diff --git a/packages/app-defaults/.eslintrc.js b/packages/app-defaults/.eslintrc.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..13573efa9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-defaults/.eslintrc.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+module.exports = {
+  extends: [require.resolve('@backstage/cli/config/eslint')],
+};
diff --git a/packages/app-defaults/README.md b/packages/app-defaults/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..15a0bd3d24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-defaults/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# @backstage/app-defaults
+
+This package provides a default wiring of a Backstage app that avoids boilerplate when setting up a standard Backstage app.
+
+## Installation
+
+Install the package via Yarn:
+
+```sh
+cd packages/app
+yarn add @backstage/app-defaults
+```
+
+## Documentation
+
+- [Backstage Readme](https://github.com/backstage/backstage/blob/master/README.md)
+- [Backstage Documentation](https://backstage.io/docs)
diff --git a/packages/app-defaults/package.json b/packages/app-defaults/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c7594470d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-defaults/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+{
+  "name": "@backstage/app-defaults",
+  "description": "Provides the default wiring of a Backstage App",
+  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "private": false,
+  "publishConfig": {
+    "access": "public",
+    "main": "dist/index.esm.js",
+    "types": "dist/index.d.ts"
+  },
+  "homepage": "https://backstage.io",
+  "repository": {
+    "type": "git",
+    "url": "https://github.com/backstage/backstage",
+    "directory": "packages/app-defaults"
+  },
+  "keywords": [
+    "backstage"
+  ],
+  "license": "Apache-2.0",
+  "main": "src/index.ts",
+  "types": "src/index.ts",
+  "scripts": {
+    "build": "backstage-cli build --outputs types,esm",
+    "lint": "backstage-cli lint",
+    "test": "backstage-cli test",
+    "prepack": "backstage-cli prepack",
+    "postpack": "backstage-cli postpack",
+    "clean": "backstage-cli clean"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "@backstage/core-components": "^0.7.1",
+    "@backstage/config": "^0.1.10",
+    "@backstage/core-plugin-api": "^0.1.11",
+    "@backstage/theme": "^0.2.11",
+    "@backstage/types": "^0.1.1",
+    "@backstage/version-bridge": "^0.1.0",
+    "@material-ui/core": "^4.12.2",
+    "@material-ui/icons": "^4.9.1",
+    "@types/react": "*",
+    "@types/prop-types": "^15.7.3",
+    "prop-types": "^15.7.2",
+    "react": "^16.12.0",
+    "react-router-dom": "6.0.0-beta.0",
+    "react-use": "^17.2.4",
+    "zen-observable": "^0.8.15"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@backstage/cli": "^0.8.0",
+    "@backstage/test-utils": "^0.1.19",
+    "@testing-library/jest-dom": "^5.10.1",
+    "@testing-library/react": "^11.2.5",
+    "@testing-library/react-hooks": "^7.0.2",
+    "@testing-library/user-event": "^13.1.8",
+    "@types/jest": "^26.0.7",
+    "@types/node": "^14.14.32",
+    "@types/zen-observable": "^0.8.0",
+    "cross-fetch": "^3.0.6",
+    "msw": "^0.29.0"
+  },
+  "files": [
+    "dist"
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/AppThemeProvider.tsx b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/AppThemeProvider.tsx
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/AppThemeProvider.tsx
rename to packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/AppThemeProvider.tsx
diff --git a/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/createApp.test.tsx b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/createApp.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0bf90987db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/createApp.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { screen } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { renderWithEffects } from '@backstage/test-utils';
+import React, { PropsWithChildren } from 'react';
+import { MemoryRouter } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { defaultConfigLoader, createApp } from './createApp';
+
+(process as any).env = { NODE_ENV: 'test' };
+const anyEnv = process.env as any;
+const anyWindow = window as any;
+
