feat(tech-insights): add support for new frontend system #6802

OSfrog · 2026-01-08T08:33:15Z

Hey, I just made a Pull Request!

Added alpha exports for the new Backstage frontend system:

techInsightsPlugin: Main plugin for the new frontend system
techInsightsApi: API extension using ApiBlueprint
techInsightsScorecardPage: Page extension at /tech-insights
entityTechInsightsScorecardContent: Entity content tab
entityTechInsightsScorecardCard: Entity overview card

Usage:

import techInsightsPlugin from '@backstage-community/plugin-tech-insights/alpha';

const app = createApp({
  features: [techInsightsPlugin],
});

✔️ Checklist

A changeset describing the change and affected packages. (more info)
Added or updated documentation
Tests for new functionality and regression tests for bug fixes
Screenshots attached (for UI changes)
All your commits have a Signed-off-by line in the message. (more info)

backstage-goalie · 2026-01-08T08:33:36Z

Changed Packages

Package Name	Package Path	Changeset Bump	Current Version
@backstage-community/plugin-tech-insights	workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights	minor	`v0.7.0`

OSfrog · 2026-01-08T09:40:20Z

Hi!

The Node 24.x CI failure appears to be a pre-existing infrastructure issue with better-sqlite3 not compiling on Node 24.x, unrelated to the changes in this PR:

gyp ERR! build error 
gyp ERR! stack Error: `make` failed with exit code: 2
...
/home/runner/work/community-plugins/community-plugins/workspaces/tech-insights/node_modules/@backstage/backend-defaults/node_modules/better-sqlite3

The Node 22.x CI step passes all checks (tsc, lint, tests, api-reports).

I noticed this was fixed in the announcements workspace via #6799 by updating better-sqlite3 from v9 to v12. The tech-insights workspace has the same issue:

 "better-sqlite3": "^9.0.0"  # packages/backend/package.json

Should I include the better-sqlite3 upgrade in this PR, or should that be a separate PR?

awanlin

Hi @OSfrog, Tech Insights is currently built against version 1.39.0 of Backstage, we made the New Frontend System adoption ready in 1.42.0 and this included several API changes. Even if this were to be merged you would find there's issues with it being used by other Adopters along with the New Frontend System. I would pause work on this PR and get Tech Insights version bumped to 1.46.x at which point you can rebase this PR and fix any of the breaking API changes.

OSfrog · 2026-01-09T10:45:39Z

@awanlin Thanks for the quick response. Shall I go ahead and create a separate PR for the version bump?

awanlin · 2026-01-09T14:09:40Z

I've generated the version bump PR for you here: #6826. You'll want to review the changelogs for each version it's going through - 1.39.0 to 1.46.2 - and apply any manual changes to the PR @OSfrog.

awanlin · 2026-01-10T15:47:05Z

@OSfrog please rebase, the version bump for Tech Insights to 1.46.x has been merged, keep in mind you'll likely run into breaking changes around the New Frontend System after that.

OSfrog · 2026-01-12T07:50:02Z

Thanks @awanlin! I've rebased on main and addressed the breaking changes from the 1.46.x upgrade:

New Frontend System changes addressed:

Updated defaultPath → path and defaultTitle → title in EntityContentBlueprint and PageBlueprint (breaking change from v1.42.0)
Using the current ApiBlueprint with defineParams callback style
Using compatWrapper from @backstage/core-compat-api to wrap legacy components

Backend changes:

Updated test expectation for httpRouter.use call count (4 → 3)

All checks pass locally (tsc, lint, tests). Ready for review!

vinzscam

Nice!

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/README.md

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha/plugin.ts

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha/pages.tsx

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha/entityContent.tsx

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha/entityCards.tsx

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha/apis.ts

OSfrog · 2026-01-13T13:04:02Z

@vinzscam requested changes are made, is there anything else needed to merge this? We are being blocked by this PR 🙇

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha/index.ts

workspaces/tech-insights/.changeset/wet-planes-beg.md

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha/apis.ts

kurtaking · 2026-01-16T05:08:30Z

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha/entityCards.tsx

+ *
+ * @alpha
+ */
+export const entityTechInsightsScorecardCard = EntityCardBlueprint.make({


Two things to consider, even as follow-ups:

End users are likely going to want some customization over the component, so I see this being converted to a makeWithOverrides blueprint.

