add-server-logic

Plugin check: Run node "${PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/check-version.js" — if it outputs a message, show it to the user before proceeding.

Add Server Logic

Create and manage one or more Power Pages Server Logic files — server-side JavaScript that runs securely on the Power Pages runtime, hidden from the browser and protected by web roles and table permissions. Server Logic enables secure external API integrations, Dataverse operations, and custom business logic without exposing sensitive code or credentials to the client.

Core Principles

• Microsoft Learn is the source of truth: Always fetch the latest documentation before writing code. The Server Logic feature is in preview and the SDK may change — never rely on cached knowledge alone.
• No browser APIs, no dependencies: Server Logic runs in a sandboxed server environment with ECMAScript 2023 support. There is no fetch, XMLHttpRequest, setTimeout, or any DOM API. No npm packages are available.
• Five functions only: A server logic file can only export these top-level functions: get, post, put, patch, del. The name delete is a reserved word in JavaScript and cannot be used.
• Always return a string: Every function must return a string. Use JSON.stringify() when returning objects or arrays.
• Use TaskCreate/TaskUpdate: Track all progress throughout all phases — create the todo list upfront with all phases before starting any work.

Prerequisites:

• An existing Power Pages code site created
• The site must be deployed at least once (.powerpages-site folder must exist) — server logic files live inside .powerpages-site/server-logic/, so deployment is required before any server logic can be created

Initial request: $ARGUMENTS

Workflow

1. Verify Site Exists — Locate the Power Pages project, explore existing patterns, and verify prerequisites
2. Understand Requirements — Determine the user intent and whether the solution needs one or more server logic files
3. Fetch Latest Documentation — Query Microsoft Learn for the most current Server Logic SDK reference
4. Review Implementation Plan — Present the plan to the user and confirm before writing code
5. Implement Server Logic — Create the approved .js and .serverlogic.yml files in .powerpages-site/server-logic/<name>/
6. Configure Table Permissions — (Conditional: only if Server.Connector.Dataverse is used) Set up table permissions for Dataverse tables accessed by the server logic
7. Manage Secrets & Environment Variables — (Conditional: only if the server logic requires secrets) Store sensitive values securely using Azure Key Vault (recommended) or direct environment variables in Dataverse
8. Configure Site Settings — Set up ServerLogic site settings if needed
9. Client-Side Integration — Help wire the server logic into the site's frontend code
10. Verify & Test Guidance — Validate the code and provide testing instructions
11. Review & Deploy — Present summary and offer deployment

Phase 1: Verify Site Exists

Goal: Locate the Power Pages project root and confirm prerequisites

Actions:

1. Create todo list with all 11 phases (see Progress Tracking table)

1.1 Locate Project

Look for powerpages.config.json in the current directory or immediate subdirectories

If not found: Tell the user to create a site first with /create-site.

1.2 Read Existing Config

Read powerpages.config.json to get the site name and configuration:

1.3 Detect Framework

Read package.json to determine the frontend framework (React, Vue, Angular, or Astro). This is needed for Phase 8 (client-side integration guidance). See ${PLUGIN_ROOT}/references/framework-conventions.md for the full framework detection mapping.

1.4 Explore Existing Server Logic and Frontend Code

Use the Explore agent (via Task tool with agent_type: "explore") to analyze the site for existing server logic patterns and frontend code that may call or need to call server logic endpoints.

Prompt for the Explore agent:

"Analyze this Power Pages code site for server logic context. Check:

1. Does .powerpages-site/server-logic/ exist? If yes, list all subdirectories and their .js files. Summarize what each server logic does (which functions it implements, what SDK features it uses). Also read the corresponding .serverlogic.yml files to check web role assignments.
2. Search the frontend source code (src/**/*.{ts,tsx,js,jsx,vue,astro}) for any existing calls to /_api/serverlogics/ — these indicate server logic endpoints already being consumed.
3. Look for CSRF token handling patterns (__RequestVerificationToken, _layout/tokenhtml) — these show how the site currently makes authenticated API calls.
4. Check for any TODO/FIXME comments mentioning server logic, backend, or server-side processing.
5. Look for hardcoded API URLs, mock data, or placeholder fetch calls that might need to be replaced with server logic calls.
6. Check for any existing service layer or API utility files in src/shared/, src/services/, or similar directories that could be reused for server logic integration.
7. Read .powerpages-site/web-roles/*.webrole.yml files to list available web roles and their GUIDs — these are needed when creating the server logic metadata YAML.
8. For each existing server logic, assess whether it can be reused or safely extended for the requested capability instead of creating a brand-new server logic file. Call out any strong reuse candidates and explain why. Report all findings so we can avoid duplicating work and match existing patterns."

From the Explore agent's findings, note:

• Existing server logic files — what's already implemented, and which ones are candidates for reuse or extension
• Frontend calling patterns — how the site makes API calls (match this pattern in Phase 9)
• Existing service/utility files — reuse these when adding client-side integration
• Gaps — frontend code that references server logic endpoints that don't exist yet

1.5 Check Deployment Status (Mandatory)

Look for the .powerpages-site folder:

If not found: The site must be deployed before server logic can be created — server logic files live inside .powerpages-site/server-logic/. Tell the user:

"The .powerpages-site folder was not found. Server logic files are stored inside this folder, so the site must be deployed at least once before creating server logic. Would you like to deploy now?"

