We need a frictionless way for our external partners and customers to install Apps in Preview state.
To my knowledge, there are currently three ways to distribute an app in preview:
- Insider offers – requires the customer's Tenant ID
- Preview link – requires the customer's Tenant ID
- API-based installation – requires access to the customer's tenant
The Good News: We're 99% of the way there
1. MarketPlace HideKey acts as a Preview
An app in a preview state can be viewed through a link with the "Hide Key"
2. A preview app can be installed through the preview-link
An app in preview state can be installed using the "Preview Link" feature.
This is great, BUT you need to manually point it to your specific tenant-id.
The Missing 1%
My suggestion is simple: combine these capabilities.
When a user can access a preview app through Marketplace using the Hide Key, they should also be able to use the standard Get It Now experience and install the app into a tenant (exactly like a live app).
Why This Matters
Modern software dev is all about rapid feedback
We want to get prototypes into the hands of partners, gather feedback, and iterate.
Installing BC app previews directly from Marketplace would really support this.
see less