Power Platform ToolBox
Everything the ToolBox can do
A universal desktop app that contains multiple tools to ease the customization and configuration of Power Platform.
Tool Management
Install and manage library of tools available within the ToolBox.
Secure Tool Host
Each installed tool runs in an isolated environment, ensuring security and stability.
Consent Management
Tools must declare and request explicit user consent before reaching external resources beyond their sandboxed baseline.
Dataverse Connections
Create and manage connections to Dataverse environments.
Settings Management
User settings for the ToolBox application, plus individual tool-specific settings.
Modern Interface
Built with modern web components for a consistent, accessible experience aligned with Power Platform.
Event-Driven API
ToolBox provides its own APIs that emit events for tools to react to.
Notifications
Built-in notification system to keep users informed.
Auto-Updates
Automatic application updates with user control.
Desktop App vs VS Code Extension
The VS Code extension is under active development. Here's how it compares today to the more mature Power Platform ToolBox Desktop App.
- Fully supported
- Partially supported
- Not supported
- Not applicable
Installed Tools SidePanel
| Feature | Desktop App | VS Code Extension |
|---|---|---|
| List installed tools in a sidebar/main list | ||
| Launch a tool in the context of the active connection | ||
| Uninstall a tool | ||
| Refresh list | ||
| Verified badge, publisher/contributor, category tooltip | ||
| Category/capability tags shown on the list item | tooltip only | |
| Download count / rating / active-user stats shown | used for sorting, not displayed | |
| Mark tool as favorite (star) | ||
| Search box | ||
| Sort (name, popularity, rating, downloads, favorite) | ||
| Filter by category/verified-only |
Marketplace SidePanel
| Feature | Desktop App | VS Code Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Browse marketplace tools in a sidebar/main list | ||
| Install a tool | ||
| Uninstall an installed marketplace tool | ||
| Verified badge, publisher/contributor, category tooltip | ||
| Refresh list | ||
| Category/capability tags shown on the list item | tooltip only | |
| Download count / rating / active-user stats shown | used for sorting, not displayed | |
| Search box | ||
| Sort (name, popularity, rating, downloads) | ||
| Filter by category/verified-only | ||
| "New tools" highlight/notification |
Installed Tools Full View
| Feature | Desktop App | VS Code Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated full-tab card-grid view of installed tools | ||
| Search installed tools | ||
| Sort and filter installed tools (shares state with the sidebar) | ||
| Mark tool as favorite (star) | ||
| Tabbed switch between Installed/Marketplace in the same panel |
Marketplace Full View
| Feature | Desktop App | VS Code Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated full-tab card-grid marketplace browser | ||
| Search marketplace tools | ||
| Category filter chips | ||
| Sort marketplace tools (shares state with the sidebar) | ||
| Paginated results |
Tool Updates
| Feature | Desktop App | VS Code Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Check for a newer version of an installed tool | ||
| One-click "Update" action | ||
| Update all available tools | ||
| Update-in-progress indicator | ||
| Update-available badge/notification |
Personalization & Home
| Feature | Desktop App | VS Code Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Mark tools as favorite | ||
| Recently used tools list ("Open Recent") | ||
| Homepage dashboard (stats, quick actions, sponsors) | ||
| "What's New" page shown after an update |
Connection Management
| Feature | Desktop App | VS Code Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Add / edit / delete connections | ||
| Auth: Interactive Browser (OAuth) | ||
| Auth: Client Credentials (Service Principal) | ||
| Auth: Username/Password | ||
| Connection string import & export | ||
| Test connection | ||
| Export / import connections | ||
| Categories with custom colors | ||
| Category header shows connection count + collapse/expand | not supported in VS Code Extension | |
| Active connection (primary & secondary) indicator | only primary is shown | |
| Browser + profile selection for interactive auth | ||
| Auth type badge shown in the connection list | ||
| Environment badge/pill shown in the connection list | colored dot only, no text pill | |
| Credential storage | custom encryption manager | native VS Code SecretStorage |
| Search box | ||
| Sort (Last Used, Name A-Z/Z-A) | ||
| Filter by auth type / environment |
Settings
| Feature | Desktop App | VS Code Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Per-tool settings persistence | ||
| User/app-level settings | ||
| Dedicated settings UI panel |
CSP
| Feature | Desktop App | VS Code Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Per-tool webview CSP enforcement | ||
| User-consent workflow for external resource access | ||
| Configurable CSP per tool |
Agentic AI
| Feature | Desktop App | VS Code Extension |
|---|---|---|
| MCP (Model Context Protocol) tool support | ||
| Inter-tool invocation | ||
| Headless/unattended tool invocation (automation) | ||
| Standalone CLI |
General
| Feature | Desktop App | VS Code Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Launch tools with multiple connections | ||
| Notifications | custom notification window | native VS Code notifications |
| Auto-update | handled by VS Code Marketplace | |
| System tray integration | not applicable | |
| Custom protocol handler (deep links) | not supported by VS Code | |
| Telemetry / error tracking | Sentry | |
| Private/custom marketplace registry configuration | ||
| Tool/app API version compatibility checks | ||
| Terminal command sandboxing / blocklist | ||
| Azure Blob storage fallback for registry & packages |