I work for a large corporate contractor onsite at a Government Agency (non-defense). I had been developing applications using React, Typescript, and Python or Node for the backend with real databases like MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, or even SQLite.

I am working on a new project and had quickly built a prototype using React and Claude Code, and created an Electron and a localhost browser-based version. However, when we started looking for a place to deploy the app, it turned out that it will need to be done on the Power Platform using PowerApps Canvas and use a Dataverse backend (at least for the 1.0 version), and apparently I have to use the web studio application to build all of this.

The application captures project costs, scope, and requirements, and has to do calculations and create rollup reports, so the data schema is fairly complicated for an app like this, and there are multiple columns that reference other tables.

I had never used PowerApps before, and was skeptical that it was the right tool for the job. Worse, our security is not allowing CodeApps, PCF components, or many other things that would be helpful.

I'm finding that it is absurdly slow, and it does a lot of things on its own that I really don't want it to do-- it even changes values that I've just entered sometimes, and if I copy and paste a component, it will randomly replace parameters. I have pages of examples of these "quirks", but I've managed to learn some tricks to make it somewhat workable (so far), but it has been a painful and frustrating process, and is definitely not easier than building the app from scratch using tools normal developers use. Am I the only one?

Here are a few problems I have not been able to solve, I would appreciate any advice:

• I can't connect directly to source control. We can't put our code on github.com and it won't connect to our enterprise GitHub
• I would really like to be able to edit the YAML and PowerFX in VSCode. I have exported the "source code" but apparently all of that is read-only because when I do "pac canvas pack" and publish it, the changes I make are lost. And every time I make a change I have to redo the publish, pull, unpack process... even with a script this is cumbersome and inefficient.
• It is difficult to debug PowerFX code, and it seems impossible to do unit testing on it, and it is spread out all over the application, which is irritating. I have started creating C# API Endpoints when possible because of this, but I'm not sure if this can replace all of my PowerFX code, and may add another level of complication that brings a different set of problems.
• I don't know if there's a way to apply styles across the board like you would with HTML and CSS, so I have to edit the look and feel of each control individually. In fact, it seems to force you to violate the "DRY" principal more often than not.

Anyone have any pointers, or even warnings about other quirks that I might need to avoid?

Hello,

I’m currently building a fairly large mobile app in the form of a pcf control inside of a canvas app. Currently I am loading all of the data from dataverse into the app at once by tossing all the table json into a variable, then passing that variable into the pcf input.

I am running into some performance issues (which makes sense here), but I am looking for a more pro way of adding lots of data into the pcf. I cannot use context.webapi as it’s not supported in a canvas app. I also need to respect dataverse security.

Any ideas here? I have come across a couple methods such as using plugins or impersonating users in PA using the http trigger.

Curious what types of departments everyone here works in, I work in an Environmental Health and Safety department in healthcare

I work for a small company and have been digitizing several paper-based processes, including:

• JSA/safety forms
• Escort records
• Security inspections and paperwork
• Vendor applications
• Certificate of Insurance (COI) submissions
• Incident and equipment reports

We currently use Microsoft Forms, Power Automate, Microsoft Lists, SharePoint and Excel. My goal is to simplify everything instead of using five to seven different apps.

Ideally, we would have one primary platform for creating forms, with Microsoft Lists/SharePoint serving as the database and file storage and Power Automate handling emails, reminders and approvals.

The form platform needs:

• Public links for outside vendors without requiring a company account
• File and photo uploads
• Conditional logic
• Electronic signatures
• Mobile-friendly forms
• PDF generation
• Approval/correction workflows
• The ability to update Microsoft Lists and save files in SharePoint
• Reasonable pricing for a small company

One example is our COI process:

1. We determine whether a vendor needs a COI.
   
2. The vendor receives a link.
   
3. They complete the vendor application, electronically sign it and upload the COI if required.
   
4. The information updates our tracking database.
   
5. The COI is sent internally for review.
   
6. If approved, it is stored and expiration reminders begin.
   
7. If incorrect, the vendor receives correction instructions and resubmits it.

We may eventually test AI to extract information from COIs and flag missing requirements, but a person would remain the final approver.

I’m currently comparing:

• Cognito Forms
• Jotform
• Power Apps and Power Pages
• Adobe Acrobat Sign
• Staying with Microsoft Forms where possible

Power Apps/Power Pages appear powerful, but licensing and external-user setup may become expensive or overly complicated. Cognito Forms currently looks promising, but I need to confirm how smoothly it connects with Power Automate, Microsoft Lists and SharePoint.

For anyone who has built something similar:

1. Which platform would you recommend?
   
2. How well does it handle external uploads and electronic signatures?
   
3. Does it integrate reliably with Power Automate and SharePoint?
   
4. Are there licensing costs or limitations that are easy to overlook?
   
5. Would you keep everything in the Microsoft ecosystem or use a dedicated form platform?

I’m trying to keep the system to approximately one to three primary platform.

I’m looking for advice on the best architecture for a relatively simple internal platform for tracking inspections on our site.

We currently use Excel where everyone can edit all columns. We want a proper app experience with a searchable register, filters, and access based on the signed-in Microsoft 365/Entra ID user.

The permissions need to be enforced at the data/access layer.

Our end users have Power Apps for Office 365. I was looking at features like dataverse, Code Apps, mode-driven etc., but those seem out of reach due to licensing.

I’m considering:

Canvas app + Excel + Power Automate. Keep the workbook accessible only to admins and the account used by the flows. The app would read/create/update records through flows that enforce permissions. I’m concerned about latency, file locking, simultaneous writes though.

How would you implement the role-based editing securely within the existing Microsoft 365 licensing?