+describe('defaultConfigLoader', () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    delete anyEnv.APP_CONFIG;
+    delete anyWindow.__APP_CONFIG__;
+  });
+
+  it('loads static config', async () => {
+    anyEnv.APP_CONFIG = [
+      { data: { my: 'config' }, context: 'a' },
+      { data: { my: 'override-config' }, context: 'b' },
+    ];
+
+    const configs = await defaultConfigLoader();
+    expect(configs).toEqual([
+      { data: { my: 'config' }, context: 'a' },
+      { data: { my: 'override-config' }, context: 'b' },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it('loads runtime config', async () => {
+    anyEnv.APP_CONFIG = [
+      { data: { my: 'override-config' }, context: 'a' },
+      { data: { my: 'config' }, context: 'b' },
+    ];
+
+    const configs = await (defaultConfigLoader as any)(
+      '{"my":"runtime-config"}',
+    );
+    expect(configs).toEqual([
+      { data: { my: 'override-config' }, context: 'a' },
+      { data: { my: 'config' }, context: 'b' },
+      { data: { my: 'runtime-config' }, context: 'env' },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it('fails to load invalid missing config', async () => {
+    await expect(defaultConfigLoader()).rejects.toThrow(
+      'No static configuration provided',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('fails to load invalid static config', async () => {
+    anyEnv.APP_CONFIG = { my: 'invalid-config' };
+    await expect(defaultConfigLoader()).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Static configuration has invalid format',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('fails to load bad runtime config', async () => {
+    anyEnv.APP_CONFIG = [{ data: { my: 'config' }, context: 'a' }];
+
+    await expect((defaultConfigLoader as any)('}')).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Failed to load runtime configuration, SyntaxError: Unexpected token } in JSON at position 0',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('loads config from window.__APP_CONFIG__', async () => {
+    anyEnv.APP_CONFIG = [
+      { data: { my: 'config' }, context: 'a' },
+      { data: { my: 'override-config' }, context: 'b' },
+    ];
+    const windowConfig = { app: { configKey: 'config-value' } };
+    anyWindow.__APP_CONFIG__ = windowConfig;
+
+    const configs = await defaultConfigLoader();
+
+    expect(configs).toEqual([
+      ...anyEnv.APP_CONFIG,
+      { context: 'window', data: windowConfig },
+    ]);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('Optional ThemeProvider', () => {
+  it('should render app with user-provided ThemeProvider', async () => {
+    const components = {
+      NotFoundErrorPage: () => null,
+      BootErrorPage: () => null,
+      Progress: () => null,
+      Router: MemoryRouter,
+      ErrorBoundaryFallback: () => null,
+      ThemeProvider: ({ children }: PropsWithChildren<{}>) => (
+        <main role="main">{children}</main>
+      ),
+    };
+
+    const App = createApp({ components }).getProvider();
+
+    await renderWithEffects(<App />);
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole('main')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/createApp.tsx b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/createApp.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c3f477035f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/createApp.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { AppConfig } from '@backstage/config';
+import { JsonObject } from '@backstage/types';
+import { withDefaults } from '@backstage/core-components';
+import { PrivateAppImpl } from './App';
+import { AppComponents, AppConfigLoader, AppOptions } from './types';
+import { defaultApis } from './defaultApis';
+import { BackstagePlugin } from '@backstage/core-plugin-api';
+
+const REQUIRED_APP_COMPONENTS: Array<keyof AppComponents> = [
+  'Progress',
+  'Router',
+  'NotFoundErrorPage',
+  'BootErrorPage',
+  'ErrorBoundaryFallback',
+];
+
+/**
+ * The default config loader, which expects that config is available at compile-time
+ * in `process.env.APP_CONFIG`. APP_CONFIG should be an array of config objects as
+ * returned by the config loader.
+ *
+ * It will also load runtime config from the __APP_INJECTED_RUNTIME_CONFIG__ string,
+ * which can be rewritten at runtime to contain an additional JSON config object.
