Power BI and Rayfin Data Apps in Fabric

Key insights

• Rayfin Data Apps, also called Fabric Apps or the Data App template, build custom web apps in Microsoft Fabric.
• They can use an existing Power BI semantic model and query it with DAX.
• The app experience is programmable with TypeScript and React, not limited to the Power BI report canvas.
• The model stays central, so governed data can power both reports and apps.
• Rayfin is described as an extension of Power BI and Fabric, not a replacement for reports.

Reza Rad (RADACAD) [MVP] recently published a YouTube Short asking whether Rayfin Data Apps will kill the Power BI report. The short’s takeaway, backed by the research notes, is simple: Rayfin is positioned as an extension to Power BI and Fabric, not as a direct replacement for reports.

Rayfin is also referred to as Fabric Apps or the Data App template. It is described as an open-source SDK for building TypeScript- and React-based applications inside Microsoft Fabric. Those apps can connect to an existing Power BI semantic model, query it with DAX, and present the data through a custom web interface.

What's new

The new idea is not a new report format. It is a different application layer on top of governed Fabric data. Instead of asking users to work inside the Power BI report canvas, Rayfin lets developers build a purpose-specific app around the same semantic model.

The notes say a Rayfin app can combine a frontend built with standard web technologies, a Power BI semantic model, Fabric SQL database capabilities, and Fabric security and hosting. That makes it closer to a custom business application than a traditional analytics report.

Why it matters

This matters most for developers and solution builders who need more than analysis. Power BI reports are strong for interactive reporting, filtering, drill-through, and self-service exploration. Rayfin targets scenarios where users need to view data, enter information, trigger actions, and stay in one workflow.

The research notes mention examples such as sales pipeline management, operational planning, inventory monitoring, portals, scenario analysis, data-entry workflows, exception management, and public forms that write back into Fabric. For admins and data owners, the important point is that the semantic model remains the governed foundation.

How it works

According to the notes, the flow is straightforward:

1. Build or reuse a Power BI semantic model in Fabric.
2. Create a Rayfin app with TypeScript and React.
3. Query the semantic model with DAX.
4. Use the app UI to present charts, tables, forms, buttons, and workflows.
5. Host and deploy the app in a Fabric workspace.

The key difference from a report is control. In Rayfin, developers design the interface, navigation, business logic, and state. That gives more room for workflow-driven apps than a report canvas usually allows.

Limitations and open questions

The material does not show the full product scope, licensing, or rollout stage, and it does not confirm availability across tenants or regions. The short itself is brief, so the article can only report the positioning described in the notes.

What we can verify is that Rayfin is framed as complementary to Power BI. The research notes say it keeps the semantic model central and changes the presentation and interaction layer, rather than replacing reporting.

Sources

• Reza Rad YouTube Short
• RADACAD website

Frequently asked questions

Does Rayfin replace Power BI reports?

The material says no. Rayfin is described as extending governed Power BI and Fabric data into custom web app experiences.

What is Rayfin built with?

The notes describe it as an open-source SDK for TypeScript and React applications that run in Microsoft Fabric.

Can Rayfin use existing Power BI data models?

Yes. The notes say a Rayfin app can connect to an existing Power BI semantic model and query it with DAX.

Is licensing or availability explained?

No. The source material does not confirm licensing, rollout stage, or tenant-wide availability.