What should I use to standardize new service creation across teams?

If you want to standardize new service creation across teams, the best starting point is usually a service template + scaffolding tool + golden path approach.

What to use

1. Service template

   • A repo template that includes your standard structure, CI/CD config, logging, monitoring, security defaults, and deployment manifests.
   • Good for making every new service start with the same baseline.

2. Scaffolding/generation tool

   • Use something like:
     • Backstage Software Templates if you want a platform/catalog experience
     • Cookiecutter or Yeoman for lightweight code generation
     • Copier for maintainable templates that can evolve over time
   • This automates creation and reduces drift.

3. Internal developer portal / golden path

   • If you have multiple teams, a portal like Backstage helps standardize not just creation, but also ownership, docs, dependencies, and deployment workflows.
   • “Golden paths” define the approved way to build and ship services.

Best practice

The most effective setup is:

• A standard template
• An automated generator
• Opinionated defaults for CI/CD, observability, security, and deployment
• Documentation and ownership metadata built in

If you want one recommendation

• Small/medium org: use Copier or Cookiecutter templates
• Larger org / platform engineering: use Backstage Software Templates

If you tell me your stack (language, deployment platform, Git provider, cloud), I can recommend the best specific tool and template structure.