Many services do not have the capacity or skillset to also build a UI

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 18 views

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Context

In the OpenMFP ecosystem, services will be registered by including them into a KCP workspace. This means that any service will have a declarative API in KCP. There are several reasons why a generic UI would be beneficial for teams contributing a service:

Many services do not have the capacity or skillset to also build a UI: By providing a generic UI, teams can focus on developing their core services without worrying about building a UI from scratch.
There is a case to increase the security posture by using a fully automatic UI instead of a UI build with custom code or potentially untrusted parties: A generic UI can provide an additional layer of security by reducing the attack surface and minimizing the risk of vulnerabilities.
Consistent look and feel across service providers as the features of such generic UI could be evolved and all services would benefit immediately: A generic UI can provide a consistent user experience across different services, making it easier for users to navigate and understand the different services.

Task

This ticket is about developing an initial Proof of Concept (POC) for a generic UI that can render any API resource in KCP. The focus should be on a fully automatic UI that does not require any configuration or declaration. The initial generic UI should have the following features:

ListView to render any resource based on context information provided via Luigi: The Luigi context should contain the group, version, kind to identify the resources to be listed. It would be okay to only render standard metadata information in the list view, such as name and namespace.
DetailView to render any resource based on path / context information: The Luigi context should contain the group, version, kind, namespace, name to identify the resources to be displayed. For now, it would be okay to focus on a DetailView Header, which should display common information in the ObjectMetadata of the resource.

Out of Scope

The following features are out of scope for this initial POC:

Declarative configuration to influence the display: This feature would require additional development and is not a priority for this initial POC.
Create dialog for resources: This feature is not necessary for this initial POC and can be added later.
Delete dialog for resources: This feature is also not necessary for this initial POC and can be added later.

Technical Input

The generic UI should communicate with KCP via the Resource Gateway (CRD-GraphQL-Gateway). This will allow the UI to retrieve the necessary information from KCP and display it to the user.

Technical Requirements

The following technical requirements should be met for this initial POC:

Use a modern web framework: The UI should be built using a modern web framework such as React or Angular.
Use a state management library: The UI should use a state management library such as Redux or MobX to manage the application state.
Use a UI component library: The UI should use a UI component library such as Material-UI or Bootstrap to provide a consistent look and feel.
Use a GraphQL client: The UI should use a GraphQL client such as Apollo Client to communicate with the Resource Gateway.

Technical Implementation

The technical implementation of the generic UI should follow the following steps:

Set up the project: Set up a new project using a modern web framework and a state management library.
Create the ListView: Create a ListView component that can render any resource based on context information provided via Luigi.
Create the DetailView: Create a DetailView component that can render any resource based on path / context information.
Implement the communication with KCP: Implement the communication with KCP using the Resource Gateway and a GraphQL client.
Test the UI: Test the UI to ensure that it is working as expected and that it can render any resource correctly.

Technical Challenges

The following technical challenges should be addressed during the implementation of the generic UI:

Handling different resource types: The UI should be able to handle different resource types and display the correct information for each type.
Handling errors and exceptions: The UI should be able to handle errors and exceptions that may occur during communication with KCP.
Optimizing performance: The UI should be optimized for performance to ensure that it can handle a large number of resources and users.

Technical Solutions

The following technical solutions should be used to address the technical challenges:

Use a polymorphic approach: Use a polymorphic approach to handle different resource types and display the correct information for each type.
Use error handling libraries: Use error handling libraries such as Sentry or Bugsnag to handle errors and exceptions.
Use performance optimization techniques: Use performance optimization techniques such as caching and lazy loading to optimize the performance of the UI.

Technical Roadmap

The following technical roadmap should be followed to implement the generic UI:

Week 1-2: Set up the project and create the ListView component.
Week 3-4: Create the DetailView component and implement the communication with KCP.
Week 5-6: Test the UI and address any technical challenges that may arise.
Week 7-8: Optimize the performance of the UI and address any technical challenges that may arise.