🚦 Gate (plan · add-server-logic:1.5.deploy-first): .powerpages-site missing — server logic files live inside it. Deploy first or stop.

Trigger: Phase 1.5 found no .powerpages-site directory. Why we ask: Server logic .js/.yml files written to a non-existent path won't deploy. Cancel leaves: Nothing — no server logic files written yet.

Use AskUserQuestion:

If "Yes, deploy now": Invoke /deploy-site first, then continue to Phase 2.

If "Cancel": Stop the workflow — server logic cannot be created without .powerpages-site.

Output: Confirmed project root, .powerpages-site exists, existing server logic (if any), available web roles

Phase 2: Understand Requirements

Goal: Determine the user intent, identify whether one or more server logic files are needed, and capture the required HTTP methods for each item

Actions:

2.1 Analyze User Request

From the user's request, determine:

• Intent shape: Does the request map to a single server logic or multiple server logic?
• Reuse opportunities: Can an existing server logic satisfy or be safely extended for part of the request?
• Server logic inventory: For each required server logic, capture the purpose, suggested endpoint name, and whether it should be reused, extended, or created new
• HTTP methods needed: Which of the 5 functions should be implemented for each server logic (get, post, put, patch, del)

Prefer reuse or safe extension of an existing server logic when it already matches the domain, security model, and lifecycle of the requested capability. Only create a new server logic when reuse would make the existing file confusing, over-broad, or unsafe.

Prefer multiple server logic files when the use case naturally separates into different responsibilities, security boundaries, or lifecycle concerns. Examples:

• Separate read vs. write workflows with different web role requirements
• Distinct integrations with different external systems or site settings
• Independent business capabilities that would be harder to test or reason about if merged into one endpoint

2.1.1 Identify Validate-and-Execute Patterns

For each planned server logic item, determine whether it should validate-and-execute — meaning the server logic both validates a business rule AND performs the resulting Dataverse write, rather than just returning a validation result for the client to act on.

A server logic item should validate-and-execute when any of these are true:

For each validate-and-execute item, note:

• Which Dataverse writes the server logic will perform (UpdateRecord, CreateRecord, etc.)
• Which fields are being written — these fields should NOT be writable via Web API from the client
• What the server logic returns to the client — typically a success/failure result with the before/after state, NOT a validation flag that the client acts on

Anti-pattern to avoid: A server logic item that only validates and returns { valid: true/false }, expecting the client to make a separate Web API call to perform the write. This allows the client to skip validation and write directly.

2.1.2 Discover Dataverse Custom Actions

If any planned server logic item involves Dataverse operations, check whether the user's Dataverse environment has existing custom actions (Custom APIs or Custom Process Actions) that could be leveraged instead of building logic from scratch.

Step 1 — Fetch custom actions:

node "${PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/list-custom-actions.js" "<ENV_URL>"

The script outputs a JSON object with:

• customApis — Modern Custom APIs with full request parameters and response properties
• customProcessActions — Legacy Custom Process Actions (activated only)
• total — Total count of both types combined

Each entry includes: name, displayName, description, type (action or function), binding (unbound, entity, or entityCollection), boundEntity, and source (customApi or customProcessAction). Custom APIs also include requestParameters and responseProperties arrays.

Step 2 — Present and ask the user:

If custom actions are found (total > 0), present a summary to the user grouped by binding type (unbound vs. entity-bound) and ask whether any should be used:

🚦 Gate (plan · add-server-logic:2.1.2.use-custom-actions): Custom actions discovered — decide whether to wrap existing Dataverse Custom APIs/Process Actions or build server logic from scratch. Choice changes the Phase 5 implementation shape.

Trigger: list-custom-actions.js returned at least one entry. Why we ask: Auto-wrapping could attach the wrong action; auto-skipping duplicates logic that already exists in Dataverse. Cancel leaves: Nothing — no server logic files written yet.

Use AskUserQuestion:

Present the list clearly — for each action show: name, description, type (action/function), binding, and bound entity (if applicable). Group them as Unbound and Entity-bound for readability.

If the user says No, skip to Phase 2.2.

Step 3 — Map custom actions to server logic items:

If the user says Yes, for each server logic item being created, ask which custom action (if any) it should wrap:

Use AskUserQuestion for each server logic item:

Record the mapping for each server logic item. For items that wrap a custom action, note:

• The custom action name (used in the InvokeCustomApi call)
• Whether it's a function (GET) or action (POST)
• The binding type and bound entity (if applicable)
• The request parameters and response properties (if available from Custom APIs)

This mapping will be used in Phase 5.3 when generating the server logic code, and will appear in the HTML plan (Phase 4) to indicate which items wrap existing custom actions.

