Category Archives: PowerPotters of Cepheo

Final Delivery – The PowerPotters of Cepheo Potion Production Platform

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1. Introduction

Concept:
Imagine stepping into Professor Snape’s potion lab, where magic meets modern technology. At PowerPotters of Cepheo, we’ve reimagined potion production using IoT, AI, and automation to create a seamless, efficient, and intelligent system—perfectly blending the wizarding world with real-world innovation.

End-to-End Scenario:
The ur solution begins with a voice command or sensor data triggering a production order in Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365FO). From there:

  • Approval workflows in a beautifully designed PowerApps interface ensure strict oversight.
  • IoT sensors monitor potion brewing in real time.
  • Power BI dashboards visualize live inventory, production orders, and trends, enabling better decision-making.
  • Legacy ASCII-based systems, like the ETON packaging machine,for integration with packaging systems

Every component works harmoniously to eliminate manual steps, increase efficiency, and enhance user experiences for potion masters and house-elves alike.

User Story:
Professor Snape manages a bustling potion lab where students brew elixirs daily. When a student initiates brewing:

  1. A voice command or sensor input creates a production order in D365FO.
  2. Snape reviews the potion request in the Alchemy Approval App, approving or rejecting it.
  3. Approved potions are tracked in real time on the Power BI dashboard, where Snape monitors ingredient usage, inventory, and production status.
  4. Students add ingredients, telling the cauldron which they use, and the cauldron IoT reports back the ingredient details to D365FO.

A plethora of support systems has been added as well to make the complete process of managing a laboratory simple and effective, such as:

  • Sharepoint and Teams messaging to the team of Elfs working the laboratory
  • AI-based input of masterdata into D365FO
  • Third-party solutions for ease of work
  • Impressive backend FO X++ actions.

This end-to-end process ensures a smooth, magical potion production workflow!

Important notice for our fabulous judges. We know you have a lot to read, so from here on, the blog post is split into each of your categories so that you can save time!

2. Fabric Fera Verto

Concept:
Fabric Fera Verto, or “Data Transformation,” is the magical core of our potion production analytics. Using Power BI and Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365FO), we’ve built a seamless flow of data to empower potion masters with insights. By visualizing inventory, production orders, and potion trends, we’ve turned raw data into actionable magic.

Key Components:

  1. Dataflow from Dynamics 365 FO to Power BI:
    • Data from D365FO is extracted using an OAuth legacy connection, ensuring a secure and reliable pipeline.
    • Key information includes inventory levels, production orders, and ingredient usage.
  2. Power BI Dashboard:
    • Business Value: The dashboard is displayed in the alchemy lab, providing real-time insights into:
      • Inventory Levels: Tracks current stocks of potion ingredients and finished elixirs.
      • Recent Potions: Displays recently completed brews for trend analysis.
      • Active Production Orders:
        • Potion name, quantity, and approval status (e.g., “Pending Approval”).
        • Bill of Materials (BOM) visualization showing ingredients required for active orders.
    • Impact: Potion masters can manage resources effectively, reduce ingredient shortages, and plan future brews.
  3. Cloud-Powered Updates:
    • The Power BI report is published to the Power BI Cloud with scheduled updates, ensuring near real-time data for potion production insights.

Future Scalability with Fabric

The integration is designed to grow with the needs of the alchemy lab. As potion production increases, transitioning to Fabric tables would:

  • Improve Efficiency: Fabric provides a unified data source that ensures faster queries and streamlined data transformations, reducing latency.
  • Enable Real-Time Updates: Potion masters could make decisions instantly, whether adjusting production schedules or responding to ingredient shortages.
  • Support Increased Data Volume: As more IoT devices feed data into the system, Fabric’s robust infrastructure can handle higher data loads without compromising performance.

Why This Earns Fabric Fera Verto:

  1. Seamless Data Integration: The solution connects D365FO to Power BI, bridging transactional data with analytical insights.
  2. Real-Time Insights: The dashboard equips potion masters with live data for informed decision-making.
  3. Scalability: The system is designed to evolve, with future enhancements like Fabric enabling even more seamless updates.

