Collaborative Development in PowerApps Canvas Apps with multiple developers

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Collaborative Development in PowerApps Canvas Apps 

 

As we know one of the major limitations of PowerApps (Canvas mode) is it does not allow multiple developer can work at the same time on the same app, but this SaaS (Software as a Service) based app continuedly supplies new features and releases every year in April and October. 


In the earlier 2021 release PowerApps technical team supplied Git Version control support in Experimental phase, in this article we will going to see how to use this Git Version control feature on Azure Repos and Git Hub both and will see on a same app how developers can work simultaneously. 


Note : 💥Do not try this feature if you already have app goes in Production, as this is experimental Phase.💥 


As we are going to cover both Azure Repos and Git Hub so will first create a repository in Azure Repos and GitHub and generate the access token (GIT Hub) and in Azure Repos will generate the credentials 


  1. 1. Create Repository in Azure Repos 


Login to Https://dev.azure.com and then go to Azure Repos (here you can create a new repository), copy repository path and save it securely in notepad this will need later, now click on Generate Git Credentials. Save repository path and credentials securely in notepad, will need this later in PowerApps for Git version control configuration.  

   

 

 

 

 

  1. 2. Create Repository in GitHub 


Login to https://github.com and save the repository path 


 

 

Now go to top corner and click on your profile icon/photo and go to setting once setting page will open then go all the way down and click on developer setting  


 

After clicking on developer setting, it will redirect to GitHub App Page, from here will generate the access token 


 

 

 

 

 

Click on Personal Access Toke and then click on “Generate New Token”, in the Note add few words 

What is this token for, then choose end of token duration as per need and make sure under scope check the Repos option and scroll down there is button “Generate Token” click on it and save token securely in Notepad. 


   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to enable Git version control settings in PowerApps?  


To Enable Git Version control setting you need to login Https://make.powerapps.com then under File option go to settings, upcoming feature select Experimental tab and scroll down or simple search Git, you will see this feature and turn on this feature  


  


Once you turn on then click on Connect 


  

 

Now provide the Azure Repository path, branch name and directory name (give any name to directory) and click on Apply  


 


Here you need to add repository Username and, in the Password, paste the Azure Credentials that we saved (ref step no 1) and then it will connect PowerApps with Azure Repository.  


  

 


All related configuration setting is done, now share PowerApps with your co-developers who want to simultaneously work on the same application and Check “Co-Owner” Permission.   


 

 

 

Now other user when he/she try to login into same PowerApps application then it will prompt you to enter Username (PowerApps username would work here) and password (Password would be Access token if you are using GITHUB and Azure Repos its Git credentials) needs to be entered and pretty much that’s it you are ready to go can multiple developer works on same app.  

 

 

 

 Once all setting has been done then in PowerApps ribbon you will see new Icon (commit) got added. 

  • Here in below screenshot, I simultaneously logged in on Same App but with two different users 
  •  If you closely see on left hand screen in Navigation, I had added a new red color button and on right hand's side app it's not there. 
  • Once you save changes and click on Commit Icon it will push changes into repository. 

   

  

  • Now on right hand screen if you click on the Commit button then all changes that were saved previously with other user that will start reflects  

 

 

 

-The End- 

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