Technical Deliverables

The following technical deliverables should be produced during the implementation of the generic UI:

A working prototype of the generic UI: A working prototype of the generic UI that can render any resource correctly.
A technical documentation: A technical documentation that describes the technical implementation of the generic UI.
A performance report: A performance report that describes the performance of the UI and any optimization techniques used.

Technical Conclusion

In conclusion, the implementation of a generic UI to render any API resource in KCP is a complex task that requires a deep understanding of modern web development and state management. The technical requirements and challenges outlined in this document should be addressed during the implementation of the generic UI. The technical solutions and roadmap outlined in this document should be followed to ensure that the generic UI is implemented correctly and efficiently.

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Q: What is the purpose of the generic UI?

A: The purpose of the generic UI is to provide a consistent and user-friendly interface for users to interact with any API resource in KCP. The UI should be able to render any resource correctly and provide a seamless experience for users.

Q: What are the technical requirements for the generic UI?

A: The technical requirements for the generic UI include:

Use a modern web framework: The UI should be built using a modern web framework such as React or Angular.
Use a state management library: The UI should use a state management library such as Redux or MobX to manage the application state.
Use a UI component library: The UI should use a UI component library such as Material-UI or Bootstrap to provide a consistent look and feel.
Use a GraphQL client: The UI should use a GraphQL client such as Apollo Client to communicate with the Resource Gateway.

Q: What are the technical challenges that the generic UI may face?

A: The technical challenges that the generic UI may face include:

Handling different resource types: The UI should be able to handle different resource types and display the correct information for each type.
Handling errors and exceptions: The UI should be able to handle errors and exceptions that may occur during communication with KCP.
Optimizing performance: The UI should be optimized for performance to ensure that it can handle a large number of resources and users.

Q: How will the generic UI communicate with KCP?

A: The generic UI will communicate with KCP using the Resource Gateway and a GraphQL client. This will allow the UI to retrieve the necessary information from KCP and display it to the user.

Q: What is the expected outcome of the generic UI?

A: The expected outcome of the generic UI is a working prototype that can render any resource correctly and provide a seamless experience for users. The UI should also be optimized for performance and handle errors and exceptions correctly.

Q: What is the timeline for the implementation of the generic UI?

A: The timeline for the implementation of the generic UI is as follows:

Week 1-2: Set up the project and create the ListView component.
Week 3-4: Create the DetailView component and implement the communication with KCP.
Week 5-6: Test the UI and address any technical challenges that may arise.
Week 7-8: Optimize the performance of the UI and address any technical challenges that may arise.

Q: What are the technical deliverables for the generic UI?

A: The technical deliverables for the generic UI include:

A working prototype of the generic UI: A working prototype of the generic UI that can render any resource correctly.
A technical documentation: A technical documentation that describes the technical implementation of the generic UI.
A performance report: A performance report that describes the performance of the UI and any optimization techniques used.

Q: Who will be responsible for the implementation of the generic UI?

A: The implementation of the generic UI will be the responsibility of the development team. The team will work closely with the stakeholders to ensure that the UI meets the requirements and expectations of the project.

Q: What is the budget for the implementation of the generic UI?

A: The budget for the implementation of the generic UI will be determined by the stakeholders and will depend on the scope and complexity of the project.

Q: What is the expected return on investment (ROI) for the generic UI?

A: The expected ROI for the generic UI is an increase in user engagement and a reduction in the time it takes for users to interact with the API resources. The UI should also provide a seamless experience for users and reduce the number of errors and exceptions that occur during communication with KCP.

Q: What are the risks associated with the implementation of the generic UI?

A: The risks associated with the implementation of the generic UI include:

Technical challenges: The UI may face technical challenges such as handling different resource types, handling errors and exceptions, and optimizing performance.
Scope creep: The scope of the project may change, which could impact the timeline and budget of the project.
Stakeholder expectations: The stakeholders may have different expectations for the UI, which could impact the implementation and delivery of the project.

Q: How will the implementation of the generic UI be monitored and evaluated?

A: The implementation of the generic UI will be monitored and evaluated through regular progress meetings with the development team and stakeholders. The team will also conduct regular testing and quality assurance to ensure that the UI meets the requirements and expectations of the project.