+ * If runtime config is present, it will be placed first in the config array, overriding
+ * other config values.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export const defaultConfigLoader: AppConfigLoader = async (
+  // This string may be replaced at runtime to provide additional config.
+  // It should be replaced by a JSON-serialized config object.
+  // It's a param so we can test it, but at runtime this will always fall back to default.
+  runtimeConfigJson: string = '__APP_INJECTED_RUNTIME_CONFIG__',
+) => {
+  const appConfig = process.env.APP_CONFIG;
+  if (!appConfig) {
+    throw new Error('No static configuration provided');
+  }
+  if (!Array.isArray(appConfig)) {
+    throw new Error('Static configuration has invalid format');
+  }
+  const configs = appConfig.slice() as unknown as AppConfig[];
+
+  // Avoiding this string also being replaced at runtime
+  if (
+    runtimeConfigJson !==
+    '__app_injected_runtime_config__'.toLocaleUpperCase('en-US')
+  ) {
+    try {
+      const data = JSON.parse(runtimeConfigJson) as JsonObject;
+      if (Array.isArray(data)) {
+        configs.push(...data);
+      } else {
+        configs.push({ data, context: 'env' });
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      throw new Error(`Failed to load runtime configuration, ${error}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  const windowAppConfig = (window as any).__APP_CONFIG__;
+  if (windowAppConfig) {
+    configs.push({
+      context: 'window',
+      data: windowAppConfig,
+    });
+  }
+  return configs;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Creates a new Backstage App.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export function createApp(options?: AppOptions) {
+  const optionsWithDefaults = withDefaults(options);
+
+  const missingRequiredComponents = REQUIRED_APP_COMPONENTS.filter(
+    name => !options?.components?.[name],
+  );
+  if (missingRequiredComponents.length > 0) {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+    console.warn(
+      'DEPRECATION WARNING: The createApp options will soon require a minimal set of components to ' +
+        'be provided. You can use the default components by using withDefaults from @backstage/core-components ' +
+        'like this: createApp(withDefaults({ ... })), or you can provide the components yourself. ' +
+        `The following components are missing: ${missingRequiredComponents.join(
+          ', ',
+        )}`,
+    );
+  }
+
+  const providedIconKeys = Object.keys(options?.icons ?? {});
+  const missingIconKeys = Object.keys(optionsWithDefaults.icons!).filter(
+    key => !providedIconKeys.includes(key),
+  );
+  if (missingIconKeys.length > 0) {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+    console.warn(
+      'DEPRECATION WARNING: The createApp options will soon require a minimal set of icons to ' +
+        'be provided. You can use the default icons by using withDefaults from @backstage/core-components ' +
+        'like this: createApp(withDefaults({ ... })), or you can provide the icons yourself. ' +
+        `The following icons are missing: ${missingIconKeys.join(', ')}`,
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (!options?.themes) {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+    console.warn(
+      'DEPRECATION WARNING: The createApp options will soon require the themes to be provided. ' +
+        'You can use the default themes by using withDefaults from @backstage/core-components ' +
+        'like this: createApp(withDefaults({ ... })), or you can provide the themes yourself. ',
+    );
+  }
+
+  const { icons, themes, components } = optionsWithDefaults;
+
+  return new PrivateAppImpl({
+    icons: icons!,
+    themes: themes!,
+    components: components! as AppComponents,
+    defaultApis,
+    apis: options?.apis ?? [],
+    bindRoutes: options?.bindRoutes,
+    plugins: (options?.plugins as BackstagePlugin<any, any>[]) ?? [],
+    configLoader: options?.configLoader ?? defaultConfigLoader,
+  });
+}
diff --git a/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/defaultApis.ts b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/defaultApis.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fb02274cf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/defaultApis.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,264 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import {
+  AlertApiForwarder,
+  NoOpAnalyticsApi,
+  ErrorApiForwarder,
+  ErrorAlerter,
+  GoogleAuth,
+  GithubAuth,
+  OAuth2,
+  OktaAuth,
+  GitlabAuth,
+  Auth0Auth,
+  MicrosoftAuth,
+  BitbucketAuth,
+  OAuthRequestManager,
+  WebStorage,
+  UrlPatternDiscovery,
+  SamlAuth,
+  OneLoginAuth,
+  UnhandledErrorForwarder,
+  AtlassianAuth,
+} from '../apis';
+
+import {
