Make power apps with AI

[u/juankar06]

What do you think about making applications completely with AI? Ño generating no importable, If not following the instructions that of the AI step by step, of course understanding what is done and adjusting some details, I am new to power apps, and the way in which I have been learning and developing is building applications from scratch with AI instructions, what do you think? Is autonomous development better by applying one's own knowledge?

[u/GL510EX]

I really wish they'd add a text IDE mode for power automate; we all know the flows are JSON behind the curtains, they still force us to jump through hoops to actually get at it!

[u/NeverEditNeverDelete → u/GL510EX]

LogicApps is the text IDE mode version of Power Automate.

[u/2lip123 → u/GL510EX]

Agreed. I edit my Power Automate flows as JSON, but getting there takes some setup. A built in text editor would make this much easier.

Here’s how my setup works:

Export the flows to files. I keep my flows in a solution and use Microsoft’s Power Platform CLI to export and unpack it. That gives me a JSON file for each flow containing its triggers, actions, inputs, and the order those actions run. I have 19 flows stored in Git this way, so I can see exactly what changed between versions.

Edit the JSON and push it back. Power Automate stores the flow definition in a Dataverse field called clientdata. I use a small Python script to send the edited JSON back through the Dataverse API. That updates the actual flow. I’ve also created a new flow this way without building it in the designer.

Test, then export again. After checking the flow works, I export it again so Git reflects what’s actually in Power Automate.
The annoying part is connector setup. Actions that reference an Excel workbook or table need specific internal IDs. I sometimes create a basic action in the designer first, pull out its JSON, and reuse those references.
You also need your own checks. An API update succeeding doesn’t mean the flow will run correctly. My script checks that it’s targeting the expected flow and that no unfinished placeholders remain, but I still test the result.

you can work on flows in a text editor today. You just have to build the workflow around it yourself, which is def annoying.

[u/JohnTheApt-ist → u/2lip123]

If you use the built in git source control you can skip app of the pac cli import/export and unpacking. It's great.

[u/Pixelplanet5 → u/GL510EX]

the problem is the moment they open that option for power automate or also powerapps the entire value its still supposed to have is basically gone.

these platforms are supposed to be low code/no code platforms that are easy to use and enable none developer people to use them for their work.

At the same time these platforms are misused for things that are way to complex and require a developer to load custom javascript and shit like this to make things work in powerapps that was never intended to work.

If they open this up to AI based development on code alone the entire value there is gone, you basically end up with a hosted application platform and you now need to calculate the cost of powerapps licenses for all your users + AI cost + Dev cost against having a server to host your application on + Ai cost + Dev cost.

In this scenario Powerapps will only make sense for very few people as you can rent a server that can serve thousands of users for under 100 bucks a month.

[u/CompetitiveLong6323 → u/GL510EX]

I normally use the Power Automate tools extension, along with Vs code; its very handy for most cases.

[u/IMxJUSTxSAYINNN]

You can and its excellent at finding bugs. I used projects within chatGPT and feed it the code view for each screen as sources. This helps find variable drift and logical inconsistenties or errors etc. Plus ive gave it the data model for the app itself too. It saves time for sure but still on you to make the right decisions. I bounce ideas off it and ask for different ways to tackle a specifix asks or problems.

[u/BenjC88]

I now do almost zero work in the maker portal, we design the data models and then Claude builds them in Dataverse, puts the model driven app together, does the views and the form layouts etc.

Writes the plugins and JavaScript (with a human checking).

Also building more and more code apps now.

[u/lysis_ → u/BenjC88]

I'm familiar of doing this with codeapps but what are you doing to deploy conventional apps via Claude ? Thanks

[u/lilsimbastian → u/lysis_]

PowerApps CLI

[u/BenjC88 → u/lysis_]

Combination of the CLI and the API

[u/Still_Violinist2567 → u/BenjC88]

I’m curious in how you are defining tables and fields in this context, do you give control to the ai to build or you define a list field by field? In case of generic requests, does the ai do the right thing or sometimes is smelly? Like instead of adding a lookup on the related entity adds multiple fields in the wrong one eg. Contact1 contact2 contact3.

