How we should perceive modern No Code Approach? How No Code approach differs from Code-based approach in software development. Is it silver bullet in creating business solutions?

2. Антон
Вітязь
Head of Microsoft Dynamics &
Power Apps Practice, Infopulse
Ukraine
No code, low code чи
code?

3. No Code / Low Code Platform
Microsoft Power Apps World

4. 4
4
Microsoft Power Platform 360
Power Apps in the Microsoft Business Solutions Ecosystem
• Building Apps with Power Apps
• Data analysis and reporting in Power BI
• Power Automate automation
• Chatbots Virtual Agents
• Dynamics 365 Business Solutions
• Office 365: Outlook, Exchange, Teams, SharePoint,
Planner
• Integration with ERP systems - Microsoft, SAP
• Azure - cloud infrastructure, integration, virtualization,
storage and data processing

5. 5
5
Microsoft Power Apps - Low Code Application
Platform leader
Gartner Magic Quadrant
• Minimal or No Code
• First PoC / MVP comes VERY FAST
• Easy to build applications
• Fast and easy to design and deploy
• Using constructors and editors/forms
• Data types are prepared in advance
• Role-based access to data
• Excel-like formulas are allowed

6. 6
6
Microsoft Power Apps
• Application building platform
• Simplicity Low Code / No Code
• Own CDS / Dataverse database or connection to
other Databases
• Ready business interface Model Driven
• Mobile interface Canvas
• Business processes
• Business rules
• Business logic (plugins)
 Canvas Apps (Web, Mobile, Embedded)
 Model Driven Apps
 Portal

7. 7
7
Draw your UI : from Canvas to Model
Driven
• Screen size and orientation
• Advanced Settings
• Ready color themes
• Collections
• Forms
• Multimedia
• Charts and Diagrams
• Icons
Be aware of: Model Driven UI require Dataverse, Dataverse
requires Power Apps license. Easiest way not always got the
most “likes” from your employee.
You can select free draw Canvas UI or strict Model
Driven Approach – be free or be efficient.
• Standard layout
• Standard UX
• Most easiest and fast way
• Advanced views and forms
• Advanced charts and
Diagrams

8. No Code / Low Code or Code
In a Microsoft Power Apps World

9. Do you have simple
answer?

10. IT DEPENDS
… on many factors

11. Depends on
what ….
• Project Time / Costs
• Architecture Landscape
• Licensing
• Integration
• App Logic
• App Security
• UI Logic
• UI Complexity
• Ambitions
• Level of Idiotism

12. 12
12
Architecture bricks
Non-functional requirements, clear user count, current licensing, complexity of
application parts and technology capabilities
Users: focused
group / wide group
/ all employee /
external
5 users case 50 users
500 users and all
M365
5000+ users
without full
license
Technology colors
Backend logic:
Flow, Rules and
Code
Fronted: Web UI,
Mobile UI, Teams
based,
SharePoint based
Frontend parts:
PCF, custom code
Integration with
Cloud and On
Premise
Usage nuances
Online / Offline
mode
Number of
records and data

13. 13
UI Technologies : Pros and Cons
Pros Cons Notes
Canvas - Wide design options
- Built-in technology for Office 365
products
- Predefined aspect ratio for
device
- Limited in some visual effects
Good for small application with
limited visual functionality
Model-Driven - Responsive design
- Out of the box drag-and-drop
designer
- Built-in filtering and searching
engine
- No visual interaction with user
- Only position changing of
elements is available
Excellent drill down/up technology
Custom Components - Unlimited in design variety
- Restrictions depends on
technology
- Complexity of the development
- Complexity of maintaining
The last point when standard does
not reach your demands

14. 14
Security Options
Dataverse
Security
• System Roles
• Hierarchy security
• Teams security
SharePoint
Security
• Site Groups
• Record Level
Security
Azure Security
• Group-based
• Azure rules and
policies
UI Semi-
Security
• Visualization
approach
• Control-level
security

15. 15
15
Security Trade-offs
Security decision HIGHLY impact on Time, Costs and Features
• Advanced start
with full license
• Simplified basic
site security
Readiness: Powerful & Flexible vs Very Basic
Licenses: Power Apps license vs Free
Efforts: Customize vs Develop / Ignore

16. 16
16
App Logic : all colors
Power
Automate
Business
Rules
Logic
Apps
Hooks
Azure
Functions
Front end
– Custom
Code
Plugins
Front end
- PCF

17. 17
17
App Logic Options
• Power Automate for
repeated actions
• Plug-ins for complex
under the hood stuff
• PCF for visual complex
interactions
• Azure Functions/Logic
App for integrations
Code/No code Billing model Performance
Power Automate No code License Depends on License
Business Rules No code License No limits
Logic Apps No code Consumption pricing Base on Consumption
Hooks Code License No limits
Azure Functions No code Consumption pricing Base on Consumption
Front end – Custom Code Code License No limits
Plugins Code License 2 min limit execution
Front end - PCF Code - No limits

18. 18
18
How complex this could be?
There are multiple complexity levels and dimensions – everything depends
on expectation and requirements
Design Complexity
• Simple Canvas App
• Dataverse App
• Advanced Canvas App
Business Logic
Complexity
• Decision rules
• UI Rules (fields, forms)
• Security rules
UI Complexity
• Basic Model-Driven
layout
• Basic Canvas App
• Advanced Canvas UI
• Custom Model-Driven
logic
• PCF
Suggestions
• Start As Simple As
Possible
• Less logic
• Less constraint
• More trust

19. Templates

20. Canvas
Office 365
Standard connector
OR
Power App + Office

21. Canvas App – Legacy / on-premise ERP
Canvas
Custom
connector

22. Model Driven – DataVerse / CDS (Data)
Model Driven

23. Plan and understand journey

24. Mode #1 No Code
Mood In a nutshell
• Model Driven
• Canvas very basic
• Very simple Power Automate

25. Mode #2 Scripting
Mood In a nutshell
• Canvas Scripts
• Power Automate
• Logic Apps + APIM

26. Mode #3 Low Code
Mood In a nutshell
• Canvas Scripts
• Power Automate & Logic Apps
• Front-end: Very basic TS/JS
• Plugins: few, very simple

27. Mode #4 Code
Mood In a nutshell
• Advanced Canvas
• Plugin: many plugins, pipeline
• Frontend: advanced TS/JS
• Azure: basic functions

28. Mode #5 Nightmare
Mood In a nutshell
• Extreme Canvas
• Plugin: many plugins, record level security
• Azure: Functions, Messaging
• Frontend: Extreme TS/JS
• PCF: React + Redux + Typescript

29. So ……… ….. …. … ?!!?!

30. Do you have simple
answer?

31. NO
But you know

32. IT DEPENDS
… and you can manage it!

33. Дякую
за увагу