3. Low-Code Charms

Concept:
Our low-code innovations ensure that the magic of potion production flows effortlessly across the lab. Using Power Automate and a responsive Canvas app, we’ve created intuitive workflows for approvals, notifications, and user interactions—eliminating manual effort and ensuring streamlined processes.

Key Components:

  1. Production Order Creation Flow:
    • Trigger: When a student initiates brewing (via voice or IoT sensor), a Power Automate flow creates a production order in D365FO.
    • Key Steps:
      • Retrieve potion details, including name, quantity, and requirements.
      • Generate the production order in D365FO, ensuring every potion has a structured workflow.
      • Update status fields to track progress through the brewing lifecycle.
  2. Approval Workflow in the Alchemy Approval App:
    • Canvas App: A beautifully designed app lets Professor Snape approve or reject potion requests with ease.
    • Features:
      • Dynamic scroll-inspired UI showing potion details, required ingredients, and inventory levels.
      • Options for approval or rejection, updating the production status in D365FO automatically.
    • Responsive Design: The app adapts to any screen size, allowing Snape to manage approvals from his lab or the Great Hall.
  3. Sponsor Badge Flows:
    • Integrated workflows automate badge-related actions:
      • Notifications to sponsors (via SMS or Teams) about potion status or ingredient shortages.
      • Updates to SharePoint lists for elf task management, ensuring no steps are missed in potion production.

Why This Earns Low-Code Charms:

  1. Automation First: Manual processes like potion approval and ingredient monitoring are replaced with automated workflows.
  2. User-Centric: The app and flows simplify approvals and provide clear, actionable information to users.
  3. Visual and Accessible: The responsive, Harry Potter-themed app adds both functionality and flair, making it easy for potion masters to manage brewing on the go.

4. Pro-Code Potions

Concept:
The true magic of our potion production system lies in the pro-code components, where custom Python scripts, X++ extensions, and hardware-level integrations make the impossible possible. By blending IoT, AI, and robust coding practices, we’ve created a solution that bridges the physical and digital realms with precision and scalability.

Key Components:

  1. Python for IoT and AI Integration:
    • IoT Sensor Management:
      • Python scripts like sensor_script.py process data from the ultrasonic level sensor, ensuring precise liquid measurement in potion cauldrons.
      • Real-time readings are transmitted to Power Automate, enabling immediate workflow adjustments.
    • Voice Recognition:
      • Using voice_script.py, the system leverages the OpenAI Whisper API to translate spoken potion names into actionable triggers.
      • This enables seamless, hands-free initiation of potion brewing.
    • Integration Orchestration:
      • integration_script.py ties sensor readings, voice inputs, and Power Automate flows together, ensuring that each step of the process aligns perfectly.
  2. X++ Extensions in Dynamics 365 FO:
    • Custom Extensions:
      • Example: AdCustGroup_Frm_Extension ensures tailored functionality for potion-specific processes like production orders and inventory updates.
      • Field extensions and event handlers provide flexibility for tracking potion-specific data in D365FO.
    • Business Logic:
      • Custom X++ code facilitates real-time updates to production orders, inventory tracking, and seamless integration with Power Automate.
  3. ESP32 Firmware Deployment:
    • Automated Deployment:
      • A GitHub Actions workflow automates the process of flashing firmware to the ESP32 microcontroller.
      • Key features include dependency installation (esptool), direct flashing via shell commands, and a self-hosted runner for stable deployments.
    • Hardware Integration:
      • The ESP32 monitors potion brewing equipment, sending real-time data to the cloud and triggering workflows when thresholds are met.

Why This Earns Pro-Code Potions:

  1. Hardware and Software Synergy: Python scripts and ESP32 firmware ensure seamless integration between IoT devices and workflows.
  2. Advanced Customization: X++ extensions tailor D365FO for potion production, enabling real-time updates and efficient inventory management.
  3. Efficiency and Reliability: Automated firmware deployments and modular script design make the system scalable and error-resistant.

