IDE for PowerApps

[julianhoewel_95]

Hey guys,

just a short question: As I think that the browser-based development of PowerApps is still unpractical in some details I just want to ask if anyone knows about plans by Microsoft to build a real IDE for the PowerApps development to make that even better. 

Greetings
Julian

[iAm_ManCat · Accepted solution]

Heya,

I don't think that's on the roadmap, as their approach is to improve the online IDE rather than create a standalone IDE.

Out of interest, is there something in particular you think is unpractical? We could raise it on the Ideas forum as issues if they have merit,

Thanks!

Sancho

[Bahalzamon]

The main thing I miss with not having a stand-alone IDE is the ability to have pop out windows. Having the properties and code bar on another screen would DRAMATICALLY increase the productivity. The other small things I could deal with, but continually having to expand the code bar to make edits then shrink it to see its effect becomes tedious.
https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Apps-Ideas/Code-Editor-Allow-popout-into-separate-resizabl...

[stephielapugh]

Totally agree with @Bahalzamon. Expanding the code bar is annoying, especially since it overlaps the top of the properties pane, so you can't see that stuff when you're coding, e.g., name of the thing at issue. A dedicated horizontal coding pane would be a huge help! 

[iAm_ManCat]

Hey @stephielapugh,

Agreed, but you can do a workaround for that by using the browser's inspect function on the Formula Bar, find the formula-bar-container div section, click it and then set the width from 100% to 85% (or whatever you'd like)

[stephielapugh]

Whaaaaat?! Well, shoot. That's a fun trick! Thanks @iAm_ManCat; you're a peach!

[iAm_ManCat]

Happy to help, I too find the overlap of the properties pane reeaaaaalllllly annoying 😁

[KEarley]

Dang Skippy!  I know the purpose of PowerApps is to allow for citizen-developers.  But, why not cater to both traditional developers and citizen-developers.  This would just open up what could be done with a PowerApps app.  I find so many limitations in what I can do for my clients if restricted to the citizen-developer universe.

At the very least, add troubleshooting capabilities found in Visual Studio--such as break-points.  Having the pop-out tools as Julian stated, and troubleshooting capabilities would help pump out apps much quicker with higher quality.  

[KEarley]

If we are going to be restricted to the current PowerApps designer, at least give us the ability to customize the designer, such as setting default size of the code bar and set it to automatically rollup when we click in the app window...stuff like that.  Breakpoints would be fantastic.  It's like trying to build web pages when .asp first came out.  Who remembers putting temp textboxes on the screen so we can see values while we code and test?

[KEarley]

Thank you. Nice suggestion.  I will try that.