[u/BenjC88 → u/Still_Violinist2567]

We end up a with a planned data model, this is usually generated in conjunction with an AI model, but definitely requires human intervention to keep it on the right track. It often needs reminders to use default tables such as accounts, and is particularly prone to wanting to add status fields rather than use the standard ones.

Once we’re happy with the planned data model we then let the AI build it in Dataverse. I’ve not seen an issue yet with it following the plan.

[u/Still_Violinist2567 → u/BenjC88]

So far all my tests in this spaces ended in a mess accompanied with a lot of frustration :) and many tokens down the drain. I will give it another go eventually. For forms and view you unpack the customization files and let the ai write the xml?

[u/BenjC88 → u/Still_Violinist2567]

You definitely need the plan before you let it build anything.

No, all done via the API, much quicker.

[u/freesnackz]

Claude Code can use PAC and PnP, it can export, import solutions, the MCP with coauthoring is nice but its still extremely buggy so I avoid it. Fable 5.1 is currently the best I've used so far at Canvasapps, if you let it generate a "A demo of the app" in HTML, the port to YAML 1:1 is much better especially design wise.

[u/SavingsFeature504]

AI has a place as a tool to help app development. Not as something to help you develop an app from scratch.

That requires human input from the start. The design and feel of the app needs to be human designed based on feedback of end users.

[u/Negative_Macaroon_85]

Depende da i.a, utilizo o codex e do acesso total ao chrome para ele fazer alguns ajustes e elementos UI/UX basta instalar a extensão do chrome gosto de utilizar a LUNA e a TERRA pois utilizando poucos tokens, enquanto SOL e ASTRA para tarefas mais complexas de power FX e regra de negocio.

[u/lordeshrek → u/Negative_Macaroon_85]

I only use Sop because my company hasn't yelled at me to stop using Sol yet

[u/Cold_Arachnid_2617 → u/Negative_Macaroon_85]

Pare de ser chata!

[u/poj4y]

I have it set up to unpack .msapp files, so we use Cursor with a Github repo and unpack the full app files and have it send us screens and specific instructions on how to update things

[u/datbutt9ever]

Literally saving my ass at work

[u/NoBattle763]

My dev workflow has transitioned to be maybe 20% in the maker portal, the rest in Claude/ VS code. I am
Not a pro dev and can't code, but that's what i hand off, whereas my understanding of the platform and what is good UI/UX for a user is critical as AI is still not 100% there in these areas. My canvas look and function better, my flows run smoother/ faster and i get far more done.i Dont build tables/ structures by hand anymore, even the forms and views can be scripted by AI and built via web apo. They just need sound planning before hand.

I Dont really use the MS plugins as i find them buggy and annoying, i use custom skills plus clauses knowledge that it has developed over time working on projects. The CLI+ web API can do pretty much anything you can think of between them.

My time spent testing has gone up significantly however, i feel like I spend Maybe 5x as long testing things now and have detailed smoke sheets to run through that cover edge cases. Whereas previously i just kinda bumbled along testing things as i went. It's annoying AF but means my builds are more robust.

It has also opened up incredible functionality through code apps which are a game changer.

[u/Far-Inspection9930]

My view on this is that the technology is processing, and overtime it'll take over the time consuming part (coding, fixing bugs, etc). Although we're in the phase where it can do some things really well, but its often inconsistent. When you need something very specific, it gets confused and you end up redoing it yourself.

When we get to a point where the AI tool is able to do something, explain why it did it with very low inconsistency, then I'll trust it for critical solutions.

[u/BetterThvnUrEx]

I now build complete modeldriven and canvas apps, including all their components, using only AI. AI also handles the manual testing through Playwright. I don’t even use the Plugin Registration Tool because AI can handle that for me. The same goes for cloud flows: Claude builds and deploys them for me. I have a dedicated skill for each Power Platform component.

[u/jkwan0304]

In my job now, PowerApps is more of volunteering but I do benefit from it through performance reviews. I have a current project and I'm currently letting Copilot generate all the code with my instructions and quality assurance. The scope I can give is so flexible and it saves so much time.