+  createApiFactory,
+  alertApiRef,
+  analyticsApiRef,
+  errorApiRef,
+  discoveryApiRef,
+  oauthRequestApiRef,
+  googleAuthApiRef,
+  githubAuthApiRef,
+  oauth2ApiRef,
+  oktaAuthApiRef,
+  gitlabAuthApiRef,
+  auth0AuthApiRef,
+  microsoftAuthApiRef,
+  storageApiRef,
+  configApiRef,
+  samlAuthApiRef,
+  oneloginAuthApiRef,
+  oidcAuthApiRef,
+  bitbucketAuthApiRef,
+  atlassianAuthApiRef,
+} from '@backstage/core-plugin-api';
+
+import OAuth2Icon from '@material-ui/icons/AcUnit';
+
+export const defaultApis = [
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: discoveryApiRef,
+    deps: { configApi: configApiRef },
+    factory: ({ configApi }) =>
+      UrlPatternDiscovery.compile(
+        `${configApi.getString('backend.baseUrl')}/api/{{ pluginId }}`,
+      ),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory(alertApiRef, new AlertApiForwarder()),
+  createApiFactory(analyticsApiRef, new NoOpAnalyticsApi()),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: errorApiRef,
+    deps: { alertApi: alertApiRef },
+    factory: ({ alertApi }) => {
+      const errorApi = new ErrorAlerter(alertApi, new ErrorApiForwarder());
+      UnhandledErrorForwarder.forward(errorApi, { hidden: false });
+      return errorApi;
+    },
+  }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: storageApiRef,
+    deps: { errorApi: errorApiRef },
+    factory: ({ errorApi }) => WebStorage.create({ errorApi }),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory(oauthRequestApiRef, new OAuthRequestManager()),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: googleAuthApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      oauthRequestApi: oauthRequestApiRef,
+      configApi: configApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi, configApi }) =>
+      GoogleAuth.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        oauthRequestApi,
+        environment: configApi.getOptionalString('auth.environment'),
+      }),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: microsoftAuthApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      oauthRequestApi: oauthRequestApiRef,
+      configApi: configApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi, configApi }) =>
+      MicrosoftAuth.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        oauthRequestApi,
+        environment: configApi.getOptionalString('auth.environment'),
+      }),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: githubAuthApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      oauthRequestApi: oauthRequestApiRef,
+      configApi: configApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi, configApi }) =>
+      GithubAuth.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        oauthRequestApi,
+        defaultScopes: ['read:user'],
+        environment: configApi.getOptionalString('auth.environment'),
+      }),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: oktaAuthApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      oauthRequestApi: oauthRequestApiRef,
+      configApi: configApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi, configApi }) =>
+      OktaAuth.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        oauthRequestApi,
+        environment: configApi.getOptionalString('auth.environment'),
+      }),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: gitlabAuthApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      oauthRequestApi: oauthRequestApiRef,
+      configApi: configApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi, configApi }) =>
+      GitlabAuth.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        oauthRequestApi,
+        environment: configApi.getOptionalString('auth.environment'),
+      }),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: auth0AuthApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      oauthRequestApi: oauthRequestApiRef,
+      configApi: configApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi, configApi }) =>
+      Auth0Auth.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        oauthRequestApi,
+        environment: configApi.getOptionalString('auth.environment'),
+      }),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: oauth2ApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      oauthRequestApi: oauthRequestApiRef,
+      configApi: configApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi, configApi }) =>
+      OAuth2.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        oauthRequestApi,
+        environment: configApi.getOptionalString('auth.environment'),
+      }),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: samlAuthApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      configApi: configApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi, configApi }) =>