2.2 Identify SDK Features Needed

Based on each planned server logic item's purpose, identify which Server SDK features are required:

2.3 Identify Secret Values

Determine whether any server logic item requires secret or sensitive configuration values that should not be hardcoded. Common examples:

For each identified secret, capture:

• Secret name: A descriptive name (e.g., ExchangeRateApiKey, PaymentGatewaySecret)
• Purpose: Why the secret is needed
• Site setting name: The name the server logic will use with Server.Sitesetting.Get() (e.g., ExternalApi/ExchangeRateApiKey)
• Environment variable schema name: The Dataverse environment variable schema name (e.g., cr5b4_ExchangeRateApiKey)

These values will be used in Phase 7 to create the environment variables and site settings.

2.3.1 Key Vault Decision

If secrets were identified in Phase 2.3, ask the user now whether they want to use Azure Key Vault. This decision must happen before Phase 4 so the implementation plan can show the chosen secret management approach.

🚦 Gate (plan · add-server-logic:2.3.1.keyvault): Pick secret-storage mechanism (Key Vault vs plain env var). Choice changes the Phase 4 rendered plan and the Phase 7 implementation pipeline.

Trigger: Phase 2.3 identified at least one secret value. Why we ask: Plain env var creation can expose secrets in solution exports; auto-picking Key Vault forces additional Azure setup. Cancel leaves: Nothing — no env var definitions written yet.

Use AskUserQuestion:

Record the user's choice — it will be shown in the HTML plan (Phase 4) and executed in Phase 7.

2.4 Confirm with User

If the requirements are ambiguous, use AskUserQuestion to clarify:

Output: Clear understanding of the overall intent, the list of server logic items to reuse/extend/create, their HTTP methods, SDK features needed, and any secrets required

Phase 3: Fetch Latest Documentation

Goal: Discover and read all current Server Logic documentation from Microsoft Learn before writing any code

This step is critical because Server Logic is a preview feature and the SDK surface may change. The documentation on Microsoft Learn is the authoritative source.

Actions:

3.1 Follow the Documentation Reference

Use the reference document below as the source of truth for how to discover, classify, fetch, and reconcile Server Logic documentation:

Reference: ${PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/add-server-logic/references/server-logic-docs.md

Follow that reference to:

• Search Microsoft Learn dynamically for all current Server Logic docs
• Fetch the core reference pages and any relevant scenario-specific pages
• Search for current code samples
• Reconcile the discovered documentation with the known SDK baseline in the reference

3.2 Extract Task-Specific Notes

From the fetched docs, extract and note the items that matter for the current task:

• All SDK method signatures, parameter types, and return types
• Current supported HTTP methods and function signatures
• Site settings and their defaults
• Security model (web roles, table permissions, CSRF)
• Client-side calling patterns and response format
• Any new methods or breaking changes discovered in Microsoft Learn

Output: Up-to-date SDK reference verified against all relevant Microsoft Learn documentation pages

Phase 4: Review Implementation Plan

Goal: Present the implementation plan to the user and confirm before writing any code

Actions:

4.1 Prepare the Plan Data

Build the server logic plan data and render the HTML plan before asking for approval.

Reference: ${PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/add-server-logic/references/server-logic-plan-data-format.md

The rendered plan should summarize:

• The number of server logic items being created or reused
• Each endpoint name, API URL, and files to be created
• The functions that will be implemented and what each one does
• The SDK features, external services, and Dataverse tables involved for each item
• The web roles, security constraints, and site settings that apply to each item
• Any secrets or sensitive values that will be stored as environment variables (with or without Azure Key Vault). If the user chose Azure Key Vault in Phase 2.3.1, populate SECRETS_DATA with useKeyVault: true and the list of secrets — the HTML plan will render a Key Vault banner explaining the security benefits and show which secrets each server logic depends on. If no secrets are needed, set SECRETS_DATA to null.
• The expected next steps after approval

4.2 Render the HTML Plan

Generate the HTML plan file from the template and open it in the user's default browser before asking for approval.

When working inside a Power Pages project, write the plan to:

<PROJECT_ROOT>/docs/serverlogic-plan.html

Create the docs/ folder if it does not already exist. Keep this HTML file inside the repository so it can be reviewed and committed with the rest of the server logic work.

Do not hand-author the HTML. Use the render script:

node "${PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/render-serverlogic-plan.js" --output "<OUTPUT_PATH>" --data "<DATA_JSON_PATH>"

The render script refuses to overwrite existing files. Before calling it, check if the default output path (<PROJECT_ROOT>/docs/serverlogic-plan.html) already exists. If it does, choose a new descriptive filename based on context — e.g., serverlogic-plan-exchange-rate.html, serverlogic-plan-apr-2026.html. Pass the chosen name via --output.

4.3 Present Plan Summary

Do not present a second detailed plan in the CLI. The HTML file is the single detailed plan artifact.

In the CLI, give only a brief summary that points the user to the HTML plan open in the browser. Keep it to:

• Total server logic count
• Whether the plan is creating, updating, or reusing items
• Whether web roles, table permissions, or site settings are involved
• The actual output path returned by the render script
• A note that the browser-opened HTML contains the full details

Do not restate the per-server-logic breakdown, rationale, role assignments, or function details inline in the CLI unless the user explicitly asks for a text version. Tell the user where the detailed HTML plan file was saved, that it has been opened in the browser for review, and that the repo copy of the plan will be committed with the implementation artifacts unless the user asks to discard it.

