> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://backstage.spotify.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Scaffolder (Portal)

> Discover, create, edit, publish, and run Software Templates entirely within Portal to standardize and automate engineering workflows.

> **This documentation replaces the legacy Scaffolder documentation previously available at** > [https://backstage.spotify.com/docs/portal/core-features-and-plugins/scaffolder](https://backstage.spotify.com/docs/portal/core-features-and-plugins/scaffolder)

The Portal Scaffolder provides an end-to-end, in-Portal experience for discovering, creating, editing, publishing, and running Software Templates.

## Overview

The Portal Scaffolder enables teams to standardize and automate common engineering workflows using **Software Templates**.

Software Templates define:

* **What input** to collect from users (forms)
* **What actions** to run (steps)
* **What outputs** to produce (repositories, catalog entities, artifacts)

The Portal Scaffolder Redesign makes the full lifecycle of Software Templates usable **entirely inside Portal**, without changing the underlying Backstage Scaffolder model.

With Portal Scaffolder, you can:

* Discover and run templates to scaffold services and infrastructure
* Create and maintain templates using an in-Portal editor
* Validate templates safely with dry runs
* Publish templates directly to source control and the catalog
* Monitor executions with logs and outputs

## What You Need

Before using Scaffolder, ensure that:

* You have access to Portal
* Software Templates are enabled for your organization
* You have the appropriate role:

  * **End users** can run templates
  * **Platform engineers / admins** can create and publish templates

## Next Steps

* [Getting Started](./getting-started.mdx) – Run and create your first templates
* [How-to Guides](./how-to-guides.mdx) – Task-oriented guides for common operations
* [Reference](./reference.mdx) – Technical reference and FAQ

*Last updated: January 2026*