5. Digital Transformation

Concept:
Our potion production platform is a shining example of digital transformation. By integrating IoT, AI, dashboards, and workflows, we’ve revolutionized potion brewing at Hogwarts, streamlining processes for students, potion masters, and house-elves alike. This transformation isn’t just magical—it’s impactful, reducing manual effort and enhancing collaboration while creating a more efficient and connected potion lab.

Key Components:

  1. IoT-Driven Automation:
    • Sensors: Ultrasonic level sensors continuously monitor potion cauldrons, sending precise measurements to Power Automate for real-time adjustments.
    • Voice Commands: AI-powered voice recognition eliminates manual input, enabling potion masters to initiate production hands-free.
  2. Workflows and Approvals:
    • Power Automate orchestrates end-to-end processes, from potion initiation to approvals and inventory management.
    • The Alchemy Approval App ensures oversight with an intuitive interface for reviewing and approving potion requests.
  3. Real-Time Data Visibility:
    • The Power BI dashboard provides live updates on:
      • Inventory levels for ingredients and potions.
      • Production status, including Snape’s approvals and BOM requirements.
    • This visibility empowers potion masters to make informed decisions, reducing bottlenecks and ensuring resource availability.
  4. Legacy System Integration:
    • The ETON packaging machine, reliant on ASCII files, is seamlessly integrated into the workflow using automated file generation.
    • This modernization reduces manual input, ensuring the machine operates in sync with modern systems.
  5. Accessibility for All Users:
    • House-Elf-Friendly SharePoint Lists: Tasks and potion requirements are published in a simple format, ensuring elves can manage their duties effectively with minimal digital training.

Why This Defines Digital Transformation:

  1. Efficiency: IoT and workflows automate repetitive tasks, saving time and eliminating human error.
  2. Collaboration: Students, Snape, and house-elves are all connected through the platform, ensuring transparency and teamwork.
  3. Enhanced Decision-Making: Real-time dashboards and AI-driven insights provide actionable information for smarter, faster decisions.
  4. Legacy Modernization: Integrating old systems like ETON showcases how digital transformation can bridge the gap between the past and the future.

6. ALM Magic

Concept:
True magic lies in the details, and for Team PowerPotters, Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) has been the wand that brings order to the chaos of customization. From naming conventions to robust deployment practices, we’ve built a foundation of clarity, consistency, and scalability that ensures our solution runs as smoothly as a perfectly brewed Felix Felicis.

Key Components:

  1. Naming Standards:
    • Consistent naming conventions across all artifacts make customizations easy to identify and manage.
    • Examples:
      • AdCustGroup_Frm_Extension: Form extension for custom potion-related workflows.
      • AdCustGroup_Frm_dsCustGroup_Extension: Datasource extension to enhance potion data tracking.
      • AdCustGroup_Frm_EventHandler: Event handler for custom logic tied to potion production orders.
    These standards ensure every artifact is self-explanatory, reducing the effort required for onboarding or debugging.
  2. Error Handling and Logging:
    • Python scripts include robust try...except blocks with detailed logging, enabling traceability and quick resolution of issues.
    • Example: In sensor_script.py, logs capture real-time sensor readings and flag anomalies, ensuring the potion brewing process remains uninterrupted.
    • Similarly, X++ code in D365FO includes structured error handling to protect data integrity during custom operations like inventory updates.
  3. CI/CD Deployment Cycle:
    • Azure DevOps Pipelines:
      • Pre-build pipelines prepare the build server, ensuring all dependencies are available before starting.
      • Express builds validate core functionality, while full builds ensure a complete release package.
    • Webhooks for Notifications:
      • Successful deployments trigger webhooks to notify the team via Teams, ensuring everyone stays informed.
    • GitHub Actions for IoT:
      • ESP32 firmware deployment is automated using GitHub Actions, streamlining hardware updates and maintaining consistency.
  4. Mocking for Testability:
    • The inclusion of mock modules (e.g., GPIO mock) enables rigorous testing of hardware-dependent Python scripts without requiring physical devices. This ensures stability before deployment.