4.4 Confirm with User

🚦 Gate (plan · add-server-logic:4.4.plan-approval): Final sign-off on the rendered HTML plan before Phase 5 writes any .serverlogic.yml / .js files or Phase 7 creates env vars.

Trigger: Phase 4.2 rendered the HTML plan; Phase 4.3 surfaced the CLI summary. Why we ask: Server logic files committed under wrong names / wrong roles; env var definitions created against the wrong secret-storage mode. Cancel leaves: Nothing — no server logic files written yet.

Use AskUserQuestion:

If "Request changes": Ask what needs to change, update the plan, and present again.

If "Cancel": Stop the workflow.

Output: User-approved implementation plan

Phase 5: Implement Server Logic

Goal: Create each approved server logic .js file and metadata YAML following the constraints verified in Phase 3

Actions:

5.1 Create Server Logic Folder

For each approved server logic item:

• If the approved plan says reuse: Do not create a new folder. Reuse the existing server logic as-is and only update the surrounding integration work if needed.
• If the approved plan says update / extend: Reuse the existing folder and update the existing .js / .serverlogic.yml files rather than creating duplicates.
• If the approved plan says create: Create the folder inside .powerpages-site/server-logic/ (note: singular server-logic, no trailing 's'). Ensure the folder name matches that endpoint name exactly.

5.2 Read or Create Web Roles

Use the Create Web Role skill to determine which web roles are required for the approved server logic plan and to create any missing roles before writing metadata.

Do not assume every server logic should get every available role. Instead, determine the minimum set of roles required for each server logic based on its purpose, security model, and the approved plan.

Example web role file content:

adx_anonymoususersrole: false
adx_authenticatedusersrole

In the skill workflow, explicitly invoke the Create Web Role skill when:

• The site has no suitable existing web roles
• The approved plan includes proposed roles that do not exist yet
• The role assignments need to be refined before metadata can be created

After the Create Web Role skill completes, read the resulting web role YAML files and collect the id and name values needed for each server logic's metadata YAML.

5.3 Create the Server Logic File

Repeat this step for each approved server logic item. Create or update <PROJECT_ROOT>/.powerpages-site/server-logic/<name>/<name>.js according to the approved plan status (create, update, or reuse) and follow these mandatory patterns:

Structure Rules

1. Only top-level functions: The file can only contain these 5 functions at the top level: get, post, put, patch, del. Only include the functions the user needs.
2. Each function returns a string: Use JSON.stringify() for objects/arrays.
3. Each function has try/catch: Every function must wrap its logic in a try/catch block.
4. Each function logs: Use Server.Logger.Log() at entry and Server.Logger.Error() in catch blocks.
5. No imports or requires: No import, require, or external dependencies.
6. No browser APIs: No fetch, XMLHttpRequest, setTimeout, setInterval, console.log, or DOM APIs.
7. Async when needed: Mark functions as async only when they use await (HttpClient calls). Dataverse connector methods (Server.Connector.Dataverse.*) are synchronous — do NOT use async/await with them.

Prohibited Script Patterns

The Power Pages server-side script validator rejects scripts containing certain patterns at runtime. Violations surface as RTSL01: Script validation failed: prohibited pattern found - Pattern: <regex> in diagnostics, and the function silently falls through without executing user code.

Workaround for OData functions — split the literal so with( is not contiguous in source:

The same trick applies to endswith(, groupwith(, and any other identifier that ends with with(.

Code Template

Validate-and-Execute Template

When a server logic item is identified as validate-and-execute (see Phase 2.1.1), use this pattern. The key difference: the server logic reads the current state, validates the business rule, AND writes the result to Dataverse — all in one call. The client never writes the protected field directly.

Key differences from the basic template:

1. The server logic reads the current state from Dataverse (not trusting the client's view)
2. It validates the business rule server-side
3. It writes the result to Dataverse via Server.Connector.Dataverse.UpdateRecord
4. It returns a success/failure result — NOT a { valid: true/false } flag for the client to act on
5. The client calls this one endpoint — it does NOT make a separate Web API PATCH call

Custom Action Wrapping Template

When a server logic item wraps a Dataverse custom action (mapped in Phase 2.1.2), use this pattern with Server.Connector.Dataverse.InvokeCustomApi. The server logic acts as a portal-friendly wrapper, exposing the custom action through a /_api/serverlogics/<name> endpoint with proper web role authorization.

Unbound action:

Entity-bound action:

Unbound function (read-only, GET):

Key points:

• Unbound actions: Use the action name as the URL, pass parameters as JSON body
• Entity-bound actions: Include the entity set and record ID in the URL path, followed by Microsoft.Dynamics.CRM.<action-name>
• Functions (GET): Use "GET" as the HTTP method and pass parameters inline in the URL using OData function call syntax
• Actions (POST): Use "POST" as the HTTP method and pass parameters as JSON body payload
• InvokeCustomApi is synchronous — do NOT use async/await
• The server logic can add additional validation, transformation, or logging around the custom action call — it doesn't have to be a pass-through
• When Custom API response properties are known (from Phase 2.1.2), map them to the response object for clarity

Dataverse Response Shape (Critical for Frontend Integration)

When a function returns the result of a Server.Connector.Dataverse.* method, the client sees a double-wrapped payload — the most common cause of broken frontend integrations. Before writing the function, pick one of three response shapes and record the choice for Phase 9: Approach A — raw passthrough (return the connector result as-is), Approach B — envelope that wraps the connector result (return { status, data: result } without unwrapping Body), or Approach C — fully normalized (parse Body server-side and return a feature-specific shape — recommended for non-generic endpoints).

