For Builders¶
Solution Maker · Solution Engineer · Citizen Developer — your question is: how do I build this well and get it to production correctly?
Your Framework: DIALOGE¶
DIALOGE names the seven building blocks of every solution: Data, Integration, AI, Logic, Operations, Go-Live, and Experience. It gives builders — from citizen developers to enterprise solution architects — a shared language for designing, building, and operating solutions on Power Platform.
DIALOGE answers the questions that builder documentation rarely addresses directly:
- Where should this data live — Dataverse, SharePoint, or something else?
- How do I build integrations that don't break when connected systems change?
- When should I use AI, and how do I govern it?
- Where should this logic live — in the app, in a flow, in Dataverse, or somewhere else?
- What does deployment discipline actually look like in practice?
- How do I build something users will actually adopt?
Your Reading Path¶
If You're a Solution Maker (Citizen Dev / Power User)¶
Focus on decisions and safe zones — the guidance that keeps you building correctly without needing deep technical knowledge.
| Order | Page | Focus On |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIALOGE Overview | The seven pillars, the maturity model, the safe zone concept |
| 2 | D — Data | Dataverse vs SharePoint decision, data classification, security roles basics |
| 3 | L — Logic | Logic placement principles — where rules belong |
| 4 | G — Go-Live | Solutions as packaging unit, environment promotion, Solution Checker |
| 5 | E — Experience | Canvas vs model-driven decision, responsive design |
If You're a Solution Engineer (Pro Dev / Architect)¶
Read the full pillar content — the deep-dives are where architectural guidance lives.
| Order | Page | Focus On |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIALOGE Overview | Framework structure and how pillars connect |
| 2 | D — Data | Full Dataverse security model, RLS, CLS, application users, auditing |
| 3 | I — Integration | Custom APIs, VNet, Service Bus, ETL patterns, error handling |
| 4 | L — Logic | Low-code plugins, classic plugins, logic placement decision table |
| 5 | A — AI | AI-enabled platform infrastructure, MCP, vector search, custom models |
| 6 | G — Go-Live | Git integration, pipeline decision guide, branching, rollback |
| 7 | O — Operations | Application Insights, L1-L4 support model, retirement |
| 8 | E — Experience | PCF controls, Power Pages, Code Apps, accessibility, mobile patterns |
Critical Cross-Framework Reading¶
| Page | Why It Matters For You |
|---|---|
| BOLT Delivery Tiers | Know which tier your solution belongs to — it determines IT involvement and governance requirements |
| SHIELD Inspect | Understand the security review gate your Tier 3+ solutions must pass before production |
| BOLT Guardrails | Know the approved connector library, data classification boundaries, and workspace rules before you start building |
Key Concepts for Builders¶
Start with Data. The single highest-leverage investment is getting the data layer right. If there's any chance the solution will grow, start with Dataverse — migrating from SharePoint lists mid-project is expensive.
Logic should live as close to the data as possible. A business rule on the Dataverse table fires regardless of which app triggers it. A formula only in a canvas app is bypassed by every other entry point. Centralise first.
Never build in production. Solutions packaged, versioned, and promoted through environments. Use connection references, environment variables, and the deployment pipeline from day one — not as a post-launch project.
Know your tier. If your solution touches enterprise systems, regulated data, or serves the whole organisation, it's Tier 3 or higher. That means IT co-develops and security signs off. The tier model is not optional.
Use the readiness checklists. Every DIALOGE pillar ends with a checklist. Work through them before go-live — they catch the issues that create production incidents.
Part of powerplatform.wiki — Start Here Last updated: March 2026