How to Get Started with Pipelines in Power Platform

To start using pipelines in Power Platform, you first install the pipelines app. Next, you set up your environments. Then, you make your pipeline. After that, you deploy your solutions. Pipelines in Power Platform help automate solution deployments. They also make application lifecycle management better. Many users have problems like:

• Forgetting to make backups before deployment

• Handling hard manual steps for managed solutions

You will see that pipelines make solution deployment easy and steady. This guide helps Power Platform users who are new to pipelines. It also helps those who want to automate deployments.

Key Takeaways

• Pipelines help move solutions in Power Platform by themselves. This saves time and means you do not have to do it all by hand.

• You need to set up your environments the right way. This is very important for pipelines to work well. Make sure you give people the correct security roles.

• Power Automate lets you add special steps to your pipelines. It can also do tasks for you automatically. This makes things work better and helps people work together.

Pipelines in Power Platform Overview

What Are Pipelines?

Pipelines in Power Platform help you move solutions between environments. For example, you can move from development to production. Pipelines work like a moving belt for your apps and flows. They help your solutions travel safely and easily. Pipelines are part of application lifecycle management, or ALM. They make deployments faster and safer. You do not have to be an ALM expert to use pipelines. Pipelines let you set up steps for each stage. They check for missing parts and manage connections for you.

Here is a quick look at how pipelines fit into ALM:

Key Benefits

You get many good things when you use pipelines in Power Platform:

• Automation: Pipelines do the deployment steps for you, so you do not need to do them one by one.

• Consistency: Each deployment uses the same steps, so there are fewer mistakes.

• Security: Pipelines give the right permissions and check for errors to keep your solutions safe.

• Time Savings: Deployments that took days now only take minutes.

• Reduced Manual Effort: Pipelines take care of backups, approvals, and tracking.

• Better Collaboration: Team members can work together with clear roles and approvals.

Tip: Pipelines make deployments easy and repeatable. You can spend more time building solutions and less time worrying about mistakes.

Setting Up Pipelines in Power Platform

Prerequisites and Environment Setup

You need to get your environments ready before starting. There are three main types you will use:

• Development Environment: Build and test your solutions here.

• Target Environment: Use this for testing, user acceptance, or production.

• Host Environment: Manage pipeline settings and watch deployments.

Here are the steps to set up your environments for pipelines in Power Platform:

1. Open PowerApps.

2. Pick the Host Environment. Go to Apps and choose Deployment of Pipeline configuration.

3. Click 'New' to make your environment.

4. Type a name, pick the type (Development or Target), and enter the Environment ID.

5. Save your environment.

6. Give users security roles. Check the table below to see which roles are needed:

Tip: Make sure your target environments are managed and have a Dataverse data store. Keep all environments in the same region for best results.

Create Your First Pipeline

You can make your first pipeline in Power Platform by doing these steps:

1. Open Power Apps Maker Portal.

2. Go to Pipelines (Preview) on the left side.

3. Click '+ New pipeline'.

4. Fill in the pipeline name, description, and environment details.

5. Click 'Create Pipeline'.

6. Get your solution ready. You can make a new solution or use one you already have.

7. Link your solution to the pipeline.

8. Add deployment stages. Name each stage and pick the target environment.

9. Save and close your pipeline.

Note: You can add more stages, like UAT or production, to fit your deployment process.

Deploy Solutions

Deploying solutions with pipelines in Power Platform is easy. Here is a simple guide:

1. Log in to your development environment using Power Apps or Power Automate.

2. Go to the Solutions section. Make a new unmanaged solution or pick one you already have.

3. Select Pipelines or Overview from the left. Click 'Deploy' on the command bar.

4. Pick the deployment target stage, like 'Deploy to Test'.

5. Choose if you want to deploy now or later.

6. Look at the deployment summary. Add notes if you want.

7. Click 'Deploy' to start the automated deployment.

You can check your deployment using dashboards and run history. These tools show the status of each deployment and keep backups of your solution files.

Tip: Use run history and dashboards to watch deployments and find problems early.

Extend Pipelines with Power Automate

You can make your pipelines in Power Platform even better by using Power Automate. This lets you add custom steps and automate tasks. Here are some ways to make your pipeline do more:

• Turn on the 'Pre-Deployment Step Required' option in your deployment stage.

• Use Power Automate to start actions like 'OnPreDeploymentStarted'.

• Set up approval workflows for admin review before deployment.

• Send automatic email alerts when deployments start or finish.

• Move and sync data between apps.

• Automate tasks like invoice processing, vacation requests, and customer onboarding.

Example: Companies like Coca-Cola Bottling and T-Mobile use Power Automate to make order management easier and move systems without mistakes.

Advanced users can change pipelines for harder situations. You can use tools like Azure DevOps, GitHub, or Power Platform CLI to add more automation and control.

Tip: Write down your pipeline process for your team. This helps everyone follow the same steps and work together better.

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You begin by getting your environments ready. Next, you give people the right security roles. Then, you make your first pipeline. After you deploy, you learn how to set permissions. You also learn how to fix errors. Sharing apps becomes simple.

• Check out cool features using Pipelines overview and Power CAT Live.

Pipelines in Power Platform help you finish solutions faster and make fewer mistakes.

FAQ

How do you install the pipelines app in Power Platform?

You open Power Apps, go to the Apps area, and search for "Pipelines." Click "Install" to add it to your environment.

Can you use pipelines with existing solutions?

Yes. You can link your current solutions to a new pipeline. This lets you automate deployments without rebuilding your work.

What should you do if a deployment fails?

Check the run history for error details. Fix the issue in your solution. Try the deployment again after making changes.