See ${PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/add-server-logic/references/frontend-integration-reference.md → "Dataverse Connector Response Format" for the double-wrapping explanation, the CreateRecord / entityid header behavior, and server- and client-side examples for each shape.

Referencing Secrets in Code

When the server logic needs a secret value identified in Phase 2.3, never hardcode the value. Instead, read it at runtime from a site setting backed by an environment variable:

Use the site setting name planned in Phase 2.3. The actual environment variable and site setting YAML will be created in Phase 7.

SDK Usage Guidance

Do not duplicate Microsoft Learn SDK usage patterns inline in this skill. Use the documentation fetched in Phase 3 as the source of truth for connector methods, signatures, and supported patterns, then apply only the task-specific notes that were captured in the approved plan.

5.4 Create the Metadata YAML

For each approved server logic item where the plan status is create, generate the metadata file with the deterministic writer script instead of hand-authoring the YAML. The script generates the UUID, writes the fields in the correct order, and returns the created file path as JSON. Skip this step for update / reuse items — the YAML already exists and should be updated manually if needed.

The generated <PROJECT_ROOT>/.powerpages-site/server-logic/<name>/<name>.serverlogic.yml file has this structure:

Critical requirements:

• id field is mandatory — The script generates a new UUID (v4). PAC CLI crashes with Expected Guid for primary key 'id' if this is missing.
• adx_serverlogic_adx_webrole — Array of web role GUIDs from step 5.2. Include only the roles required for that server logic item.
• name — Must match the folder name and .js file name (the URL-friendly name used in /_api/serverlogics/<name>).
• display_name — Human-readable name (e.g., "Exchange Rate API", "Order Processor").
• Alphabetical field ordering — Fields must be sorted alphabetically: adx_serverlogic_adx_webrole, description, display_name, id, name.

5.5 Validate the Code

Before saving, verify the code against these constraints:

5.6 Git Commit

After creating the approved server logic files, do a git commit for the server logic changes.

If the HTML plan was generated inside the project, include it in the same commit (use the actual output path from the render script's JSON response).

Output: Server logic .js and .serverlogic.yml files created, validated, and committed

Phase 6: Configure Table Permissions (Conditional)

Goal: Set up table permissions for Dataverse tables accessed by Server.Connector.Dataverse in the server logic code

This phase only runs when the server logic uses Server.Connector.Dataverse. If the server logic only uses Server.Connector.HttpClient (external APIs) or doesn't access Dataverse at all, skip this phase entirely and proceed to Phase 7.

Server.Connector.Dataverse does NOT bypass table permissions — it respects them. Without table permissions configured, the Dataverse connector silently returns 0 records instead of the actual data. This is a common source of confusion.

Actions:

6.1 Detect Dataverse Tables and Required Privileges

Parse the server logic .js file created in Phase 5 to identify which Dataverse tables are accessed and what CRUD operations are performed:

Extract the entity set name (first argument) from each method call. Build a mapping:

6.2 Use the Table Permissions Architect

When any approved server logic item uses Server.Connector.Dataverse, invoke the table-permissions-architect agent at ${PLUGIN_ROOT}/agents/table-permissions-architect.md to determine and create the required table permissions.

Prompt:

"Analyze this Power Pages code site and propose table permissions for Dataverse tables accessed by the approved server logic plan. The following tables need permissions:

[list each table with required CRUD privileges from step 6.1, grouped by server logic item]

Context:

• These permissions are needed because the server logic uses Server.Connector.Dataverse, which respects table permissions — without them, the connector silently returns 0 records.
• The scope should typically be Global for server logic that fetches all records, unless the server logic filters by the current user (in which case use Contact scope).
• The web roles assigned to these server logic items are: [list web role names and GUIDs from Phase 5.2]
• Project root: [path]

Check for existing table permissions and web roles. If new web roles are needed, create them using the create-web-role.js script. Propose a plan, then after approval create the table permission YAML files using the deterministic scripts."

The agent will:

1. Discover existing table permissions and web roles
2. Create any missing web roles via create-web-role.js if needed
3. Propose a table permissions plan (with HTML visualization)
4. Present the plan via plan mode for user approval
5. After approval, create table permission YAML files in .powerpages-site/table-permissions/ using create-table-permission.js

6.3 Git Commit

After table permissions (and any new web roles) are created, do a git commit for the table permissions changes.

Output: Table permissions (and web roles if created) configured for all Dataverse tables accessed by the server logic

Phase 7: Manage Secrets & Environment Variables

Goal: Securely store any secret values (API keys, client secrets, connection strings) required by the server logic as environment variables in Dataverse, optionally backed by Azure Key Vault

This phase only runs when the server logic requires secret or sensitive configuration values (identified in Phase 2.3). If no secrets are needed, skip this phase and proceed to Phase 8.

