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GitHub Actions-Power Platform: A Beginner’s Guide

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GitHub Actions is an incredible tool that lets developers automate different parts of the app-building process. If you’re working with Microsoft Power Platform (which includes tools like Power Apps, Power Automate, and Dataverse),

GitHub Actions can simplify your workflows by automating tasks such as building, testing, and deploying your apps. In this guide, we’ll explain how to get started with GitHub Actions for Microsoft Power Platform and how they can save you a lot of time.

Source: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/blog/power-apps/announcing-the-general-availability-of-github-actions-for-microsoft-power-platform/

What Are GitHub Actions for Power Platform?

GitHub Actions for Microsoft Power Platform allow you to automate tasks without needing to manually download scripts or tools. You can set up workflows (a series of automated tasks) to handle everything from creating environments to deploying apps. Whether you’re dealing with Power Apps (canvas or model-driven), AI Builder models, or even Dynamics 365 apps, these actions can do the heavy lifting for you.

Key Features

  1. Manage Solutions: Automatically import or export your apps and workflows between environments.
  2. Deployment: Easily deploy apps to different environments, like testing or production.
  3. Environment Setup: Automatically set up or take down development environments.
  4. Quality Checks: Run checks on your apps to make sure they meet Microsoft’s best practices.

Why Should You Use GitHub Actions for Power Platform?

By using GitHub Actions, you can automate repetitive tasks, saving you time and reducing the chance of errors. Whether you’re setting up new environments or deploying updates, GitHub Actions can help ensure everything runs smoothly. For example, you can create workflows to:

  • Automatically export your solutions (apps, workflows, etc.) from a development environment.
  • Deploy these solutions to a test environment.
  • Run automated checks to ensure your solution is built correctly.

How to Get Started

To start using GitHub Actions for Power Platform, follow these simple steps:

  1. Go to the GitHub Marketplace and find Power Platform Actions.
  2. Add these actions to your repository and configure them to fit your workflows.
  3. Create a .yml file to define your workflow. This file will tell GitHub what tasks to run and in what order.

For instance, you could create a workflow that automatically exports a solution when you push code changes to your repository.

Available Options for Authentication

To allow GitHub Actions to interact with your Power Platform environment, you’ll need to set up a secure connection. There are two options:

  1. Username and Password: Basic authentication (less secure, doesn’t support multi-factor authentication).
  2. Service Principal: More secure and supports multi-factor authentication.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do GitHub Actions work for Power Pages?
    Yes! You can use GitHub Actions to deploy Power Pages and customize deployment settings.
  • Is there a cost to use GitHub Actions?
    GitHub offers 2,000 free minutes of actions per month. After that, there are additional costs depending on your GitHub plan.
  • Do GitHub Actions only work for Power Apps?
    No. GitHub Actions work for a variety of Power Platform tools, including AI Builder, virtual agents, and customer engagement apps like Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Service.

Conclusion

GitHub Actions make it easier to automate your workflows, helping you build, test, and deploy Power Platform solutions quickly and efficiently. If you’re a Power Platform developer, it’s a great tool to have in your toolkit. Give it a try and start automating your workflows today!

For more details, check out the GitHub Marketplace for Power Platform Actions.