email, to send you my gratitude for the content you created and to let you know that I passed my exam/test last week.”
“This course was a perfect introduction to Terraform and Infrastructure as Code. Loved the gitpod, saving me a lot of time for developer environment setup. We have a project at work where we want to go from a click-ops version of server-deploy to a more automated flow using ci/cd and terraform for deploying virtual servers.”
“I want to thank you for such wonderful courses. They are more comprehensive than other courses I have taken in the past. You take the time to explain every detail of the code and what it does exactly, further enforcing your student's understanding and confidence in what they are learning. Your methods are very effective and set you apart from other instructors.”
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Purchase Backstage 101: Building Internal Developer Portals for a one-time fee of $79. Full access to course content, quizzes, certificates, and community features, lab access is not included.
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Hi there, I'm Sam
I'm a husband and father of two wonderful boys. I'm also very passionate 🔥 about all things technology. From when I was 10, I had a dream to become a computer 💻 engineer one day. Here I am today living the dream!
Thanks for visiting TeKanAid Academy. My goal is to teach you all things DevOps. Below are some of the things I've done over the years. I'm confident that I can help you achieve your dreams too.
- 18+ years of experience in various Information Technology fields from Telecommunications, Computer Networks, Digital Transformation, DevOps, Cybersecurity, and IoT
- President of TeKanAid Solutions Inc. building online content in the DevOps space
- Previous – Sr. Solutions Engineer at HashiCorp
View my Certifications
Terraform: Authorized HashiCorp Instructor
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HashiCorp Authorized Instructors are experienced DevOps professionals who deliver official HashiCorp training courses in person and virtually.
Issued by HashiCorp Partner Network (HPN)
Vault: Authorized HashiCorp Instructor
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HashiCorp Authorized Instructors are experienced DevOps professionals who deliver official HashiCorp training courses in person and virtually.
Issued by HashiCorp Partner Network (HPN)
HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate (002)
Verify my certificate
Earners of the HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate certification know the basic concepts, skills, and use cases associated with open source HashiCorp Terraform.
Issued by HashiCorp
HashiCorp Certified: Vault Associate (002)
Verify my certificate
Earners of the HashiCorp Certified: Vault Associate certification know the basic concepts, skills, and use cases associated with open source HashiCorp Vault.
Issued by HashiCorp
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