codespaces-golden-paths

name

codespaces-golden-paths

description

Configures GitHub Codespaces dev environments for each Golden Path template type so developers get a fully ready workspace when scaffolding from the portal. USE FOR: devcontainer.json configuration, Codespaces setup, Golden Path dev environment, container features, SDK pre-installation. DO NOT USE FOR: Backstage deployment (use backstage-deployment), CI/CD pipelines (use @devops), template creation (use @platform).

Codespaces Golden Paths Skill

Configures GitHub Codespaces dev environments for each Golden Path template type so developers get a fully ready workspace when they scaffold from the portal.

---

Scope

Aspect	Detail
Purpose	Auto-create Codespaces with SDKs, tools, and configs per template
Trigger	Developer scaffolds a Golden Path → repo created → Codespace ready
Used by	@backstage-expert, @devops

---

1. How It Works

1. Developer selects a Golden Path template in the portal Backstage
2. Scaffolder creates a new repo with skeleton files
3. Skeleton includes .devcontainer/devcontainer.json configured for that template type
4. Developer clicks "Open in Codespaces" → fully configured environment

---

2. devcontainer.json Templates by Type

Python / FastAPI Microservice

{
  "name": "Python Microservice",
  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/python:3.11",
  "features": {
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/azure-cli:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/kubectl-helm-minikube:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/docker-in-docker:2": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/github-cli:1": {}
  },
  "customizations": {
    "vscode": {
      "extensions": [
        "ms-python.python",
        "ms-python.pylint",
        "charliermarsh.ruff",
        "redhat.vscode-yaml",
        "ms-azuretools.vscode-docker",
        "github.copilot"
      ],
      "settings": {
        "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "/usr/local/bin/python",
        "python.testing.pytestEnabled": true
      }
    }
  },
  "postCreateCommand": "pip install -r requirements.txt && pip install -e '.[dev]'",
  "forwardPorts": [8000, 5432],
  "portsAttributes": {
    "8000": { "label": "API Server", "onAutoForward": "notify" }
  }
}

Node.js / Web Application

{
  "name": "Node.js Web App",
  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/javascript-node:20",
  "features": {
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/azure-cli:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/kubectl-helm-minikube:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/docker-in-docker:2": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/github-cli:1": {}
  },
  "customizations": {
    "vscode": {
      "extensions": [
        "dbaeumer.vscode-eslint",
        "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
        "bradlc.vscode-tailwindcss",
        "ms-azuretools.vscode-docker",
        "github.copilot"
      ]
    }
  },
  "postCreateCommand": "npm ci",
  "forwardPorts": [3000],
  "portsAttributes": {
    "3000": { "label": "Dev Server", "onAutoForward": "openBrowser" }
  }
}

Terraform / Infrastructure

{
  "name": "Terraform Infrastructure",
  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/base:ubuntu",
  "features": {
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/azure-cli:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/terraform:1": { "version": "1.7" },
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/kubectl-helm-minikube:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/github-cli:1": {}
  },
  "customizations": {
    "vscode": {
      "extensions": [
        "hashicorp.terraform",
        "redhat.vscode-yaml",
        "github.copilot",
        "ms-azuretools.vscode-azureterraform"
      ]
    }
  },
  "postCreateCommand": "terraform init"
}

Java / Spring Boot Microservice

{
  "name": "Java Microservice",
  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/java:21",
  "features": {
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/azure-cli:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/kubectl-helm-minikube:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/docker-in-docker:2": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/github-cli:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/maven:1": {}
  },
  "customizations": {
    "vscode": {
      "extensions": [
        "vscjava.vscode-java-pack",
        "vmware.vscode-spring-boot",
        "redhat.vscode-yaml",
        "ms-azuretools.vscode-docker",
        "github.copilot"
      ]
    }
  },
  "postCreateCommand": "mvn dependency:resolve",
  "forwardPorts": [8080],
  "portsAttributes": {
    "8080": { "label": "Spring Boot", "onAutoForward": "notify" }
  }
}