Why This Earns ALM Magic:

  1. Clarity: Naming standards and modularity make the codebase easy to understand and extend.
  2. Reliability: Error handling and logging practices ensure stability and quick debugging.
  3. Efficiency: CI/CD pipelines and automated firmware updates minimize manual intervention while maintaining quality.
  4. Future-Proofing: Mocking and deployment practices enhance scalability and adaptability.

7. Magic Matrix

Concept:
The Magic Matrix represents the interconnected web of systems, tools, and platforms that make our potion production platform a seamless, unified experience. By integrating Dynamics 365, Power BI, IoT, Teams, and SharePoint, we’ve created a cohesive solution where every component works in harmony to ensure efficiency, transparency, and collaboration.

Key Connections:

  1. Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365FO):
    • Central Hub: D365FO serves as the backbone, handling production orders, inventory management, and BOM tracking.
    • Custom Extensions: X++ code enhances functionality, ensuring potion-specific processes like ingredient monitoring and approval workflows are perfectly aligned.
  2. Power BI Dashboards:
    • Data Visualization: Directly connected to D365FO, Power BI provides real-time insights into production statuses, inventory levels, and potion trends.
    • Cloud Integration: Published to Power BI Cloud, the dashboards are accessible across devices and updated regularly to keep potion masters informed.
  3. IoT Devices:
    • ESP32 Sensor Integration: Sensors monitor potion cauldrons in real-time, feeding data into Power Automate for precise workflow adjustments.
    • Firmware Automation: GitHub Actions workflows ensure ESP32 firmware is always up to date, enabling reliable data collection.
  4. Power Platform:
    • Power Automate: Acts as the orchestrator, connecting IoT inputs, D365FO workflows, and approval processes.
    • Canvas App: The Alchemy Approval App integrates directly with D365FO, allowing Professor Snape to review and manage potion requests in a user-friendly interface.
  5. Teams and SharePoint:
    • Notifications via Teams: Webhooks notify team members when a new production order is approved or when a deployment is completed.
    • Elf-Friendly SharePoint Lists: Simple lists provide house-elves with clear instructions for managing ingredients and potion schedules, ensuring accessibility.

Why This Earns Magic Matrix:

  1. Unified Ecosystem: By connecting tools like D365FO, Power BI, IoT, and SharePoint, we’ve created a fully integrated platform.
  2. Cross-System Collaboration: Teams and SharePoint ensure seamless communication and task management across all users.
  3. Legacy Modernization: Integrating the ASCII-reliant ETON machine demonstrates our ability to bridge old and new technologies.
  4. Real-Time Data Flow: Connections between IoT devices, D365FO, and Power BI enable informed, real-time decision-making.

8. A Magical Farewell: Mischief Managed!

As the final chapter of our journey at ACDC 2025 closes, Team PowerPotters would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to the organizers, judges, and fellow participants who’ve made this hackathon an unforgettable experience. Like a well-brewed Polyjuice Potion, this competition has shown us how a perfect blend of creativity, teamwork, and technical prowess can create magic!

Crawling the Web for Magic: The PowerPotters’ Quest for the Crawler Badge

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Greetings, magical technologists! ✨ At Team PowerPotters, we’ve combined the power of Bing Search API, OpenAI GPT-4, and Power Automate to create a truly innovative web-crawling solution. Our workflow dynamically discovers, analyzes, and integrates external APIs, transforming how potion-related data is sourced and utilized. Here’s how we earned the Crawler Badge by blending search, AI, and automation into one seamless process.

