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Building reusable component libraries is essential for efficient and scalable development in the Microsoft Power Platform. By harnessing the power of reusable components, Power Platform developers can streamline their workflows, save time, and ensure consistency across applications. In this article, we will explore the concept of reusable component libraries and discuss the best practices for creating and managing them.
A reusable component library is a collection of pre-built components that can be easily integrated into various Power Platform applications. These components can range from simple controls like buttons and text boxes to complex modules or connectors. By using reusable components, developers can avoid duplicating code and effort, promote code consistency, and accelerate the development process.
When creating reusable components, it is crucial to follow certain best practices to ensure their effectiveness and maintainability. Here are some guidelines to consider:
Microsoft Power Platform provides several tools and frameworks to assist developers in building reusable component libraries. The Power Apps Component Framework (PCF) enables developers to create custom components that can be used across Canvas Apps, Model-driven Apps, and Dataverse. PCF components are built using modern web technologies like TypeScript, HTML, and CSS, making them highly configurable and interactive.
The Power Platform also offers a marketplace called AppSource, where developers can publish and share their component libraries with the wider community. Leveraging AppSource allows developers to reach a broader audience and contribute to the growth of the Power Platform ecosystem.
Building reusable component libraries is a crucial practice for Power Platform developers looking to improve productivity, maintain consistency, and promote collaboration. By following best practices, leveraging tools like the Power Apps Component Framework, and actively engaging with the developer community, developers can create and manage efficient and scalable component libraries that enhance the Power Platform development experience.
a) To enable agile development by reusing code
b) To speed up the development process
c) To maintain consistent user experience across multiple applications
d) All of the above
Correct answer: d) All of the above
a) Plug-ins
b) Custom entities
c) Canvas apps
d) Power Automate flows
Correct answer: c) Canvas apps
a) Export the component as a managed solution
b) Publish the component to Microsoft AppSource
c) Share the component as a package file
d) All of the above
Correct answer: d) All of the above
a) Yes, by exporting and re-importing the component
b) No, once published, a component cannot be updated
c) Yes, by editing the component directly in Microsoft AppSource
d) No, only new components can be created
Correct answer: a) Yes, by exporting and re-importing the component
a) Manual tracking of dependencies
b) Automatic tracking of dependencies
c) Both manual and automatic tracking of dependencies
d) There is no dependency tracking for reusable components
Correct answer: c) Both manual and automatic tracking of dependencies
a) Yes, as long as the environments have the same security settings
b) No, each environment requires a separate component
c) Yes, by exporting and importing the component between environments
d) No, reusable components are restricted to the environment they were created in
Correct answer: c) Yes, by exporting and importing the component between environments
a) Conduct thorough testing before publishing the component
b) Document the component’s functionality and limitations
c) Follow best practices and guidelines provided by Microsoft
d) All of the above
Correct answer: d) All of the above
a) Yes, using formulas and expressions
b) No, reusable components are limited to user interface elements only
c) Yes, by embedding custom code within the component
d) No, all business logic should be implemented in separate components
Correct answer: a) Yes, using formulas and expressions
a) Azure Active Directory (AAD) authentication
b) Custom authentication provider
c) Both AAD authentication and custom authentication provider
d) Reusable components do not require authentication
Correct answer: c) Both AAD authentication and custom authentication provider
a) Yes, users can customize the component’s properties and behavior
b) No, reusable components are locked for customization to maintain consistency
c) Yes, users can only customize the component’s layout and styling
d) No, customization options are limited to component developers
Correct answer: a) Yes, users can customize the component’s properties and behavior
36 Replies to “Build reusable component libraries”
We struggle with dependency management in our component libraries. Any advice?
Try using dependency injection; it makes it easier to manage and scale dependencies.
We use NPM for managing dependencies and it works great for us.
Appreciate the detailed write-up on reusable components!
Thanks for this information. It really clarified a lot of doubts.
Terrific job on this blog post!
Is there a way to share reusable components across different environments easily?
Managed solutions are the way to go. They help in distributing components across environments more efficiently.
You can also use package deployer to automate this process.
What role does Dataverse play in reusable component libraries?
Using Dataverse, you can also leverage security roles and sharing capabilities for your components.
Dataverse can act as a backbone for storing and managing your reusable components.
I noticed some performance issues with our reusable components. Any tips?
Also, check if you are using large libraries unnecessarily; smaller, focused libraries can improve performance.
Profiling tools are your best friend here. Identify bottlenecks and optimize accordingly.
Does anyone have experience with deploying reusable components in a CI/CD pipeline?
Yes, I’ve done that. You can use Azure DevOps for automating the deployment of reusable components.
We use GitHub Actions for a similar purpose, but Azure DevOps has more integration capabilities with Power Platform.
Great article, it really helped me understand the basics!
What’s the best way to test reusable components?
Unit testing is a must. Use tools like Jest for JavaScript libraries in Power Platform.
Integration tests are equally important to ensure your components work well within the entire application.
How do reusable component libraries fit into the ALM process in Power Platform?
They are crucial. Reusable components should be part of your solution and solution lifecycle.
Integrating them into your ALM process ensures that they are tested and deployed consistently.
How do you handle versioning in reusable component libraries?
We use versioning in our CI/CD pipeline to automate the process. Every build increments the version number.
Semver is the way to go. It makes it easier to manage updates and changes.
Building reusable components is essential for maintaining a clean codebase in Power Platform projects.
Absolutely! It also saves a lot of time during development and maintenance.
Not to mention it helps in achieving consistency across different applications.
Interesting topic but the article missed out on some advanced practices like security hardening.
Good point. Security is often overlooked but critical in reusable components.
Can anyone share a sample repository of a reusable component library?
Check out Microsoft’s official GitHub, they have some great examples.
You can also look into the PnP repositories for Power Platform for some sample libraries.