This is a three-part series of blog articles. Part1 (this one) article covers prerequisites to set up ALM in Azure DevOps. Part2 article covers the Power Platform Build Tools to build and deploy the solution. Part3 article covers the  Microsoft Power Platform CLI to build and deploy the solution.

For both Part2 or Part3 approaches, you will need the following steps completed as a prerequisite. From numbers 1 to 5 you will need as a prerequisite for both approaches.

If you are following the Part2 approach you will additionally need numbers 6 and 7 as a prerequisite.

Prerequisites

1. Create a free Azure DevOps subscription.

Follow this article to get a free five-user Basic Plan Azure Subscription.

2. Create three Power Platform Environments for DEV, PRE PROD, and PROD.

3. Create an Azure AD app

Need following delegated permissions and consented by Global Admin

• Dynamic CRM / user_impersonation / Access Common Service as organization users

• PowerApps Runtime Service / user_impersonation / Common Data Service

• PowerApps.Advisor / Analysis.All

Note: Save the ClientId, ClientSecret & TenantId information of the Azure AD app. You will need this later.

4. Add Application users to the Power Platform environment

Navigate to Power Platform Admin Center using https://aka.ms/PPAC

Click on the environment name. Click on Settings

Select Users + permissions and click on Application users

Click on New app user then click on Add an app

Select the Azure AD app created from the above step. Click Add and next screen click Create.

Using the above created Azure AD app add the application user for the Power Platform. Set the role as System Administrator. This application user will be used in the automation of the build and release pipelines.

5. Add Build Service as Contribute Allow permission for the new repository

Click on Project Settings

Click on Repositories under Repos

Select the repository in this case CRM446838

Select Security tab

Select the “{Project name} Build Service (pankajsurti)” Note: your project name and user name will be different.

Select Contribute as Allow/

6. Add Power Platform Build Tools extension for Azure DevOps. (Part2)

NOTE: ONLY needed for PART2.

7. Add Service Connection in Azure DevOps (Part2)

NOTE: ONLY needed for PART2.

Click on Project Settings

Click on Service connections under Pipelines

Click on Create service connection

Select “Power Platform” and click Next

Add Service URL, Tenant ID, Application ID, Client secret of Application ID, and provide a name of the service connection such DEV, PREPROD or PROD depending on whatever environment URL you are connecting to.

Conclusion

This completes this blog post. Once executing prerequisites you can refer to Part2 or Part3 depending on what tool you want to use for your need.

The ALM is documented in detail here.