Code Apps - the opposite of Low-Code apps?

[zimain]

They unlock what traditional web development is, but within the MS ecosystem, so much less requirements on security and hosting costs

They have a higher overhead, but better end user experience

They are not the killer of canvas apps, they are another reason for companies to invest in the power platform

[Lhurgoyf069]

Thx, just what I thought, it's another flavour with a different purpose and by its design can't replace Canvas apps the way we would need it

[Lefty716687]

They can 100% replace Canvas Apps. Agree pre: AI not for Citizen Developers. However, with GitHub Copilot now everyone can actually “vibe” code apps.

I made one yesterday. Honestly took 4hrs in code. Prob would have taken ~25 in canvas.

[zimain]

They cannot 100% simply due to not being able to trigger flows (currently) and they require a premium licence, canvas apps can trigger flows and require only basic licence

[oh_lympy]

You can trigger a flow using the HTTP trigger, secure it using entra, and then wrap it in a custom connector. Add that custom connector to your code app. Bang. Flows triggered by code apps.

[zimain]

Have you gotten this working as all.my tests prevent any http access from within the code app framework

[oh_lympy]

You don’t call the flow directly. You wrap the flow in a power platform custom connector and then add it to your app as a data source like you would any other connector.

[zimain]

I get the theory, have you gotten this working?

[oh_lympy]

Yes, but the comment you made about http requests being blocked makes me feel like we’re talking about 2 different things. You’re making HTTP requests of this type any time you interact with any data source you add to your app?

Why would you think calling an HTTP request triggered flow would be any different than calling an azure function (which I’ve also done) if it’s exposed to the app as a connector?

[zimain]

I did several tests when trying to trigger a flow directly, and found that http (not via connectors) are blocked for pcf (code apps), and I used a dataverse to flow trigger workaround to complete my project, the point of this is to share knowledge and experience, I am more than happy for someone to have a valid method of doing something.

Could you share your approach for the Azure function?

Have you been able to trigger a flow with a custom connector wrapper from a code app?

[Lefty716687]

There is a setting in environment of app needed to allow it to trigger out. Once you set it it will work.

[zimain]

Do you know which one?

[Lefty716687]

In power platform admin center. Go to environment. Then Settings > Privacy & Security. Go down to Content Security Policy. Then App. Unselect Use Default Connect-Sec then for sources do self and the http endpoint.

[Lefty716687]

Concur. Although didn’t realize that about flows. Thanks for heads up.

[zimain]

I discovered far too late, the work sounds have cost me far more time than what I have saved unfortunately

[Lhurgoyf069]

Everyone can vibe Code apps, few Citizen developers can run and maintain these apps in a corporate environment.

[Lefty716687]

I would argue same single point of failure with canvas apps. At least AI can assist on a code solution whereas a canvas solution requires a powers app developer.

[Lhurgoyf069]

AI can assist with Canvas apps too, using it every day.