Cloud, Containers and Microservices

TH18 Programming with PowerApps and Microsoft Flow

09/20/2018

2:45pm - 4:00pm

Level: Introductory

Walt Ritscher

Senior Staff Instructor

LinkedIn Learning / Lynda

Here's a familiar scenario. To deal with non-stop email inflow, many of us create rules that manage our inbox. We've got rules that prioritize, categorize, forward, move and delete. But attempt to add even simple logic tests in the rules and you run into a wall. Taking the big tool approach, you can create an Outlook Addin and use the full power of C# to tackle the problem. But not every programming job or workflow needs a high-powered toolset like C# or Visual Studio. For quick one-offs and simple tasks, you can fall back to more basic tools. With the cloud-based Microsoft Flow, you can quickly and easily build custom automations from your desktop, laptop, or mobile device without needing to write a single line of code. And with PowerApps, you can quickly create a mobile friendly UI that taps into company data and your Flows. Behind the scenes is the Common Data service layer; an easy way to merge disparate data sources. Read the marketing claims, Microsoft states that PowerApps is a tool for end-users. However, for those of us who code, Microsoft Flow provides a quick way to create personalized automated workflows between applications. Don’t be too quick to judge, behind the scenes Flow is built on top of Azure Logic Apps. Flow has an impressive list of service providers: like SharePoint, Dynamics 365, Teams, Yammer, Dropbox, Outlook, OneDrive and MailChimp. This session shows how to get started with PowerApps and build interesting integrations with little or no code.