+      SamlAuth.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        environment: configApi.getOptionalString('auth.environment'),
+      }),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: oneloginAuthApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      oauthRequestApi: oauthRequestApiRef,
+      configApi: configApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi, configApi }) =>
+      OneLoginAuth.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        oauthRequestApi,
+        environment: configApi.getOptionalString('auth.environment'),
+      }),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: oidcAuthApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      oauthRequestApi: oauthRequestApiRef,
+      configApi: configApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi, configApi }) =>
+      OAuth2.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        oauthRequestApi,
+        provider: {
+          id: 'oidc',
+          title: 'Your Identity Provider',
+          icon: OAuth2Icon,
+        },
+        environment: configApi.getOptionalString('auth.environment'),
+      }),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: bitbucketAuthApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      oauthRequestApi: oauthRequestApiRef,
+      configApi: configApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi, configApi }) =>
+      BitbucketAuth.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        oauthRequestApi,
+        defaultScopes: ['team'],
+        environment: configApi.getOptionalString('auth.environment'),
+      }),
+  }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: atlassianAuthApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      oauthRequestApi: oauthRequestApiRef,
+      configApi: configApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi, configApi }) => {
+      return AtlassianAuth.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        oauthRequestApi,
+        environment: configApi.getOptionalString('auth.environment'),
+      });
+    },
+  }),
+];
diff --git a/packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/defaultAppComponents.test.tsx b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/defaultAppComponents.test.tsx
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/defaultAppComponents.test.tsx
rename to packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/defaultAppComponents.test.tsx
diff --git a/packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/defaultAppComponents.tsx b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/defaultAppComponents.tsx
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/defaultAppComponents.tsx
rename to packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/defaultAppComponents.tsx
diff --git a/packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/defaultAppIcons.tsx b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/defaultAppIcons.tsx
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/defaultAppIcons.tsx
rename to packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/defaultAppIcons.tsx
diff --git a/packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/defaultAppThemes.tsx b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/defaultAppThemes.tsx
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/defaultAppThemes.tsx
rename to packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/defaultAppThemes.tsx
diff --git a/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/icons.tsx b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/icons.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..df1e69da6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/icons.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { IconComponent } from '@backstage/core-plugin-api';
+import MuiApartmentIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Apartment';
+import MuiBrokenImageIcon from '@material-ui/icons/BrokenImage';
+import MuiCategoryIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Category';
+import MuiChatIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Chat';
+import MuiDashboardIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Dashboard';
+import MuiDocsIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Description';
+import MuiEmailIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Email';
+import MuiExtensionIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Extension';
+import MuiGitHubIcon from '@material-ui/icons/GitHub';
+import MuiHelpIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Help';
+import MuiLocationOnIcon from '@material-ui/icons/LocationOn';
+import MuiMemoryIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Memory';
+import MuiMenuBookIcon from '@material-ui/icons/MenuBook';
