# Entando Component Manager

​​An Entando Application is composed of the Entando App Builder, Entando App Engine, and Entando Component Manager. The Entando Component Manager (ECM) provides functionality to build and organize micro frontends and widgets from within the App Builder. It also manages the connections between an application and the installed plugins.

The Component Manager is a service that links the Entando Component Repository (ECR) of the App Builder to the core application instance. It appears as quickstart-cm-deployment in the Kubernetes pod list:

pods.png

The ECM communicates with the Kubernetes service to populate the ECR with the bundles available as Custom Resources in the Entando namespace. These bundles can be installed in the application and managed from within the ECR.

ecm-flow.png

In the flow pictured above:

  1. A user visits the ECR page in the App Builder
  2. The ECR makes a REST call to the digital-exchange endpoint
  3. The Component Manager receives the digital-exchange request
  4. The Component Manager calls the k8s-service to return the list of available EntandoDeBundles in the namespace

A similar process occurs when bundles are installed or uninstalled. The Entando Operator performs actions based on lifecycle events for affected Entando Custom Resources.

# Key Features:

  • Manages the installation and removal of project bundles

  • Makes components available in the App Builder through the Component Repository

  • Handles versioning of component bundles for sharing and collaborating