Add Plugin Framework

[agracey]

Preflight Checklist

• [X] I have searched the issue tracker for a feature request that matches the one I want to file, without success.

Problem Description

I would like to be able to build plugins to add features to Rancher Desktop. A few use cases off the top of my head:

• rancher management server: install on k8s start, embed UI (or link) in tab
• epinio: install helm chart on k8s start, update when IP address changes, view apps, and install cli onto host (and wsl)
• ngrok operator: expose services via ngrok, configure auth to ngrok
• advanced tools: install cli tools like k9s, arkade, etc
• logging: list all pods/containers (k8s, containerd, and docker if possible) view logs from them
• virtual cluster: configure virtual clusters and add to kubeconfig
• k3d: use k3d to spin up extra clusters when using moby

Proposed Solution

Add a mechanism to pull in node.js modules and attach with hooks in our code. Document these hooks and their context.

This could be something that we build our own functionality onto going forward as well.

Additional Information

Potential hooks:

• Enumerate config options
• Render UI tab (maybe also allow a return of url to show in web embed?)
• RD startup/shutdown
• k3s startup/restart + ready
• k3s version change
• IP address change
• Config change -- RD
• Config change -- plugin

Convenience methods/callbacks:

• install helm chart
• run kubectl and get parsed output
• run non-k8s container
• shell out (OS agnostic?)

[thawkins]

+1