+import MuiPeopleIcon from '@material-ui/icons/People';
+import MuiPersonIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Person';
+import MuiWarningIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Warning';
+
+/** @public */
+export type AppIcons = {
+  'kind:api': IconComponent;
+  'kind:component': IconComponent;
+  'kind:domain': IconComponent;
+  'kind:group': IconComponent;
+  'kind:location': IconComponent;
+  'kind:system': IconComponent;
+  'kind:user': IconComponent;
+
+  brokenImage: IconComponent;
+  catalog: IconComponent;
+  chat: IconComponent;
+  dashboard: IconComponent;
+  docs: IconComponent;
+  email: IconComponent;
+  github: IconComponent;
+  group: IconComponent;
+  help: IconComponent;
+  user: IconComponent;
+  warning: IconComponent;
+};
+
+export const defaultAppIcons: AppIcons = {
+  brokenImage: MuiBrokenImageIcon,
+  // To be confirmed: see https://github.com/backstage/backstage/issues/4970
+  catalog: MuiMenuBookIcon,
+  chat: MuiChatIcon,
+  dashboard: MuiDashboardIcon,
+  docs: MuiDocsIcon,
+  email: MuiEmailIcon,
+  github: MuiGitHubIcon,
+  group: MuiPeopleIcon,
+  help: MuiHelpIcon,
+  'kind:api': MuiExtensionIcon,
+  'kind:component': MuiMemoryIcon,
+  'kind:domain': MuiApartmentIcon,
+  'kind:group': MuiPeopleIcon,
+  'kind:location': MuiLocationOnIcon,
+  'kind:system': MuiCategoryIcon,
+  'kind:user': MuiPersonIcon,
+  user: MuiPersonIcon,
+  warning: MuiWarningIcon,
+};
diff --git a/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/index.ts b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2a16a90bfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+export { createApp, defaultConfigLoader } from './createApp';
+export type { AppIcons } from './icons';
+export * from './types';
diff --git a/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/types.ts b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/types.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..78ef277c90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/types.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,332 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { ComponentType } from 'react';
+import {
+  AnyApiFactory,
+  AppTheme,
+  ProfileInfo,
+  IconComponent,
+  BackstagePlugin,
+  RouteRef,
+  SubRouteRef,
+  ExternalRouteRef,
+  PluginOutput,
+} from '@backstage/core-plugin-api';
+import { AppConfig } from '@backstage/config';
+import { AppIcons } from './icons';
+
+/**
+ * Props for the `BootErrorPage` component of {@link AppComponents}.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export type BootErrorPageProps = {
+  step: 'load-config' | 'load-chunk';
+  error: Error;
+};
+
+/**
+ * The outcome of signing in on the sign-in page.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export type SignInResult = {
+  /**
+   * User ID that will be returned by the IdentityApi
+   */
+  userId: string;
+
+  profile: ProfileInfo;
+
+  /**
+   * Function used to retrieve an ID token for the signed in user.
+   */
+  getIdToken?: () => Promise<string>;
+
+  /**
+   * Sign out handler that will be called if the user requests to sign out.
+   */
+  signOut?: () => Promise<void>;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Props for the `SignInPage` component of {@link AppComponents}.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export type SignInPageProps = {
+  /**
+   * Set the sign-in result for the app. This should only be called once.
+   */
+  onResult(result: SignInResult): void;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Props for the fallback error boundary.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export type ErrorBoundaryFallbackProps = {
+  plugin?: BackstagePlugin;
+  error: Error;
+  resetError: () => void;
+};
+
+/**
+ * A set of replaceable core components that are part of every Backstage app.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export type AppComponents = {
+  NotFoundErrorPage: ComponentType<{}>;
+  BootErrorPage: ComponentType<BootErrorPageProps>;
+  Progress: ComponentType<{}>;
+  Router: ComponentType<{}>;
+  ErrorBoundaryFallback: ComponentType<ErrorBoundaryFallbackProps>;
+  ThemeProvider: ComponentType<{}>;
+
+  /**
+   * An optional sign-in page that will be rendered instead of the AppRouter at startup.
+   *
+   * If a sign-in page is set, it will always be shown before the app, and it is up
+   * to the sign-in page to handle e.g. saving of login methods for subsequent visits.
+   *
+   * The sign-in page will be displayed until it has passed up a result to the parent,
+   * and which point the AppRouter and all of its children will be rendered instead.
+   */
+  SignInPage?: ComponentType<SignInPageProps>;
+};
+
+/**
+ * A function that loads in the App config that will be accessible via the ConfigApi.
