For 8 weeks, from mid september to the beginning of november, I was part of Andrew Connells first run of the “Microsoft Teams App Dev Accelerator“, and as I did with the Teach Lead masterclass course I attedended in october, I wrote a blogpost (this blogpost) to summarize my high level takeaways from the Teams app dev course as well.
What is Teams app development?
So, if you are completely new to Teams App development here is a quick conceptual introduction.
Developing apps for Teams involves leveraging the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and its set of APIs to enhance team productivity and streamline workflows. With Teams app development, teams can tailor their collaboration experience by adding custom features, integrations, and automation to suit their specific needs. This can range from creating custom tabs and connectors to building sophisticated bots that facilitate communication and automate tasks. The development process typically involves using web technologies like JavaScript and Node.js, and developers can make use of the Teams Toolkit for Visual Studio Code to streamline the development, testing, and deployment of their apps. Teams app development not only extends the functionality of Microsoft Teams but also empowers teams to work more efficiently and effectively within the platform.
My main takeaways from the Teams App Dev Accelerator program
1. Teams apps are just web-apps (mostly)
Teams apps share foundational characteristics with standard web applications, but they are presented to the user in the Microsoft Teams context. While developers have the flexibility to employ a variety of technology stacks and host their applications on diverse platforms, the tools provided by Microsoft often lead to the development of React/TypeScript web applications hosted in Azure. The real magic, though, happens when you leverage Teams’ integration abilities within its collaborative setup
2. Your imagination is the only limit when it comes to what you can build for Teams.
Having some prior experience in Teams app development, I thought I had a good grasp on it, but I was always solving things in a similar manner, and the accelerator program opened my eyes to a myriad of opportunities and tools that I hadn’t explored before, expanding my repertoire and providing me with a richer toolbox for tackling client challenges.
The course not only reinforced my existing skills but also unearthed new avenues for creativity and innovation in the Teams app landscape. It’s amazing how a bit of exploration can exponentially broaden the horizons of what’s possible.
3. Learning together is incredibly valuable
This is not directly related to Teams dev, but more about the way the course was structured.
The world of developing apps for Microsoft Teams is a complex, and the ‘road’ is very winding. And I would highly reccomend joining Andrews accelerator program if you get the oportunity. Engaging in conversations with peers allows for the exchange of ideas and perspectives, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
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If you are interested in Microsoft 365 Development you might also like my other blogposts in this category.
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Thank you for reading, and happy coding!
/Eli
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