3. DevTools & Onboarding
Tags: powerfuldevs, beginners, azure, lowcode
Published: 2023-03-02 17:55:33

---
title: 3. DevTools & Onboarding
published: true
date: 2023-03-02 00:00:00 UTC
tags: powerfuldevs, beginners, azure, lowcode
canonical_url: https://microsoft.github.io/Low-Code/blog/2023-day3
description: How do you get started with low-code development using @MSPowerPlat? Join @marcel_ferrira as he explores Developer Tools & Onboarding in #30DaysOfLowCode https://aka.ms/lowcode-february 
series: 2023 - 30DaysOfLowCode
cover_image: https://microsoft.github.io/Low-Code/assets/images/30-03-a560ed2fce05a72e7049f4d0d3be8b0b.png
---

> **Want to learn about Cloud + AI? Follow Microsoft Azure on dev.to** 👇🏽

{% org azure %}

> _✨**#30DaysOfLowCode** is a curated roadmap of daily posts that can help both citizen developers and pro-dev developers explore the value of low-code technologies to solve real-world problems with innovative apps. Visit [the website](https://aka.ms/lowcode-february) to see the whole series or follow it on dev.to for daily updates._

---

Welcome to `Day #03` of #30DaysOfLowCode!

## What We'll Cover

- Get onboard with Power Platform
- Sign up for the Power Apps Developer Plan
- Get familiar with the tools
- **Activity** : Sign up for your [Developer Plan](https://aka.ms/lowcode-february/devplan)
- **Resource** s: Explore the [Low Code February Collection](https://aka.ms/lowcode-february/collection)

---

## Get onboard with Power Platform! 

I'm excited to announce that now you can create up to 3 developer environments with the Power Apps Developer Plan! Let's take this opportunity to review how to get a free environment to get started.

## Sign up for the Power Apps Developer Plan[​](#sign-up-for-the-power-apps-developer-plan "Direct link to heading")

The Power Apps Developer Plan gives you a free development environment to build and test with Power Apps, Power Automate, and Microsoft Dataverse. It just takes a few minutes to get a developer environment for Power Platform:

1. Ensure that you have a work account. If you don't, you can [create a test tenant first.](#do-i-need-a-test-tenant)
2. Sign up on the [Power Apps Developer Plan website](https://aka.ms/lowcode-february/devplan).
3. Once the sign up is complete, you will be redirected to your new developer environment.

[ ![Power Apps Developer Plan - sign up process](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/3zebsl992oogb9idadc7.png)](https://microsoft.github.io/Low-Code/assets/images/01%20-%20devplan%20signup-3afa66fd4f7c0edb8e766ff2cc60b9c0.gif)


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### Do I need a test tenant?

In an ideal world you would use your existing work account to sign up for the Power Apps Developer Plan. If you already have an Azure account, you likely can use the same account to sign up. If this is not possible for any reason, you can create a free test tenant using the [Microsoft 365 Developer Program](https://learn.microsoft.com/power-platform/developer/create-developer-environment#how-to-create-a-test-tenant).

## Get familiar with the tools[​](#get-familiar-with-the-tools "Direct link to heading")

After the sign up you will be in the [https://make.powerapps.com](https://make.powerapps.com) and your environment will be ready to use. You can start creating your first Power App.

If you would like to create more environments or manage your environment, visit the [Power Platform Administrator Center.](https://aka.ms/ppac)


[ ![Create new environments in the Power Platform Admin Center](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/7qslqa3auw0p0x1iytsp.png)](https://microsoft.github.io/Low-Code/assets/images/01%20-%20devplan%20PPAC-86758d335b4009972e36e1e37ae737ff.gif)

_Create new environments in the Power Platform Admin Center_

If you are a code first developer, you can use the Power Platform CLI to manage your environments, create code first components and much more. The best way to get our CLI is to download the [Visual Studio Code extension.](https://learn.microsoft.com/power-platform/developer/cli/introduction)

[![Power Platform Tools for Visual Studio Code](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/2v14oi3uwgpyx5xqvfk2.png)](https://microsoft.github.io/Low-Code/assets/images/01%20-%20devplan%20CLI-5d47902f150aef319a6100d7362b1481.gif)

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## What's next?

Are you a code first developer? To understand how Power Platform can make you more productive and how you can use code to extend the platform, check the [Introduction to Microsoft Power Platform for developers](https://learn.microsoft.com/power-platform/developer/get-started).

- For detailed information on the Power Apps Developer plan: [Sign up for Power Apps Developer Plan](https://learn.microsoft.com/power-apps/maker/developer-plan)

- For detailed information on licensing: [Licensing overview for Microsoft Power Platform](https://learn.microsoft.com/power-platform/admin/pricing-billing-skus)

Happy coding 🎉.

---

## About the Author

**Marcel Ferreira** is a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, focused on all things Low-Code Development and Power Platform related. Follow him [@marcel_ferreira](https://twitter.com/marcel_ferreira) on Twitter or [here](https://github.com/marcelbf) on GitHub.

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## Resources

- [Introduction to the Power Platform](https://learn.microsoft.com/training/modules/introduction-power-platform//?WT.mc_id=power-82212-apdunnam)
- [Fusion Development with Power Platform EBook](https://learn.microsoft.com/power-apps/guidance/fusion-dev-ebook/?WT.mc_id=power-82212-apdunnam)
- [Fusion Development with Power Platform Learning Path](https://learn.microsoft.com/training/paths/transform-business-applications-with-fusion-development/?WT.mc_id=power-82212-apdunnam)
- [Learn Collection: LowCode February](https://aka.ms/lowcode-february/collection)

![Campaign Banner](https://microsoft.github.io/Low-Code/assets/images/30-banner-d9bab2b92d758942447a4cbc50aef715.png)