3. Why is PCF Iron Man?
Iron Man
Complex engineering to build
Attention, ingenuity and skills
required to fly it
PCF
Complex for traditional Dynamics
365 devs - Built of top of nodejs and
TypeScript
Need to focus and learn, in lot of
areas – CPDD leads to insanity
I am Iron Man. The suit and I are one – Tony Stark
4. Strengths
Iron Man
Ammo
Jarvis
Composites
Modular assembly
Tony Stark
PowerApps component Framework
TypeScript
PowerApps CLI - Templating
Build once, use in both Unified
Interface and Canvas Apps*
Node + React + Office Fabric UI ❤
MSFT already uses PCF in OOB
controls
5. Why is Canvas Apps Hawkeye?
Hawkeye
Simplicity - Aim and shoot
Bows and arrows
One of the founding members of
Avengers
Canvas Apps
Drag and drop
make.powerapps.com is all you need
• Project Siena – The precursor to
PowerApps canvas apps was
released in 2014
6. Strengths
Hawkeye
Agility
Trick arrows
Limited skills – extremely good in
those skills
Canvas Apps
Rapid development using drag-drop
Connectors + Flow
WYSIWYG designer tool – learn & adopt
Extremely active community in multiple
channels
7. PCF vs Canvas Apps
TARGET AUDIENCE
Pro Developer – closer to the metal.
Requires knowledge of TypeScript, Node, JavaScript
and Webpack.
Citizen Developer – Low code/No Code approach
to app building
PURPOSE
Build reusable components, that can be used both
in model driven apps and canvas apps*
Rapidly build apps to bridge system functionality
gap and solve business problems
8. PCF vs Canvas Apps
STRONGEST FEATURE
Complete control over how data can be
represented or utilised in the form or view
Drag and drop+formula approach to app building
WEAKNESSES
No support for unbounded controls yet
Only 1 embedded canvas app can be added to the
form
Minimal debugging support – limited error detail
As the name suggests, a component is
always embedded within an app. So, PCF cannot be
used to build standalone apps
9. Feature Matrix
Feature PCF Canvas Apps
Can be packaged up into solutions ✅ ✅
Components support ✅ ✅
Standalone apps ❌ ✅
DataSet binding vs Field binding ✅ ❌
Component only ✅ ❌
Versioning (rollback) ❌ ✅
Licensing ✅ 🤔
10. Demo
Spoiler : There is no Hawkeye without Iron Man
Design tools for PCF and Canvas App
Using PCF and Canvas Apps to display a list of records in Dynamics CE
Using PCF to render a field
Iron Man and Iron Man armour used interchangeably, because what is the fun in delving into the traits of Tony Stark.
CPDD – Copy Paste Driven Development
Iron man and Iron Man armour used interchangeably
Expert tactician, acrobat and hand-to-hand combatant
Trick arrows are shot with bows and arrows but can possess a specialized function (technological or magical) such as compact explosive charges or rotary drills