Code Review vs Solution Review: Why Both Matter in Power Platform

In the Power Platform world, we often talk about code reviews for plugins, custom APIs, or PCF components. But what about the customizations—like forms, views, security roles, and workflows? These also need careful attention. That’s where Solution Reviews step in.

In this blog, we’ll unpack both practices, show why they’re essential, and share how architects and developers can work together to keep your environments healthy.

What’s the Difference?


What Happens in a Code Review?

A Code Review focuses on technical correctness and follows practices like:

  • Verifying naming conventions and coding standards
  • Checking for secure coding (e.g., parameterized queries, no hard-coded secrets)
  • Assessing performance (e.g., avoid expensive queries in plugins)
  • Reviewing error handling and logging
  • Ensuring test coverage with unit tests

Example: Reviewing a plugin that calculates discounts to ensure it doesn’t run synchronously on every save, causing performance hits.

What Happens in a Solution Review?

A Solution Review focuses on how customizations align with enterprise needs:

  • Form Design – Are forms optimized for mobile? Do they load too many fields?
  • Views & Dashboards – Are filters efficient? Are charts aligned with business KPIs?
  • Security Roles – Are roles assigned correctly? Are field-level security and DLP policies enforced?
  • Workflows & Cloud Flows – Are flows well-structured? Are they avoiding unnecessary synchronous operations?
  • ALM Readiness – Is the solution properly segmented (managed/unmanaged)? Are publisher prefixes used?

Example: Catching a workflow that accidentally loops due to poor triggering logic before it slows down production.

Why Both Reviews Are Critical

Security

  • Both code and configurations can expose vulnerabilities if not reviewed.

Performance

  • Poor plugin code or over-configured forms/views can degrade user experience.

 ALM and Deployment

  • Managed solutions and clean code ensure seamless deployments.

Maintainability

  • Future upgrades and feature requests are easier when standards are followed.

Tools for the Job


Best Practices for Both Reviews

For Code Review:

  • Follow Microsoft’s Secure Coding Guidelines
  • Use dependency injection for plugins
  • Avoid synchronous operations where possible

For Solution Review:

  • Use Solution Layers to track customizations
  •  Always use a Publisher Prefix
  •  Document all changes for ALM

Architect + Developer Collaboration

  • Developers handle code quality.
  • Architects focus on solution design and ALM.

When they collaborate during reviews, they create robust, scalable apps that won’t buckle under enterprise workloads.

 Key Takeaway

Code Review ensures your custom logic is secure and performant.

Solution Review ensures your configurations are scalable and aligned with enterprise best practices.

Together, they form the backbone of successful Power Platform ALM.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Effective Strategies for Debugging Plugins in Dynamics CRM

Image
In a recent interview, I was asked about debugging plugins in Dynamics CRM. The interviewer specifically wanted to know my approach to plugin debugging. In response, I mentioned using the Plugin Registration Tool profiler. However, I later realized there are multiple methods to debug plugins in Dynamics CRM/Dataverse, each essential for efficient troubleshooting. Debugging plays a crucial role in development, and having a solid understanding of various debugging approaches can help streamline issue resolution in Dynamics 365. Here, I'll explore different techniques for debugging plugin code. There are below options to use in the plugin in Dynamics CRM/Dataverse ITracingService : In Dynamics CRM plugin development, ITracingService is a service provided within the plugin's execution context that logs information for tracing and debugging. It allows developers to capture real-time. Plugin Profiler : A plugin profiler in Dynamics CRM (or Dataverse) is a debugging tool in the Plugi...
Read more

Exploring the Differences: Managed vs. Unmanaged Solutions in Dynamics CRM/Dataverse

Image
In Dynamics CRM/Dataverse, solutions are central to Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) , providing a structured way to manage, package, and distribute customizations across environments. Microsoft uses solutions to transfer apps and customizations by exporting them from one Dataverse environment and importing them into another.  Each solution is authored and maintained by a publisher and includes components like Power Apps (canvas and model-driven), flows, entities, forms, connectors, web resources, and configurations—excluding business data. Solutions streamline ALM practices within Microsoft Power Platform. In Dynamics CRM/Dataverse, there are two types of solutions: Managed and Unmanaged . When planning an implementation, it’s important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each to make an informed decision. Let’s explore both types to determine the best approach for development and deployment. In Dynamics 365 CRM, a managed solution is a fully packaged solution ...
Read more

Connecting the Dots: FetchXML and Web API Integration in Dataverse

Image
 In Dataverse, FetchXML and the Web API are two powerful mechanisms for retrieving data and interacting with entities. Here's a brief overview of each and how they can be integrated: 1.    FetchXML :      -   Definition:   FetchXML is a proprietary query language used in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Dataverse for querying data from entities.    -   Usage:   FetchXML queries can be used to retrieve data based on complex criteria, perform aggregations, and filter records.    -   Features:   FetchXML supports various query expressions, including conditions, sorting, grouping, and aggregation functions.    -   Integration:   FetchXML queries can be executed programmatically using client-side scripting, server-side code, or through tools like the Dynamics 365 Web API. 2.    Web API :      -   Definition:  ...
Read more