The Crawler Workflow: Step-by-Step Magic

  1. Discovering APIs with Bing Search API
  • Purpose: To dynamically find public APIs related to Harry Potter spells or magical data.
  • Execution:
    • Query: "public API Harry Potter spells".
    • Filters: Results are restricted to recent entries with keywords like /api or “documentation”.
  1. Analyzing APIs with OpenAI GPT-4
  • Purpose: To validate URLs as APIs and extract relevant schemas, field mappings, and example data.
  • Execution: For each URL, OpenAI determines if the URL links to an API or its documentation. If valid, it provides:
    • API schema.
    • Example JSON response.
    • Field mappings for key data (e.g., Name for spell name, Description for spell effects).
  1. Integrating with Power Automate
  • Purpose: To process, validate, and integrate the data into our system.
  • Workflow Steps:
    • Parse Bing Results: Extract relevant URLs using JSON parsing.
    • Validate URLs: OpenAI determines if the URL links to a valid API and provides field mappings.
    • Dynamic Integration: Call validated APIs and use extracted data to:
      • Create new product entries in D365FO.
      • Enrich existing products with spell names (Name) and effects (Description).
    • Automation: Run schema validations dynamically, ensuring data consistency.

A Scenario in Action

A potion master requests information on new magical spells for potion research. Using this workflow:

  1. Search: Bing Search API identifies APIs like Potterhead API.
  2. Validation: OpenAI ensures the API provides valid spell data, extracting fields like Name (e.g., Accio) and Description (e.g., Summons an object).
  3. Integration: Power Automate dynamically updates the potion master’s research database with enriched spell information, saving hours of manual effort.

Why This Deserves the Crawler Badge

  1. Innovative Use of Search:
    • Bing Search API dynamically finds and filters public APIs, extending its use beyond static results.
  2. AI-Powered Validation:
    • OpenAI GPT-4 dynamically analyzes URLs, validates APIs, and generates schemas and field mappings for seamless integration.
  3. Solving Real Business Problems:
    • Potion masters gain enriched, real-time product data without manual intervention, enabling informed decisions.
  4. Scalability:
    • The workflow is adaptable for future needs, such as integrating potions, artifacts, or even non-magical domains.

Crawling the Web for Magical Insights

This dynamic web-crawling solution exemplifies how search, AI, and automation can revolutionize the way data is discovered and integrated. With this innovation, we humbly submit our case for the Crawler Badge, showcasing how Team PowerPotters continues to push boundaries: acdc.blog/category/cepheo25.

#ACDC2025 #CrawlerBadge #PowerPotters #SearchAndAIInnovation

Feature Bombing: Transforming Dynamics 365 FO with Potent Features

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Greetings, wizarding developers and judges! ✨ At Team PowerPotters, we’ve turned the Production Order page in Dynamics 365 FO into a powerhouse of functionality, blending standard tools with custom innovations to enhance potion production workflows. With seamless access to essential features, apps, and visual enhancements, our solution is an explosive display of ingenuity worthy of the Feature Bombing Badge!

The Features That Bombarded the Production Order Page

  1. Standard FO Features:
    • All standard functionalities of D365FO are readily accessible on the Production Order page, providing a robust foundation for managing production.
  2. Embedded Resco App:
    • Resco’s scheduling and coordination component is embedded into the Installation Details section, enabling production workers and installers to streamline operations directly from the Production Order page.
  3. Alchemy Approval App:
    • The responsive Approval App is integrated into the page, allowing managers like Snape to approve or reject potion production requests effortlessly. This ensures approvals are handled directly in F&O for smooth workflows.
  4. Potion Image Display:
    • A custom feature dynamically displays an image of the potion being produced, giving users a visual representation of their work. This adds a delightful, magical touch and improves clarity for production managers.
  5. Planned Ingredient Adjustment:
    • Another custom feature enables users to easily modify the planned ingredients for the potion.
    • This includes a visual ratio representation, ensuring potion recipes remain balanced and precise while allowing quick adjustments when needed.

