Are Code Apps the Next Big Thing in Power Platform? Reflections From D365PPUG Manchester

Dynamics 365 Power Platform User Group (D365PPUG) is a community led group that brings developers, consultants and makers together to share knowledge, demonstrate new technologies and discuss best practices.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend the D365PPUG’s all-day event in Robiquity’s hometown of Manchester, joining other Power Platform professionals for a day of talks, discussions and plenty of insight into where the platform is heading.

A day of Code Apps but also being human

The overall theme of the event was undoubtedly Code Apps, with Microsoft speakers and the wider community showcasing how Code Apps have the capability to shape the future of Power Platform development. However, there was another theme throughout the day that I found just as important: the human side of being a developer in the age of AI.

The session “Copilot Can Write the Code. It Can't Build Your Reputation.” emphasised the need to put yourself out there. Developing high-quality solutions is all well and good, but if you don’t have the human skills to shout loud and proud about said solutions the benefit can be lost. As the well-known saying goes, if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it…

Meanwhile, the session “Psychological Safety: The Delivery Risk You Can’t Afford to Ignore.” reminded us that it’s every individual’s job to help shape our work culture, to be open about mental health issues and build trust.

With AI increasingly becoming part of our everyday development workflows, it was a timely reminder that, despite how quickly technology is evolving, we are still human and technological burnout is very real, particularly in an industry that is constantly changing and where there can be pressure to keep up. Looking after our mental health shouldn't be an afterthought - it's an important part of being able to do our jobs well in the long term.

Code Apps: beyond the canvas

Of course, the other major theme of the day was Code Apps.

For a long time, Canvas Apps have been one of the go-to options for building custom applications within Power Platform. They are the tried and tested low-code solution, reaching their 10^th birthday of general availability this October. However, as solutions become more ambitious and complex, there are scenarios where Canvas Apps can reach their limits.

This is where Code Apps become particularly interesting. Code Apps allow developers to bring the flexibility of traditional web development into the Power Platform ecosystem. Instead of being limited by the capabilities of a low-code framework, developers can use established web development technologies to build more complex experiences.

What makes this particularly interesting is these applications can sit within an organisation’s existing Power Platform governance. Rather than having to completely step outside of the platform to build a more complex application, organisations can combine the flexibility of pro-code with the established governance, security and wider ecosystem they already have in place.

And then there's the AI side. With Code Apps developers can bring an element of vibe coding. A coding assistant to help write code, making it easier to get started, experiment and build functionality without having to manually write everything from scratch exists within the Code Apps maker. One of the best demonstrations of this came from a session where DOOM (the 1993 video game) was built and run as a Code App, playing on the popular memes of getting DOOM to run on literally anything and everything. It hammered home the point incredibly well. Building something like DOOM would be incredibly difficult, if not, practically impossible to achieve within the realms of a Canvas App. Seeing it running as a Code App was a great example of just how much more flexibility developers have when they're not constrained by the traditional Canvas App model.

So, are Code Apps the new Canvas Apps?

I don't think so. Instead, I see Code Apps becoming another important tool in the Power Platform developer's toolbox.

Canvas Apps are still incredibly useful for the right requirements. They provide a low-code approach that allows developers to build applications quickly without needing to rely on traditional software development skills.

Code Apps simply cover a different point on the complexity spectrum. As organisations look to build increasingly sophisticated solutions, there will inevitably be requirements that don't fit comfortably within the Canvas App model. Code Apps give developers another option for those scenarios.

Rather than asking “Will Code Apps deprecate the need for Canvas Apps?”, the more useful question will be “which approach is right for this solution?”.

More than technology

D365PPUG Manchester and the sessions I attended were a strong reminder that, while the event centred around a core suite of technologies, the community behind it makes it about much more than technology. While AI and tools such as Copilot are changing the way we develop software, the human skills behind development aren't going anywhere. That being said, Code Apps look set to open some exciting possibilities for Power Platform.

If your organisation is exploring the right technology and approach for its challenges, get in touch - we’d love to chat!