Microsoft 365 For Dummies

Chapter 17

Developing Your First App with Power Apps

IN THIS CHAPTER

Making a list and checking it twice

Joining the ranks of citizen developers by building an app

Launching your very own app — no coding experience required

There was a time in my life when I was in total awe of the genius software developers and engineers who converged once a year for the Build conference at my office building back when I was a Microsoft employee. While I am technically adept in many areas, app development was something I thought was beyond my capabilities. Sure, I know basic HTML and I can launch a WordPress website in a few hours, but coding and developing from scratch? Not my thing.

As the Internet became ubiquitous, mobile computing exploded and with that, mobile apps proliferated. Today, I have over a hundred apps installed on my smartphone. For the most part, these apps are over-engineered. I can safely say I only need 20 percent of the features on most, if not all, of the apps on my phone.

That got me thinking. What if I can build an app that’s really simple, with only the basic functionalities to automate my work? Will I need to be on the same level as those people I admired at Build? Do ...