Practical SharePoint Framework (SPFx) Development by Franck Cornu and Anoop T. is a detailed technical guide designed for developers creating business solutions within Microsoft 365 using SPFx. Whether you’re an experienced SharePoint developer used to build SPFx solutions or a junior developer on the Microsoft ecosystem, this book offers a structured, hands-on approach to mastering SPFx.
Why is it valuable for all developer levels?
- For new developers: The book explains SPFx by aligning it with familiar web development practices—leveraging React, TypeScript, and modern build tools like Webpack and Gulp. It introduces reusable patterns, localization, theming, and integration with Microsoft Graph, making it accessible without requiring a deep SharePoint background.
- For experienced developers: It dives deep into advanced customization techniques, including dynamic data connections, adaptive card extensions, CI/CD automation, and secure API consumption. It also covers deployment, performance tuning, and debugging essential for enterprise solutions.
Not convinced yet!? Let me give you a more detailed review!
Book highlights
- Web Part and Extension Development: Detailed walkthroughs on building SPFx web parts and extensions such as Application Customizers, Field Customizers, ListView Command Sets, Form Customizers, and Adaptive Card Extensions (ACEs). Each is contextualized with business use cases. You also have GitHub repositories with already created solutions to help you get started.
- Microsoft Graph Integration: Demonstrates how to securely access and manipulate Microsoft 365 data using Graph API, including authentication via Entra ID and delegated permissions.
- Styling and Theming: Covers SASS, CSS modules, and theme tokens to ensure responsive, accessible, and brand-consistent UI across SharePoint, Teams, and Viva Connections. This is something that definitely cannot be overlooked when building org-wide solutions.
- Localization and Accessibility: Shows how to localize web parts and manifests using resource files, supporting multilingual deployments and inclusive design.
- Dynamic Data and connection between web parts: Explains how to connect components using SPFx’s dynamic data feature, enabling modular and flexible solutions.
- Testing and Debugging: Introduces Jest for unit testing, SPFx developer dashboard, and maintenance mode for debugging, with best practices for test organization and mocking. I especially liked all the tips provided in the debugging part!
- Deployment and DevOps: Guides through manual and automated deployment using GitHub Actions and Azure DevOps, including versioning, packaging, and publishing to AppSource. Which is essential to know if you when an “enterprise-grade” lifecycle management for your SPFx solutions.
- Reusable Code with Library Components: Compares SPFx library components with npm packages, offering strategies for code reuse and modular architecture.
- Virtualized Development Environments: Explores Docker, GitHub Codespaces, WSL, and Azure VMs for isolated and scalable development setups. Something that can drastically change the way you develop that is (in my opinion) not well enough covered by online documentation.
Have you been working with SPFx for many years or want to get started? This book is a must read for you.
Since I first read it, I always have this book open (the digital version of it 😉) when building SPFx solutions, to make sure I don’t miss any best practice!
Grab your copy today: https://packt.link/13qXx
