Building SharePoint Apps with the LightSwitch HTML Client Preview 2

Question

One of the new scenarios we’ve enabled in the latest preview release of LightSwitch is the ability to create “apps” for SharePoint 2013.  Your LightSwitch application, be it a rich SilverLight client or a mobile HTML client, can be published to an App Catalog and installed on a SharePoint site.  Enabling SharePoint for your LightSwitch application will allow LightSwitch access to the user’s SharePoint identity and provide references to the SharePoint Client Object Model (CSOM) for programmatic access to the assets on the SharePoint site.  With this latest preview release, LightSwitch for Visual Studio is now the easiest way to create applications for SharePoint 2013.

Not only can you create new LightSwitch applications, you can also enable existing applications for SharePoint – and then publish to a SharePoint App Catalog on Office 365.

In this preview release there are a few things to note when working with LightSwitch applications on SharePoint:

• Authorization – if your existing LightSwitch application uses Windows or form auth you’ll need to modify that code to remove the authorization checks – SharePoint will provide authentication for the application.
• Attaching to SharePoint lists will behave the same as in Visual Studio 2012.  To leverage the user’s identity when working with a list in this preview, you can use the CSOM.
• The preview release of SharePoint 2013 is under limited availability on Office 365 so that’s the best way to develop and test your apps

You may run across a few more but that’s where we need your feedback.  Whether you’re working with an existing LightSwitch application or creating new applications for SharePoint 2013, we want to hear from you.

Post in the forum, provide connect feedback, leverage User Voice and tell us what you think.

So…  If you haven’t already done so, head over to http://dev.office.com, sign up for a developer account and start using LightSwitch to create your SharePoint applications.

Thanks,
Brian Moore
Program Manager
LightSwitch Team

Answer 1

Hello Brian,

This functionality is exactly what I was looking for.
I have a SQLdatabase.I want to create a user Interface in Sharepoint.
Does it work with the SharePoint Foundation, or do I need the SharePoint Server?

Thanks,

Eddi

Answer 2

Eddi - for the preview release you need to use O365.  You can sign-up for a developer account here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/apps/fp179924(v=office.15)#o365_signup

Let me know if you have more questions...

Answer 3

Thanks for the answer,

I just created an account. I'll try it later.

Is it possible to use my local SQL Database from O365? Or do i need  a Azure Database?

About support for Fondation and Server:

What is planned for the final release? It would be great if it would also support SharePoint Foundation.

Thanks

Eddi

Answer 4

Eddi - it is possible to *attach* to a local db from O365 but you'd have to open your firewall so that an app on the internet can talk to that SQL database.  So be aware of the security implications there.

It's not possible, in this preview, to use an on-prem *intrinsic* db with a SharePoint 2013 app.

However, when you publish/deploy your LightSwitch application for SharePoint, a SQL Azure database will be automatically provisioned for you.  So unless you have existing data you want in your app, then there's nothing extra you need to do, SharePoint will do the provisioning for you.

That help?

Also, for the Foundation/Server question - it's probably best to post the query in the SharePoint forums.  They will know the details around licensing and functionality better there.

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/sharepoint

Answer 5

What is planned for the final release? It would be great if it would also support SharePoint Foundation.

+1 on Eddi's comment that SP Foundation 2013 should be supported.

Please let us know when we can install SP Foundation 2013 on our dev boxes and have it work with LS.

I am also VERY interested in integrating MVC technology with LS.  Specifically, the integration of umbraco and LS - I think that will be a great combination.  

---

Garth Henderson - Vanguard Business Technology

Answer 6

I havent tried the preview yet, so forgive me if this is a dumb question.

Can you connect to document lists from the lightswitch apps ?

Answer 7

You can indeed connect to lists and libraries via the CSOM (SharePoint Object Model).  The walkthrough has some code that connects to a picture library if you want to take a look at that.

Answer 8

Are there any resources on how to secure a lightswitch app within SharePoint?  I'm working on an app that will have normal users and admins and am trying to sort out how to go about doing that.

Thanks!

---

Tyler Bithell, Chief Technical Architect - Portals B2B Technologies LLC Atlanta GA SharePoint 2013 Blog http://sharepointv15.wordpress.com/ @B2B_Tech_TB

Answer 9

Tyler - we currently don't have support for a multi-role app in SharePoint, all users have equal perms.  You can secure the server using elevation but every SharePoint user would have the same perms.

I would be interested though, in hearing more about your scenario and how we might support it in the future.  If you want to send me email @ bmoore at microsoft.com that would be great...

Thanks,

Brian