Actions:

7.1 Recall Key Vault Decision

The user already chose whether to use Azure Key Vault in Phase 2.3.1 (before the plan was presented). Use that decision here — do not re-ask.

7.2a Azure Key Vault Path

If the user chose Azure Key Vault in Phase 2.3.1:

Step 1 — List available Key Vaults:

The script outputs a JSON array of Key Vaults (name, resourceGroup, location) from the user's Azure subscription.

Step 2 — Select or create a Key Vault:

If Key Vaults were found, present the list and ask which one to use:

Use AskUserQuestion:

If no Key Vaults are found, ask the user how to proceed:

🚦 Gate (plan · add-server-logic:7.2a.no-vaults): No Key Vaults found in the user's subscription — create one or fall back to plain env vars. Branches the secret-storage flow.

Trigger: Phase 2.3.1 chose Key Vault but list-azure-keyvaults.js returned an empty list. Why we ask: Auto-creating a Key Vault provisions Azure resources without explicit consent; auto-falling-back stores secrets as plain env vars after the user explicitly opted in to Key Vault. Cancel leaves: Nothing — no Azure or Dataverse writes yet.

Use AskUserQuestion:

If "Create a new Key Vault": Ask for a vault name, resource group, and location, then create it:

Use AskUserQuestion:

The script outputs a JSON object with name, resourceGroup, and location. Use the created vault for the remaining steps.

If "Store directly as environment variable": Skip the rest of Phase 7.2a and proceed to Phase 7.2b (direct environment variable path).

Step 3 — Provide instructions for storing each secret in Key Vault:

For each secret identified in Phase 2.3, give the user instructions to store the value themselves. Do not ask for the secret value — secret values must never pass through the conversation.

Present both methods (CLI and Azure Portal) so the user can choose whichever they prefer:

Option A — Azure CLI (recommended for automation):

Present the commands as a numbered list the user can copy and run. Use the stdin form so the secret value does not appear in process listings:

Tell the user each command outputs a JSON object with a secretUri and to share the output (which contains only the URI, not the secret) so the workflow can continue.

Option B — Azure Portal:

Provide these steps for each secret:

Tell the user the Secret Identifier URI looks like https://<vault-name>.vault.azure.net/secrets/<secret-name>/<version> and that this URI (not the secret value) is what should be shared back.

Step 4 — Create environment variable in Dataverse:

After the user shares the secretUri output from each command, create an environment variable definition in Dataverse that references the Key Vault secret. Use the secret type:

Step 5 — Create site setting for the environment variable:

For each environment variable, create a site setting YAML that maps to it:

This creates a site setting with envvar_schema and source: 1, which tells Power Pages to resolve the value from the Dataverse environment variable (backed by Key Vault).

7.2b Direct Environment Variable Path

If the user chose not to use Azure Key Vault:

Step 1 — Create environment variables with placeholder values:

For each secret identified in Phase 2.3, create the environment variable in Dataverse with a placeholder value:

Step 2 — Create site setting for the environment variable:

Step 3 — Give the user steps to set the actual secret values:

Do not ask for secret values — they must never pass through the conversation. Instead, tell the user to update each placeholder with the real value using one of these approaches:

1. Power Apps maker portal (make.powerapps.com) — Go to Solutions → Default Solution → Environment variables → find the variable by display name → update the value

Present the list of environment variables that need updating (display name and schema name for each) so the user knows exactly which ones to set.

7.3 Verify Environment Variable Configuration

After creating all environment variables and site settings:

• Confirm each site setting YAML was created in .powerpages-site/site-settings/
• Verify each YAML contains envvar_schema and source: 1
• Confirm the server logic code references the correct site setting names via Server.Sitesetting.Get("<SiteSetting/Name>")

7.4 Git Commit

Do a git commit for the environment variable site setting changes.

Output: Environment variables created in Dataverse (with or without Azure Key Vault backing), site settings configured, server logic referencing correct setting names

Phase 8: Configure Site Settings

Goal: Set up site settings for the server logic feature

Actions:

8.1 Configure Server Logic Site Settings

The .powerpages-site folder is guaranteed to exist at this point (verified in Phase 1.5).

The following site settings control server logic behavior. Only create settings that differ from defaults or are specifically needed:

Use the existing site setting creation script:

8.2 Git Commit

If any settings were created:

Do a git commit for the site settings changes.

Output: Site settings configured and committed (or skipped if not needed/deployed)

Phase 9: Client-Side Integration

Goal: Help the user call the server logic endpoints from their site's frontend code, matching existing patterns discovered in Phase 1

Server logic creates the backend — but without frontend code to call it, the endpoints are unused. This phase creates or updates frontend code to consume the server logic APIs, using the patterns and conventions already established in the codebase.

Actions:

9.1 Ask User About Integration Scope

🚦 Gate (plan · add-server-logic:9.1.frontend-scope): Decide whether the skill also wires the server logic into the frontend UI or stops at the backend.

Trigger: Phase 8 completed (server logic deployed-ready). Why we ask: Auto-integrating mutates UI files the user wanted to handle themselves; auto-skipping leaves the endpoints unreachable from the app. Cancel leaves: Nothing — server logic backend is already on disk; this prompt only decides frontend follow-through.

