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In this lesson we’ll focus on two closely related goals: customizing the Backstage user interface and adding new functionality with Backstage plugins. Together these capabilities let you tailor the developer portal’s look-and-feel to your brand and extend it with custom or third-party features that improve developer experience. What you’ll learn:
  • An overview of the Backstage Design System and layout primitives for building consistent interfaces.
  • How to change and configure color themes to align Backstage with your organization’s brand.
  • How to install and integrate third‑party plugins from the community or vendors.
  • How to scaffold, develop, and register your own plugins to introduce new capabilities.
A horizontal row of four rounded cards numbered 01–04 showing project items: "Backstage design system," "Changing Color Theme" (highlighted in blue), "Adding 3rd Party Plugins," and "Creating our own plugins," each with a simple icon.
Before you begin, ensure you have a working local Backstage app (the App template or an existing instance). Familiarity with React, TypeScript, and basic plugin structure will make following the examples easier. If you need setup help, the Backstage docs include quickstart and local development guides.
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