Should we filter out any entity kinds by default? Right now this will appear on all entity kinds by default.

Good points! What do you think about filtering out Location and Domain entities? I think the rest are fine.

I still think these are good things to consider, but I'm now doubting doing it on this first release. I'm not fully understanding how consumers configure how and where this component appears in the new frontend system.

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha.ts

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha.tsx

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/package.json

Added alpha exports for the new Backstage frontend system: - techInsightsPlugin: Main plugin for the new frontend system - techInsightsApi: API extension using ApiBlueprint - techInsightsScorecardPage: Page extension at /tech-insights - entityTechInsightsScorecardContent: Entity content tab - entityTechInsightsScorecardCard: Entity overview card Signed-off-by: Tommy Le <[email protected]>

kurtaking

Noticed a few more things

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha/index.ts

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha.ts

kurtaking · 2026-01-16T06:22:17Z

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha/entityCards.tsx

+ *
+ * @alpha
+ */
+export const entityTechInsightsScorecardCard = EntityCardBlueprint.make({


I still think these are good things to consider, but I'm now doubting doing it on this first release. I'm not fully understanding how consumers configure how and where this component appears in the new frontend system.

Signed-off-by: Tommy Le <[email protected]>

kurtaking

I've tested installing locally with a new instance of Backstage on the new frontend system and think we are good to go with initial release here.

Thanks for the contribution!

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha.ts

kurtaking · 2026-01-16T17:54:28Z

@vinzscam, this is still pending requested changes from you which have been addressed. Can we either dismiss your review or have you provide approval? Thanks!

kurtaking · 2026-01-16T22:07:34Z

I've opened #6945 as a follow-up to add a nav item.

OSfrog requested review from a team, Xantier and punkle as code owners January 8, 2026 08:33

OSfrog requested review from vinzscam and removed request for a team January 8, 2026 08:33

backstage-service added the workspace/tech-insights Used to tag tech-insights workspace issues and pull requests label Jan 8, 2026

OSfrog force-pushed the feat/tech-insights-new-frontend-system branch 5 times, most recently from 83ff50c to f746dc2 Compare January 8, 2026 09:10

awanlin reviewed Jan 8, 2026

View reviewed changes

OSfrog force-pushed the feat/tech-insights-new-frontend-system branch 2 times, most recently from eff418d to 4b13a60 Compare January 9, 2026 14:55

OSfrog force-pushed the feat/tech-insights-new-frontend-system branch from 4b13a60 to f28f801 Compare January 12, 2026 07:27

vinzscam requested changes Jan 13, 2026

View reviewed changes

OSfrog force-pushed the feat/tech-insights-new-frontend-system branch 3 times, most recently from ae3b322 to 619985a Compare January 13, 2026 12:56

kurtaking reviewed Jan 16, 2026

View reviewed changes

OSfrog force-pushed the feat/tech-insights-new-frontend-system branch from 619985a to 5889d5d Compare January 16, 2026 05:33

OSfrog force-pushed the feat/tech-insights-new-frontend-system branch from 5889d5d to 5bfac5d Compare January 16, 2026 05:43

kurtaking reviewed Jan 16, 2026

View reviewed changes

refactor: remove unnecessary exports

b4a3236

Signed-off-by: Tommy Le <[email protected]>

kurtaking approved these changes Jan 16, 2026

View reviewed changes

workspaces/tech-insights/plugins/tech-insights/src/alpha.ts Show resolved Hide resolved

kurtaking assigned kurtaking and OSfrog and unassigned kurtaking Jan 16, 2026

kurtaking requested a review from vinzscam January 16, 2026 17:51

vinzscam approved these changes Jan 16, 2026

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kurtaking merged commit b5f45fd into backstage:main Jan 16, 2026
13 checks passed

feat(tech-insights): add support for new frontend system #6802

feat(tech-insights): add support for new frontend system #6802

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Hey, I just made a Pull Request!

✔️ Checklist

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