Why This Earns Feature Bombing

Our enhancements exemplify the essence of Feature Bombing by delivering a feature-rich experience on a single page:

  1. Comprehensive Functionality: Users can access a combination of standard and custom features, apps, and visuals, all within the Production Order page.
  2. Integrated Apps: The embedded Resco and Approval apps expand the capabilities of FO, bringing external tools into the heart of the workflow.
  3. Custom Visuals: Features like the potion image display and ingredient adjustment tool elevate user engagement and efficiency.
  4. Streamlined User Experience: With all key tools accessible in one place, users can focus on their tasks without navigating across multiple systems.

The Impact of Feature Bombing

Our feature-packed Production Order page revolutionizes potion production by:

  • Enhancing User Experience: Intuitive tools like the potion image and ingredient adjustment feature make workflows more engaging and user-friendly.
  • Boosting Productivity: With all critical features in one place, production teams can work faster and smarter.
  • Improving Collaboration: Embedded apps like Resco and Approval streamline communication between teams, ensuring seamless production and installation.

Exploding with Innovation

With the Production Order page in D365FO brimming with features, we’ve shown how to maximize functionality while keeping the user experience magical. We humbly submit our case for the Feature Bombing Badge and invite you to explore the power of feature-rich design with Team PowerPotters: acdc.blog/category/cepheo25.

#ACDC2025 #FeatureBombing #PowerPotters #PotionProductionInnovation

Client Side Salsa: Dancing Between Backend Power and Frontend Elegance

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Greetings, wizarding developers! ✨ At PowerPotters of Cepheo, we’ve mastered the art of separating concerns, ensuring our solution is as efficient as it is elegant. By shifting complex logic to the backend with X++ and creating responsive, user-friendly frontends, we’ve built a scalable, intuitive system for potion production. This approach ensures developers can specialize, users get a seamless experience, and the system can grow effortlessly.

Backend Enchantment with X++

Our backend services, crafted with X++, perform the heavy lifting, allowing the frontend to remain clean and lightweight.

  1. Core Actions in X++:
    • Actions such as creating production orders, updating inventory, and calculating material consumption are handled entirely in the backend.
    • Example: The X++ method in the image dynamically creates production orders by:
      • Validating inputs such as company, item ID, and quantity.
      • Retrieving item details from InventTable and generating BOM and route IDs.
      • Logging errors with structured handling (AdEngEntityActionLogTable), ensuring traceability and stability.
    • This structured logic enables efficient processing while adhering to ALM principles.
  2. ALM Practices in X++:
    • Consistent naming conventions, such as AdEngEntityActionLogTable, align with our Ad-prefixed ALM standards, ensuring clarity and maintainability.
    • Robust error handling captures and logs any issues, reducing debugging time and ensuring system resilience.

Frontend Elegance with Modern Frameworks

With the backend performing heavy computations, the frontend remains focused on delivering a smooth user experience.

  1. Dynamic Interfaces:
    • Lightweight, responsive Canvas Apps provide users with intuitive tools for tasks like approving production orders and managing potion ingredients.
    • Frontends dynamically fetch data processed by the X++ backend, ensuring real-time updates without overloading the system.
  2. User-Centric Design:
    • Potion masters interact with simple, visually engaging interfaces. For example:
      • The material consumption tool provides visual ingredient ratios, powered by backend X++ calculations.
      • Approval workflows are streamlined with embedded apps directly in D365FO.

The Perfect Salsa: Backend Power, Frontend Grace

By combining backend processing in X++ with responsive frontend frameworks, we’ve created a system that:

  1. Separates Concerns: Developers can specialize in frontend or backend tasks without overlap, improving efficiency.
  2. Scales Effortlessly: Backend X++ services and lightweight frontends can grow independently, ensuring long-term scalability.
  3. Delivers an Exceptional User Experience: Users benefit from intuitive interfaces powered by robust backend logic.

Why This Earns Client Side Salsa

Our approach exemplifies the principles of Client Side Salsa:

  1. Backend Magic: Heavy computations and validations, such as production order creation, are performed in X++, ensuring a lightweight frontend.
  2. Frontend Simplicity: User-friendly Canvas Apps focus on delivering a clean and intuitive experience.
  3. Scalable and Maintainable: ALM standards and modular design keep the system robust and ready for future enhancements.