+ *
+ * If multiple config objects are returned in the array, values in the earlier configs
+ * will override later ones.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export type AppConfigLoader = () => Promise<AppConfig[]>;
+
+/**
+ * Extracts a union of the keys in a map whose value extends the given type
+ */
+type KeysWithType<Obj extends { [key in string]: any }, Type> = {
+  [key in keyof Obj]: Obj[key] extends Type ? key : never;
+}[keyof Obj];
+
+/**
+ * Takes a map Map required values and makes all keys matching Keys optional
+ */
+type PartialKeys<
+  Map extends { [name in string]: any },
+  Keys extends keyof Map,
+> = Partial<Pick<Map, Keys>> & Required<Omit<Map, Keys>>;
+
+/**
+ * Creates a map of target routes with matching parameters based on a map of external routes.
+ */
+type TargetRouteMap<
+  ExternalRoutes extends { [name: string]: ExternalRouteRef },
+> = {
+  [name in keyof ExternalRoutes]: ExternalRoutes[name] extends ExternalRouteRef<
+    infer Params,
+    any
+  >
+    ? RouteRef<Params> | SubRouteRef<Params>
+    : never;
+};
+
+/**
+ * A function that can bind from external routes of a given plugin, to concrete
+ * routes of other plugins. See {@link createApp}.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export type AppRouteBinder = <
+  ExternalRoutes extends { [name: string]: ExternalRouteRef },
+>(
+  externalRoutes: ExternalRoutes,
+  targetRoutes: PartialKeys<
+    TargetRouteMap<ExternalRoutes>,
+    KeysWithType<ExternalRoutes, ExternalRouteRef<any, true>>
+  >,
+) => void;
+
+/**
+ * Internal helper type that represents a plugin with any type of output.
+ *
+ * @public
+ * @remarks
+ *
+ * The `type: string` type is there to handle output from newer or older plugin
+ * API versions that might not be supported by this version of the app API, but
+ * we don't want to break at the type checking level. We only use this more
+ * permissive type for the `createApp` options, as we otherwise want to stick
+ * to using the type for the outputs that we know about in this version of the
+ * app api.
+ *
+ * TODO(freben): This should be marked internal but that's not supported by the api report generation tools yet
+ */
+export type BackstagePluginWithAnyOutput = Omit<
+  BackstagePlugin<any, any>,
+  'output'
+> & {
+  output(): (PluginOutput | { type: string })[];
+};
+
+/**
+ * The options accepted by {@link createApp}.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export type AppOptions = {
+  /**
+   * A collection of ApiFactories to register in the application to either
+   * add add new ones, or override factories provided by default or by plugins.
+   */
+  apis?: Iterable<AnyApiFactory>;
+
+  /**
+   * Supply icons to override the default ones.
+   */
+  icons?: Partial<AppIcons> & { [key in string]: IconComponent };
+
+  /**
+   * A list of all plugins to include in the app.
+   */
+  plugins?: BackstagePluginWithAnyOutput[];
+
+  /**
+   * Supply components to the app to override the default ones.
+   */
+  components?: Partial<AppComponents>;
+
+  /**
+   * Themes provided as a part of the app. By default two themes are included, one
+   * light variant of the default backstage theme, and one dark.
+   *
+   * This is the default config:
+   *
+   * ```
+   * [{
+   *   id: 'light',
+   *   title: 'Light Theme',
+   *   variant: 'light',
+   *   icon: <LightIcon />,
+   *   Provider: ({ children }) => (
+   *     <ThemeProvider theme={lightTheme}>
+   *       <CssBaseline>{children}</CssBaseline>
+   *     </ThemeProvider>
+   *   ),
+   * }, {
+   *   id: 'dark',
+   *   title: 'Dark Theme',
+   *   variant: 'dark',
+   *   icon: <DarkIcon />,
+   *   Provider: ({ children }) => (
+   *     <ThemeProvider theme={darkTheme}>
+   *       <CssBaseline>{children}</CssBaseline>
+   *     </ThemeProvider>
+   *   ),
+   * }]
+   * ```
+   */
+  themes?: (Partial<AppTheme> & Omit<AppTheme, 'theme'>)[];
+
+  /**
+   * A function that loads in App configuration that will be accessible via
+   * the ConfigApi.
