Getting started with the Red Hat Developer Hub

Summary

In this demo, Brad Bazemore, Lead Product Manager at Red Hat, introduces the Red Hat Developer Hub, built on Backstage, which aims to simplify the developer experience. He discusses common frustrations developers face when starting new projects, such as navigating complex configurations and ticket systems. By using golden path templates, developers can quickly create services while adhering to best practices. The demo showcases how these templates automate the setup process, saving time and reducing manual errors, allowing developers to focus on writing code. Red Hat Developer Hub enhances productivity and streamlines the development process.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker, Brad Bazemore, is the lead product manager at Red Hat for the Red Hat Developer App.
• 😀 Brad previously worked as a developer and highlights common frustrations developers face when getting started with new projects.
• 😀 A major pain point for developers is the complexity and time-consuming nature of setting up new projects, especially when needing to handle permissions and other prerequisites.
• 😀 Developer Hub is introduced as a solution designed to streamline the process of setting up projects and microservices, providing self-service access to best practices.
• 😀 Developer Hub is built on Backstage, which features 'software templates' or 'golden path templates' to make it easier for developers to follow best practices.
• 😀 The speaker demonstrates how, using Developer Hub, a developer can quickly spin up a new project, such as a Quarkus microservice, by selecting a template and filling out a few fields.
• 😀 The template automates the process of setting up the repository, configuring the code, and adding the service to the catalog, following the company's best practices.
• 😀 After initiating the template, the system pulls relevant images for Kubernetes, sets up Argo CD, and uses OpenShift Topology to visualize the application once it's running.
• 😀 Even when a mistake is made (e.g., using the wrong registry), the Developer Hub provides quick access to the correct information and the project's source code to resolve issues.
• 😀 The overall goal of Developer Hub is to simplify the development process, allowing developers to focus on writing code rather than dealing with setup and infrastructure details.
• 😀 For more information about Red Hat Developer Hub, users are encouraged to email or visit the Red Hat developer website.

Q & A

What is the main frustration developers face when starting a new project according to Brad Bazemore?

The main frustration is the complexity and time-consuming nature of getting started, including navigating permissions, figuring out which tools to use, and managing dependencies without clear guidance or centralized information.

How does Red Hat Developer Hub aim to solve the challenges developers face when starting new projects?

Red Hat Developer Hub aims to solve these challenges by providing a self-service platform with software templates (golden path templates) that automate the process of setting up new services, ensuring developers can follow best practices without facing unnecessary roadblocks.

What are golden path templates in Backstage, and why are they important?

Golden path templates in Backstage are predefined workflows that guide developers through best practices for setting up new projects or services. They are important because they make it easy for developers to follow standardized processes, reducing the complexity of starting a new project.

What does Brad Bazemore demonstrate in the video to show how the Red Hat Developer Hub works?

Brad Bazemore demonstrates how to create a new microservice using a golden path template in the Red Hat Developer Hub. He shows how to fill out a few basic fields, such as selecting the right image registry and application repository, after which the system automatically sets up the service following best practices.

What problem did Brad encounter during his demonstration?

Brad encountered a problem where the Quarkus app wasn't deployed correctly because he selected the wrong image registry (OpenShift instead of Quay), which caused the deployment issue.

How does Red Hat Developer Hub improve the developer experience beyond automating setup?

Red Hat Developer Hub improves the developer experience by integrating tools like Argo and Kubernetes, enabling quick and correct deployment, and offering easy access to relevant resources like the source code and infrastructure settings, which helps developers move faster without manual intervention.

What tools or services does Brad mention are used in the golden path template during his demonstration?

Brad mentions using Argo for deployment, Tecton for CI/CD, and OpenShift and GitLab for the image registry and application repository, respectively, in the golden path template.

What does the term 'golden path' refer to in the context of Red Hat Developer Hub?

In this context, the 'golden path' refers to a preconfigured, best-practice workflow that developers can follow to easily create and deploy services, ensuring consistency and reducing errors or delays.

How does the Developer Hub integrate with Kubernetes and Argo CD?

The Developer Hub integrates with Kubernetes to manage containerized applications and with Argo CD to handle continuous delivery, allowing for automated and smooth deployment directly from the platform.

Why is Red Hat Developer Hub especially helpful for developers with little time for setup tasks?

Red Hat Developer Hub is helpful because it automates repetitive and time-consuming setup tasks, enabling developers to focus on writing code and delivering features, rather than managing infrastructure or resolving setup issues.