Dancing Towards Innovation

With backend power driving the magic and frontend charm engaging users, we’ve created a potion production system that’s as delightful as a perfectly executed salsa dance. We humbly submit our case for the Client Side Salsa Badge and invite you to explore the elegance of our solution: acdc.blog/category/cepheo25.

#ACDC2025 #ClientSideSalsa #PowerPotters #BackendMagic

Plug N’Play: Enhancing Usability Within Dynamics 365 FO

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Greetings, magical developers and hackathon judges! ✨

At Team PowerPotters, we’re always striving to make complex processes simpler and more user-friendly. By embedding key apps directly into Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365FO), we’ve improved usability and responsiveness for potion masters, installers, and approval managers alike. With these integrations, users can now complete tasks faster, more intuitively, and directly from the system they know best.

How We Fulfilled Plug N’Play

1. Incorporating the Resco Component

  • The Resco PCF component has been embedded into the Installation Details section of production orders in D365FO.
  • Value Delivered:
    • Streamlines scheduling and coordination by providing intuitive Resco functionality directly in the F&O interface.
    • Eliminates the need to switch platforms, ensuring users can manage production and installation workflows seamlessly.

2. Embedding the Alchemy Approval App

  • Our Canvas Approval App, previously a standalone tool, is now directly incorporated into F&O.
  • Value Delivered:
    • Snape and other approval managers can review potion requests, check ingredient availability, and approve or reject orders—all without leaving F&O.
    • The app retains its dynamic design and responsiveness, allowing approvals on any device or screen size.

3. Developing a Material Consumption Feature in F&O

  • We’ve created an easy-to-use feature within F&O for adjusting material consumption during potion production.
  • Value Delivered:
    • Provides users with a visual representation of ingredient ratios, ensuring precise adjustments to potion recipes.
    • Improves decision-making by offering a clear view of how changes impact production outcomes.

Why This Fulfills Plug N’Play

  1. Embedded Usability:
    • All three features—Resco, the approval app, and the material consumption tool—are directly integrated into the D365FO interface, allowing users to stay within one platform to complete critical tasks.
  2. Enhanced User Experience:
    • By embedding these tools into F&O, we’ve reduced friction for users, enabling them to work intuitively and efficiently.
  3. Responsiveness and Accessibility:
    • Both the Approval App and the material consumption feature are responsive and user-friendly, ensuring ease of use across devices and user types.

The Impact of Plug N’Play Integration

These integrations have transformed D365FO into a powerful, all-in-one potion production and management hub:

  • Potion Masters: Can adjust ingredient ratios visually, ensuring precise material consumption and potion quality.
  • Installers: Benefit from Resco’s scheduling and coordination capabilities, seamlessly integrated into their production workflows.
  • Approval Managers: Save time and stay productive with the embedded Approval App, designed for quick and informed decision-making.

Why This Earns the Plug N’Play Badge

Our solution perfectly embodies the Plug N’Play philosophy by:

  1. Integrating Directly Into F&O: Embedding apps and features ensures users can complete tasks without leaving the platform.
  2. Improving Usability: Intuitive and responsive tools streamline workflows and enhance productivity.
  3. Delivering Real Business Value: From approvals to material adjustments, these integrations solve real-world challenges and empower users.

Plug N’Play: Simplifying Workflows, Empowering Users

With our integrated solutions, we’ve turned D365FO into a user-centric platform that simplifies potion production and management. We humbly submit our case for the Plug N’Play Badge and invite you to explore how Team PowerPotters continues to innovate: acdc.blog/category/cepheo25.

#ACDC2025 #PlugNPlayBadge #PowerPotters #StreamlinedInnovation

Resco Integration: Enhancing Production and Installation at Hogwarts

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Greetings, wizarding innovators and hackathon enthusiasts! ✨

At Team PowerPotters, we understand that every great potion not only needs the right ingredients but also a seamless production and installation process. To achieve this, we’ve integrated the Resco PCF component into our Finance and Operations (F&O) platform, bringing magical synergy to production workflows. Here’s how this integration streamlines operations and elevates efficiency in potion-making.