AI / ML Pipeline

{
  "name": "AI ML Pipeline",
  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/python:3.11",
  "features": {
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/azure-cli:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/kubectl-helm-minikube:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/github-cli:1": {}
  },
  "customizations": {
    "vscode": {
      "extensions": [
        "ms-python.python",
        "ms-toolsai.jupyter",
        "ms-toolsai.vscode-ai",
        "charliermarsh.ruff",
        "github.copilot"
      ],
      "settings": {
        "python.testing.pytestEnabled": true,
        "jupyter.askForKernelRestart": false
      }
    }
  },
  "postCreateCommand": "pip install -r requirements.txt && pip install azure-ai-ml azure-identity mlflow",
  "forwardPorts": [8888, 5000],
  "portsAttributes": {
    "8888": { "label": "Jupyter", "onAutoForward": "notify" },
    "5000": { "label": "MLflow", "onAutoForward": "notify" }
  }
}

Data Pipeline

{
  "name": "Data Pipeline",
  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/python:3.11",
  "features": {
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/azure-cli:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/docker-in-docker:2": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/github-cli:1": {}
  },
  "customizations": {
    "vscode": {
      "extensions": [
        "ms-python.python",
        "ms-toolsai.jupyter",
        "charliermarsh.ruff",
        "redhat.vscode-yaml",
        "github.copilot"
      ]
    }
  },
  "postCreateCommand": "pip install -r requirements.txt",
  "forwardPorts": [8080, 4040],
  "portsAttributes": {
    "4040": { "label": "Spark UI", "onAutoForward": "notify" }
  }
}

---

3. Skeleton Integration

Each Golden Path template skeleton should include:

skeleton/
├── .devcontainer/
│   └── devcontainer.json    # Type-specific config
├── .github/
│   └── workflows/
│       └── ci.yaml          # CI pipeline
├── catalog-info.yaml        # Backstage catalog entry
├── README.md                # With "Open in Codespaces" button
└── ...                      # Template-specific files

README Badge

Add to each scaffolded README.md:

[![Open in GitHub Codespaces](https://github.com/codespaces/badge.svg)](https://codespaces.new/${{ values.repoUrl }}?quickstart=1)

---

4. Golden Path → devcontainer Mapping

Golden Path	devcontainer Type	Base Image	Key Tools
new-microservice	Python	python:3.11	FastAPI, pytest, uvicorn
web-application	Node.js	node:20	Vite, ESLint, Playwright
api-microservice	Python	python:3.11	FastAPI, SQLAlchemy, Alembic
api-gateway	Node.js	node:20	Express, NGINX config
batch-job	Python	python:3.11	Celery, Redis client
data-pipeline	Data	python:3.11	PySpark, Azure Data SDK
event-driven-microservice	Python	python:3.11	Kafka client, asyncio
microservice	Python	python:3.11	FastAPI, Docker
infrastructure-provisioning	Terraform	base:ubuntu	Terraform, az cli, tfsec
basic-cicd	Terraform	base:ubuntu	GitHub Actions, Docker
security-baseline	Terraform	base:ubuntu	tfsec, Trivy, OPA
documentation-site	Node.js	node:20	MkDocs, techdocs-core
gitops-deployment	Terraform	base:ubuntu	ArgoCD CLI, Helm, kubectl
rag-application	AI/ML	python:3.11	Azure AI SDK, LangChain
foundry-agent	AI/ML	python:3.11	Azure AI Foundry SDK
mlops-pipeline	AI/ML	python:3.11	MLflow, Azure ML SDK
copilot-extension	Node.js	node:20	TypeScript, Octokit
multi-agent-system	AI/ML	python:3.11	Semantic Kernel, AutoGen
sre-agent-integration	AI/ML	python:3.11	Azure Monitor SDK
ado-to-github-migration	Node.js	node:20	GitHub CLI, az devops
reusable-workflows	Terraform	base:ubuntu	GitHub Actions