From Glitchy to Great: My Top Performance Boosters for Canvas Apps

In the world of app development, a poor-performing app is almost as bad as a non-functioning one. Power Apps provides an incredible platform to build powerful, flexible applications, but like any app, performance can sometimes be a challenge. Over the past couple of years, I’ve picked up a few essential tricks to boost app performance and make user experience smoother and faster. Here are my top tips that turned my Power Apps projects from glitchy to great!

1. Optimize Data Sources and Connections

One of the biggest culprits of slow Power Apps is inefficient data sources or too many connections. Here’s how to manage them:

Limit Data Calls: Instead of loading thousands of records, consider filtering your data source to only what’s immediately needed. For instance, use Filter or Search functions to pull in smaller data sets.

Avoid Delegation Warnings: Delegation refers to processing data on the server rather than in the app. Always check for delegation warnings (the blue dot) and, where possible, rewrite the formula to leverage delegation, especially with large datasets.

Consider Using Collections: For frequently accessed data that doesn’t change often, load it into a collection and access it locally. This can reduce server requests, making the app faster.

2. Leverage Power FX Efficiently

Power FX, the formula language in Power Apps, has its own optimizations that can speed up or slow down your app based on usage.

Combine Formulas: Instead of multiple similar formulas across different controls, try to centralize your calculations into one place. For example, you can create a variable and reuse it instead of recalculating values repeatedly.

Use Variables Wisely: Set and UpdateContext variables can store data that doesn’t change often, reducing repetitive calculations and database calls. However, use variables thoughtfully to avoid bloating memory.

Reduce Nested Formulas: Overly complex nested functions can slow things down. Try breaking them into simpler parts or using intermediate variables to avoid long processing chains.

3. Load Data On-Demand

Rather than loading all data immediately when an app opens, try to load data as it’s needed. For example:

Lazy Loading: Load data only when a user reaches a certain screen or selects an option that requires it. This way, the initial load time of the app is reduced.

OnVisible Events: Use the OnVisible event of a screen to fetch only the data needed for that screen, instead of loading everything on app startup.

4. Optimize Media and Image Loading

Large images or media files can drastically slow down an app. Here’s how to handle them:

Resize Images: Scale down image files before uploading them to your app. Using a smaller file size (e.g., 100 KB instead of 1 MB) can make a big difference.

Use the Loading Spinner Effectively: Showing a loading spinner or progress bar helps users feel more engaged and understand that content is coming. Use this for screens or images that take a bit longer to load.

Lazy Load Images: Consider loading images only when they’re visible on the screen, especially if they’re not required for the app’s core functionality.

5. Use Controls and Components Efficiently

More controls on a screen can slow things down, so it’s best to use them wisely.

Minimize Controls Per Screen: Combine text labels or other controls wherever possible. Using fewer controls reduces render time and memory use.

Re-use Components: Create reusable components for frequently used items (e.g., headers, footers). This reduces load time since you’re not duplicating controls across screens.

Experiment with Grouping: Grouping related controls together can make it easier for the app to load, manage, and process controls.

6. Clean Up Your Code and App Logic

Like with any software, unused variables, functions, or screens can clutter your app and slow it down.

Remove Unused Data Sources and Variables: Over time, apps accumulate unused connections, variables, and controls. Periodically review and remove anything that’s not needed.

Use Performance Checker: Power Apps has a built-in Performance Checker that provides recommendations on optimizing formulas, data sources, and more. Make a habit of running it to catch potential bottlenecks early.

Regular Maintenance: As your app grows, keep testing for performance. A few tweaks now and then can keep your app running smoothly as user demand increases.

Final Thoughts

Optimizing Power Apps isn’t just about speed; it’s about user experience. A well-performing app keeps users engaged, productive, and happy. By following these tips, I’ve been able to take my apps from slow and glitchy to smooth and reliable.

If you’re building apps in Power Apps, give these tips a try, and let me know how they work for you.?Happy?building!