Use AskUserQuestion:

If "No": Skip to Phase 10, but provide the API URL and a code snippet the user can copy.

9.2 Follow the Frontend Integration Reference

Use the reference below for the frontend integration approach, examples, and framework-specific patterns:

Reference: ${PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/add-server-logic/references/frontend-integration-reference.md

Based on the Explore agent's findings from Phase 1.4 and the approved plan, choose the integration approach from that reference and apply it consistently across all server logic endpoints being wired into the frontend.

9.3 Create or Update Frontend Integration

Following the reference:

• Reuse the existing service layer or API utility when the site already has one
• Create a lightweight CSRF-aware helper only when the site has no established API client pattern
• Group multiple server logic endpoints into a coherent service module when that improves maintainability
• Add framework-specific hooks/composables/services only when the codebase already follows that pattern
• Fully integrate the server logic into the actual UI flow — do not stop at creating service/helper code
• Update the relevant pages, components, forms, buttons, or user journeys so the new backend behavior is reachable from the interface
• Replace placeholder data, mock handlers, or temporary actions when they are meant to be backed by the new server logic endpoints
• Add or preserve loading, success, empty, and error states so the UI behaves like a finished feature
• For validate-and-execute endpoints: The frontend must call the server logic endpoint for the protected operation (e.g., status transition) — it must NOT make a separate Web API PATCH for the same field. Ensure the UI for that operation (e.g., a "Submit" or "Approve" button) calls the server logic service function, not the Web API service
• For Dataverse-backed endpoints: Match the frontend parsing to the response shape chosen in Phase 5.3. See "Dataverse Connector Response Format" in the frontend integration reference for the exact parsing per shape.
• If the response shape is unclear: Do not guess. After the site is deployed, invoke /test-site against the live site so the actual server logic response can be captured from the network tab and used to drive the integration

9.4 Git Commit

If frontend integration code was created:

Do a git commit for the frontend integration changes.

Output: Frontend service/hook created as needed, UI components/pages fully integrated, and changes committed

Phase 10: Verify & Test Guidance

Goal: Validate the code and provide the user with everything needed to test the server logic

Actions:

10.1 Final Code Validation

Re-read each created .js file and verify:

• Only allowed top-level functions (get, post, put, patch, del)
• Every function returns a string
• try/catch in every function
• Server.Logger calls in every function
• No import, require, or external dependencies
• No browser APIs (fetch, XMLHttpRequest, setTimeout, console.log, document, window)
• Async only on functions that use await
• Correct SDK method usage (verified against Phase 3 documentation)
• HttpClient used only for external APIs (not Dataverse)
• Dataverse connector used for Dataverse operations

Re-read each .serverlogic.yml file and verify:

• id field exists and is a valid UUID
• adx_serverlogic_adx_webrole array is non-empty (at least one web role)
• name matches the folder name and .js file name
• display_name and description are populated
• Fields are alphabetically sorted
• File names match: folder name, .js name, .serverlogic.yml name, and name field all use the same value

10.2 Provide API URL

Tell the user each endpoint URL:

10.3 Test Guidance

Provide testing instructions:

1. Deploy the site first — The server logic must be deployed via /deploy-site before it can be called
2. CSRF token required for non-GET requests — POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE calls to server logic endpoints require a CSRF token. Fetch the token from /_layout/tokenhtml and include it as __RequestVerificationToken header. GET requests are exempt from antiforgery validation — no token is needed for read-only calls.
3. Authentication — Server logic respects the site's authentication. Calls from authenticated sessions use cookie-based auth automatically. Anonymous access depends on governance settings.
4. Testing from browser console:

Use the frontend integration reference from Phase 9 for the exact calling pattern that matches the site's stack.

5. Check diagnostics — Server.Logger output can be viewed in Power Pages design studio diagnostics
6. If the endpoint returns an error or unexpected response — see Troubleshooting Server Logic Execution Errors for the Playwright + X-Ms-UserTrace debugging flow

Output: Code validated, API URL provided, test guidance given

Phase 11: Review & Deploy

Goal: Present a summary of all work performed and offer deployment

Actions:

11.1 Record Skill Usage

Reference: ${PLUGIN_ROOT}/references/skill-tracking-reference.md

Follow the skill tracking instructions in the reference to record this skill's usage. Use --skillName "AddServerLogic".

11.2 Present Summary

Present a summary of everything that was done:

11.3 Ask to Deploy

🚦 Gate (plan · add-server-logic:11.3.deploy): Post-implementation deploy prompt — server logic endpoints aren't reachable until deployed.

Trigger: All server logic artifacts written and committed. Why we ask: Auto-deploy picks wrong env. Cancel leaves: Nothing — artifacts stay on disk; no deploy fired.

Use AskUserQuestion:

🚦 Gate (plan · add-server-logic:11.3.test): Post-deploy validation prompt — invokes /test-site to exercise the new endpoints live.

Trigger: Deploy from the previous gate succeeded. Why we ask: Skipping is harmless (manual test still possible); auto-invoking /test-site adds runtime. Cancel leaves: Nothing — deploy has already completed.

