Enhancing ALM Efficiency in Power Automate for App Management

Blog Post: Enhancements to Power Automate Enhance Application Lifecycle Management (ALM)

The blog authored by Microsoft is primarily focused on the developments in Power Automate to streamline Application Lifecycle Management (ALM). ALM is a holistic approach to managing the life cycle of applications and automations, encompassing factors such as programming, administration, and upkeep. It aims to generate productivity via predictable, repeatable software delivery. ALM tools automate application development and deployment processes while fostering teamwork among software development teams and associated operations. ALM, in its simplest form, could involve an individual developing a workflow or application and sharing it with a coworker.

This tool's solutions help implement ALM on the Power Platform, which the company emphasizes through a dedicated documentation site. Based on public feedback, Power Automate has introduced two categories of upgrades to enhance ALM’s narrative, classified as solution cloud flow enhancements and core ALM enhancements.

Understanding ALM and Power Automate

Solution cloud flows - the primary method for integrating ALM in the Power Platform - are hosted in a cloud-based data service named Dataverse. This arrangement enables administrators to manage these flows via Dataverse APIs, in conjunction with other Power Platform components. The process can transfer applications and workflows from a development setting to a controlled testing environment. Eventually, these artifacts can be deployed in a production setting.

Solution flows, AKA solution-aware flows, simplify the administration process once contained within the Dataverse. Developers can audit, query, and inventory these flows, among other tasks, by tapping into the Dataverse.

According to the blog post, multiple enhancements have been recently released, are being rolled out, or are planned for future release. Some of the notable updates include exposing solution references on the flow details page, presenting solution cloud flows in a list for makers, and allowing non-solution cloud flows' migration into Dataverse and associated solutions.

Forward-Looking Plans

The team at Microsoft is also working to streamline the implementation of core ALM improvements. Developments include distinctive default names on connection references, an easier change of ownership for solution cloud flows, and the introduction of a messaging system to warn administrators and workflow creators about potential deviations from ALM best practices.

Microsoft also outlined a series of planned updates, such as introducing Service Principals who can become owners of flows, and an email system to notify solution cloud flow owners about essential events, including application failures, throttling, alterations, and suspensions.

All these developments aim to support the ALM and the Power Platform. Microsoft extends their hope that users would find the updates useful and remain open to further feedback.

A Synopsis of Power Automate

Power Automate is a service that helps to create automated workflows between apps and services, collect data, synchronize files, and more. It allows end-to-end process management, including authority control, development, and maintenance.

As part of Microsoft's Power Platform, Power Automate is designed to provide a comprehensive solution for implementing ALM. It includes enhancements for solution cloud flows and core ALM, both initiated on user feedback. With a simple interface and integration into various features, Power Automate aims to reduce complexity and create efficient, predictable software delivery.

For more information about Power Automate and ALM, refer to the documentation provided by Microsoft.

Read the full article Improving ALM in Power Automate for Efficient Application Management

Learn about Improving ALM in Power Automate for Efficient Application Management

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) is a process that encapsulates the lifecycle of applications and automations. Microsoft's Power Automate enhances this process to initiate efficient application management. ALM aids in achieving efficiency via controlled and recurrent software delivery. ALM tools assist in automating software development and its delivery, simplifying collaboration among different teams such as development, testing, and operations.

One manifestation of ALM can be a creator crafting an app, or flow, and sharing it with a team member. Microsoft has a dedicated documentation site for Power Platform ALM, acknowledging its significance. A cross-disciplinary team within the Power Platform endeavors to make the most of the opportunities it offers.

The Power Automate enhancements fall into two categories based on user feedback; Solution cloud flow modifications and Core ALM improvements. Detailed information on both categories and a timeline of recent, ongoing, or future releases are provided.

• Solution cloud flow improvements:

Solution cloud flows are housed in Dataverse, enabling them to participate in ALM and manage via Dataverse APIs along with other Power Platform components. A solution could hold flows, apps, tables, etc., and constitutes the primary method for ALM implementation in Power Platform.

Flows created in a solution or added to a solution can be termed solution flows or solution-aware flows. This typically allows customers to develop flows in a development environment, move these to a test environment for independent testing, and ultimately shift them to a production environment. This process is further simplified by using solutions with all artifacts stored in Dataverse, capitalizing on the versatility of connection references, and environment variables.

Such solution flows are also easier to manage and administer since, post their integration in Dataverse, administrators can audit, query, and catalog them by interrogating Dataverse.

• Core ALM improvements:

Apart from incorporating cloud flows into solutions, several core enhancements make ALM easier. Most of these items are delineated in the release plans.

These core improvements include unique connection reference names by default, ability to change the owner of solution cloud flows, source control friendly solution cloud flow exports, and easier sharing of solution cloud flows with team members.

As a part of ongoing implementation, solution checker warns if solution cloud flows utilize connections instead of connection references.

Upcoming enhancements include flow ownership support for Service Principals, email notifications on key events to solution cloud flow owners, usage of environment variables in all flow triggers (with some exceptions), and asynchronous updates to environment variable values in referencing flows.

This platform offers extensive learning material on managing applications and their ALM. The mentioned enhancements are intended to make this process more useful and user-friendly, and we thank you for your continual feedback. Remember, automated processes lead to efficient management!

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