Agent skills for Red Hat Developer Hub (RHDH) plugin development, overlay management, and local testing.
Workspace:
A plugin's directory in the overlay repository containing source.json and plugins-list.yaml. Defines how an upstream Backstage plugin is exported for RHDH.
Avoid: project, package, module
Overlay: The configuration layer that wraps an upstream Backstage plugin for RHDH export. Specifies the source commit, target Backstage version, and build configuration. Not a filesystem or CSS overlay. Avoid: wrapper, shim, adapter
Publish trigger:
A /publish comment posted on a PR in the overlay repository to kick off the CI build workflow. Required because GitHub Actions cannot auto-trigger on bot-created PRs.
Plugin Owner: An external contributor or team managing their own plugin(s) in the overlay repository. Responsible for updates, compatibility fixes, and CODEOWNERS entries. Avoid: contributor (too generic), maintainer (ambiguous with repo maintainer)
Core Team: The COPE/Plugins team managing overlay repository infrastructure, PR triage, and merge decisions. Distinct from Plugin Owners. Avoid: maintainers, admins
Supported:
A plugin listed in rhdh-supported-packages.txt. GA (generally available), fully supported by Red Hat. Workspace PRs are highest triage priority.
Tech Preview:
A plugin listed in rhdh-techpreview-packages.txt. Available but not yet GA. Workspace PRs are high triage priority.
Community:
A plugin listed in community-packages.txt. Dev Preview or community-maintained. Workspace PRs are lower triage priority.
Avoid: mandatory workspace, non-mandatory workspace (these are derived label concepts, not how the team talks about tiers)
- A Workspace produces one Overlay for one upstream plugin
- Support tiers (Supported, Tech Preview, Community) determine PR triage priority and are driven by productization files in the overlay repo
- Plugin Owners manage their own Workspaces; the Core Team manages repository-wide concerns (triage, merge gates, infrastructure)
- A Publish trigger is required before CI runs on any Workspace PR
Dev: "Should I review this workspace PR?" Core Team: "Check the support tier first — if it's a Supported plugin, it's critical priority. Community plugins can wait unless they're blocking something."
Plugin Owner: "My PR has been open for a week."
Core Team: "Did you add a publish trigger? CI won't run without /publish."
- "mandatory workspace" was used in early planning to mean a Workspace for a Supported or Tech Preview plugin — resolved: use the support tier names directly (Supported, Tech Preview, Community).