If "Yes, deploy now": Invoke the /deploy-site skill to deploy the site.

After deployment succeeds, use AskUserQuestion:

If "Yes, run /test-site": Invoke the /test-site skill.

If "No, I'll deploy later": Acknowledge and remind:

"No problem! Remember to deploy your site using /deploy-site when you're ready. The server logic endpoints won't be accessible until the site is deployed."

11.4 Post-Deploy Notes

After deployment (or if skipped), remind the user:

• Test the endpoints: Call each /_api/serverlogics/<name> URL with the appropriate HTTP method (include CSRF token for non-GET requests)
• Recommended full-site validation: After deployment, ask whether to run /test-site so the live site can be validated end to end
• Check logs: Use Server.Logger output in Power Pages design studio diagnostics to debug issues
• Table permissions: Table permissions were configured for Dataverse tables used by this server logic. If you add new Dataverse tables later, run the table permissions setup again — without permissions, Server.Connector.Dataverse silently returns 0 records
• Timeout: Default execution timeout is 120 seconds — this is also the platform maximum (values above 120 are silently clamped)
• Anonymous access: If the site's governance control disables anonymous access, anonymous users cannot invoke server logic that integrates with external systems
• Preview feature: Server Logic is currently in preview — monitor Microsoft Learn for updates
• Environment variables with placeholder values: If Phase 7 created environment variables with placeholder values, remind the user to update them with the actual secret values before testing. They can do this via:
  1. Power Platform admin center — Environments → select environment → Environment variables → find by display name → update value
  2. Power Apps maker portal — Solutions → open solution → Environment variables → edit value

Output: Summary presented, deployment completed or deferred, post-deploy guidance provided

Troubleshooting Server Logic Execution Errors

When a deployed server logic endpoint returns an error or unexpected response, the underlying cause is usually hidden inside the X-Ms-UserTrace response header — a base64-encoded blob containing the runtime diagnostic logs. The Power Pages Edge browser extension shows the same data, but inspecting the response header is the fastest path when iterating against a live site.

Use this flow whenever a server logic call fails or returns a different response than expected:

1. Open the Live Site in a Browser via Playwright

Use the Playwright MCP tools to drive the site:

1. Navigate to the deployed site URL (the websiteUrl returned by /activate-site or shown in the Power Pages admin center).
2. Ask the user to sign in if the endpoint requires authentication and wait for confirmation.
3. Trigger the action that calls the failing server logic endpoint (click the button, submit the form, etc.) — or call the endpoint directly with fetch().

2. Capture the Network Response

Use mcp__plugin_power-pages_playwright__browser_network_requests to list network activity, then locate the request to /_api/serverlogics/<name>. Note:

• The HTTP status code (e.g., 200, 400, 500)
• The response body (often a generic error or empty payload when validation fails)
• Most importantly: the X-Ms-UserTrace response header — this is where the actual diagnostic logs live

If browser_network_requests does not surface the response headers directly, fall back to mcp__plugin_power-pages_playwright__browser_evaluate and read the headers from a fetch() call:

3. Decode the X-Ms-UserTrace Header

The header value is base64-encoded JSON. Decode it.

The decoded payload contains the diagnostic log entries — including the actual error message, the prohibited pattern (if script validation failed).

After fixing, redeploy via /deploy-site and restart the site so the change is picked up immediately.

Important Notes

Throughout All Phases

• Use TaskCreate/TaskUpdate to track progress at every phase
• Always fetch Microsoft Learn docs in Phase 3 before writing code — the docs are the source of truth
• Ask for user confirmation at key decision points
• Commit at milestones — after server logic code, table permissions (if any), secrets/environment variables (if any), site settings, and frontend integration (if any)
• Validate thoroughly — server logic has strict constraints and violations cause runtime errors

Key Decision Points (Wait for User)

1. At Phase 1.5: Deploy now or cancel (if .powerpages-site missing — mandatory)
2. At Phase 2.1.2: Use existing Dataverse custom actions or build from scratch (if custom actions found)
3. At Phase 2: Confirm requirements (purpose, name, HTTP methods, secrets)
4. At Phase 4: Approve implementation plan before writing code
5. At Phase 6.2: Review and approve the table-permissions-architect plan (if Dataverse connector is used)
6. At Phase 2.3.1: Choose Azure Key Vault or direct environment variable (if secrets needed)
7. At Phase 7.2a Step 2: Create a new Key Vault or fall back to direct environment variable (if no vaults found)
8. At Phase 9.1: Create frontend integration or skip
9. At Phase 11.3: Deploy now or deploy later

SDK Pattern Source of Truth

Do not treat this skill file as the canonical SDK reference. The Phase 3 Microsoft Learn fetch is the source of truth for SDK usage patterns, supported methods, signatures, and connector behavior. Keep only task-specific decisions in the plan and implementation notes.

Progress Tracking

Before starting Phase 1, create a task list with all phases using TaskCreate:

Mark each task in_progress when starting it and completed when done via TaskUpdate. Use TaskList between phase transitions and before the final summary to confirm there are no incomplete work items left.

Begin with Phase 1: Verify Site Exists*