17 Power Apps Development Best Practices [+5 Tips]

According to Gartner, 75% of companies are expected to use low-code or no-code app builders for 70% of their new applications. This marks a significant increase from last year’s less than 25% adoption rate.

PowerApps is a prominent player in this space and is part of the Microsoft Azure cloud ecosystem. It is a development tool that simplifies the process of designing and building innovative business applications for both mobile and web platforms.

Apart from its role as a development environment, PowerApps also serves as a robust data platform. This allows skilled developers to programmatically interact with data and metadata, apply business logic, create custom connectors, and seamlessly integrate with external data sources.

If you’re looking to build your next Power App, this article offers practical tips and best practices to help you do so effectively.

What is Power Apps Development?

Power Apps development refers to creating custom business applications using the Power Apps platform. Power Apps provides a low-code development environment, allowing users to build applications with minimal coding knowledge along with numerous other benefits.

Expert Insights: Our CTO’s Take on Power Apps Best Practices

• Integrate with Existing Systems: Easily connect PowerApps to your current tools and databases for efficiency.
• Incorporate Feedback: Continuously gather user feedback to refine and improve your applications.
• Plan for Scalability: Design apps with future growth in mind, allowing for easy updates and enhancements.
• Use Proper Naming Conventions: Maintain clear and consistent naming for components and variables for better collaboration.
• Automate Workflows: Utilize Power Automate to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
• Document Everything: Maintain thorough documentation for your applications to facilitate easier maintenance and onboarding.

17 Best Practices for Power Apps Development

Power Apps is a powerful platform for building custom business applications. To ensure that your app meets the needs of your users and performs well, it’s important to follow best practices throughout the development process. 

Here are 17 best practices for Power Apps development that you should keep in mind:

1. Plan Your App

Before you start building your app, take the time to plan it out. Clearly define the purpose and requirements of your app, and consider the user experience, functionality, and data sources you’ll need to integrate. This will help you stay on track and avoid unnecessary delays or rework.

2. Use Templates Wisely

Power Apps offers templates for common app types. While templates can speed up development, customize them to meet your specific needs. This will help you avoid creating a generic app that doesn’t meet your users’ needs.

3. Design for Mobile

If your app will be used on mobile devices, design it with a mobile-first approach. Use responsive design principles to ensure it looks good on different screen sizes. This will help you provide a seamless user experience on any device.

4. Optimize Data Sources

Use efficient data retrieval methods, such as delegation and filtering, to minimize the amount of data transferred between your app and data sources. This will help you avoid performance issues when working with large data sets.

5. Use Controls Appropriately

Choose the right controls for each task. For example, use a gallery control to display a list of items and a form control to edit details. This will help you create a user-friendly interface that’s easy to use and navigate.

6. Manage Permissions

Use role-based access control to restrict access to sensitive data and functionality based on user roles. This will help you protect your data and ensure that users only have access to the features they need.

7. Use Variables and Collections

Use variables and collections to store temporary data or to perform calculations within your app. This will help you simplify your formulas and make your app more efficient.

8. Implement Error Handling

Use error handling techniques, such as Try, Catch, and Notify functions, to gracefully handle errors and provide feedback to users. This will help you improve the user experience and reduce frustration.

9. Optimize Performance

Minimize the use of complex formulas and controls that can slow down your app. Use timers and loading indicators to manage long-running processes. This will help you create a fast and responsive app that users will love.

10. Test Thoroughly

Test your app on different devices and screen sizes to ensure it works as expected. Consider usability testing with actual users to gather feedback. This will help you catch any issues before your app goes live.

11. Version Control

Use version control to track changes to your app over time. This can help you roll back to previous versions if needed. This will help you keep track of changes and ensure that your app is always up to date.

12. Document Your App

Document the design, functionality, and data sources of your app to make it easier for other developers to understand and maintain. This will help you ensure that your app is maintainable and can be updated in the future.

13. Monitor Usage

Use Power Apps analytics to monitor how your app is being used. This can help you identify areas for improvement and prioritize future enhancements. This will help you ensure that your app is meeting the needs of your users.

14. Stay Updated

Keep up to date with the latest features and updates in Power Apps. This can help you take advantage of new capabilities and improve the performance and usability of your app. This will help you stay current and ensure that your app is always up to date.

15. Use Collections Wisely

Optimize the use of collections to manage data efficiently, especially for large datasets.

16. Establish Governance Policies

Set clear governance policies for app development and data usage to maintain consistency and compliance.

17. Encourage Collaboration

Cultivate collaboration among team members through shared workspaces and regular communication to enhance project outcomes.

“ScaleupAlly acknowledges the rise of low-code/no-code solutions, supported by 51.8% in a Goodfirms survey, reflecting the shift towards easier app development while maintaining customization options.”

These are some of the Power Apps best practices that can help you optimize your PowerApps development process and deliver high-quality applications.