+   *
+   * Defaults to an empty config.
+   *
+   * TODO(Rugvip): Omitting this should instead default to loading in configuration
+   *  that was packaged by the backstage-cli and default docker container boot script.
+   */
+  configLoader?: AppConfigLoader;
+
+  /**
+   * A function that is used to register associations between cross-plugin route
+   * references, enabling plugins to navigate between each other.
+   *
+   * The `bind` function that is passed in should be used to bind all external
+   * routes of all used plugins.
+   *
+   * ```ts
+   * bindRoutes({ bind }) {
+   *   bind(docsPlugin.externalRoutes, {
+   *     homePage: managePlugin.routes.managePage,
+   *   })
+   *   bind(homePagePlugin.externalRoutes, {
+   *     settingsPage: settingsPlugin.routes.settingsPage,
+   *   })
+   * }
+   * ```
+   */
+  bindRoutes?(context: { bind: AppRouteBinder }): void;
+};
+
+/**
+ * The public API of the output of {@link createApp}.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export type BackstageApp = {
+  /**
+   * Returns all plugins registered for the app.
+   */
+  getPlugins(): BackstagePlugin<any, any>[];
+
+  /**
+   * Get a common or custom icon for this app.
+   */
+  getSystemIcon(key: string): IconComponent | undefined;
+
+  /**
+   * Provider component that should wrap the Router created with getRouter()
+   * and any other components that need to be within the app context.
+   */
+  getProvider(): ComponentType<{}>;
+
+  /**
+   * Router component that should wrap the App Routes create with getRoutes()
+   * and any other components that should only be available while signed in.
+   */
+  getRouter(): ComponentType<{}>;
+};
+
+/**
+ * The central context providing runtime app specific state that plugin views
+ * want to consume.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export type AppContext = {
+  /**
+   * Get a list of all plugins that are installed in the app.
+   */
+  getPlugins(): BackstagePlugin<any, any>[];
+
+  /**
+   * Get a common or custom icon for this app.
+   */
+  getSystemIcon(key: string): IconComponent | undefined;
+
+  /**
+   * Get the components registered for various purposes in the app.
+   */
+  getComponents(): AppComponents;
+};
diff --git a/packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/withDefaults.tsx b/packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/withDefaults.tsx
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/withDefaults.tsx
rename to packages/app-defaults/src/createApp/withDefaults.tsx
diff --git a/packages/app-defaults/src/index.ts b/packages/app-defaults/src/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..62ef4d9077
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-defaults/src/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Provides the default wiring of a Backstage App
+ *
+ * @packageDocumentation
+ */
+
+export * from './createApp';
diff --git a/packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/index.ts b/packages/app-defaults/src/setupTests.ts
similarity index 79%
rename from packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/index.ts
rename to packages/app-defaults/src/setupTests.ts
index 6ccc6a6257..c1d649f2ad 100644
--- a/packages/core-components/src/appDefaults/index.ts
+++ b/packages/app-defaults/src/setupTests.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2021 The Backstage Authors
+ * Copyright 2020 The Backstage Authors
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,5 +14,5 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-export { withDefaults } from './withDefaults';
-export type { OptionalAppOptions } from './withDefaults';
+import '@testing-library/jest-dom';
+import 'cross-fetch/polyfill';
diff --git a/packages/core-components/src/index.ts b/packages/core-components/src/index.ts
index ea1fea9d5c..3c5e708360 100644
--- a/packages/core-components/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core-components/src/index.ts
@@ -25,4 +25,3 @@ export * from './hooks';
 export * from './icons';
 export * from './layout';
 export * from './overridableComponents';
-export * from './appDefaults';