How Resco Was Integrated into F&O

Our initial goal was to integrate the Resco PCF component directly into a Canvas App for potion production approvals. However, platform compatibility challenges led us to innovate:

  1. Embedding Resco in F&O:
    • The Resco component is embedded in the Installation Details section of production orders in F&O.
    • This ensures that production and installation processes are centrally managed within the F&O interface.
  2. Bridging Resco and Canvas Apps:
    • To address compatibility issues, we developed an additional PCF control that retrieves forms from a Model-Driven App and displays them in the Canvas App.
    • This solution bridges the gap between Resco technology and Canvas Apps, ensuring cross-platform functionality without losing F&O context.

Key Benefits of Resco Integration

  1. Streamlined Operations:
    • Embedding Resco functionality in the Installation Details ensures that production workers and installers can collaborate directly within F&O, eliminating the need for external integrations or disconnected tools.
  2. Seamless User Experience:
    • The Resco PCF component provides an intuitive interface for scheduling and coordination, aligning perfectly with potion production workflows.
  3. Cross-Platform Collaboration:
    • Integrating forms from Model-Driven Apps into Canvas Apps demonstrates the flexibility of Resco tools, showcasing how they can extend and enhance F&O capabilities.
  4. Increased Productivity:
    • By reducing unnecessary integration layers and centralizing all production and installation details in one place, teams can focus on value-adding tasks.

The Impact of Resco in Our Potion Production System

This integration is a game-changer for potion production and installation:

  • Production Workers: Gain a clear overview of scheduling and installation details directly in F&O.
  • Installers: Collaborate effortlessly with production teams through streamlined workflows, reducing errors and delays.
  • Business Value: The flexibility of Resco tools, combined with the innovative PCF control, creates a scalable solution adaptable to any business-critical process.

Why This Earns the Resco Badge

Our solution highlights the innovative use of Resco components in a Finance and Operations context, demonstrating:

  1. Technical Expertise: Bridging Resco, Canvas Apps, and Model-Driven Apps to create a cohesive experience.
  2. Operational Efficiency: Centralizing production and installation workflows for seamless collaboration.
  3. Flexibility and Scalability: Adapting Resco tools to overcome platform limitations, ensuring their full potential is realized in F&O.

A Magical Collaboration of Tools

With Resco at the heart of our potion production workflows, we’ve turned challenges into opportunities, creating a solution that embodies innovation and efficiency. We humbly submit our case for the Resco Badge and invite you to explore the magic of integration with Team PowerPotters: acdc.blog/category/cepheo25.

#ACDC2025 #RescoBadge #PowerPotters #PotionProductionInnovation

Crafting Perfection: PowerPotters’ Quest for the ACDC Craftsman Badge

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Greetings, wizarding developers and tech sorcerers! ✨

At Team PowerPotters, we take pride in our meticulous craftsmanship. From modular code design to robust CI/CD pipelines and seamless hardware integration, every aspect of our solution reflects a dedication to excellence. Today, we unveil the full spectrum of our development practices as we humbly submit our case for the ACDC Craftsman badge.

🪄 The Cornerstones of Craftsmanship

1. Modular Python Code for Seamless Integration

Our potion production system relies on a trio of well-structured Python scripts, each dedicated to a specific task:

  • sensor_script.py: Captures real-time data from ultrasonic sensors, seamlessly integrating with our IoT platform.
  • voice_script.py: Powers AI-driven voice recognition using the OpenAI Whisper API, enabling potion masters to command the system verbally.
  • integration_script.py: Acts as the conductor, tying sensor data and voice commands into cohesive workflows with Power Automate.

This modular structure ensures clarity, maintainability, and scalability, allowing individual components to be refined or extended independently.

Best Practices in Python Development:

  • Error Handling and Logging:
    Detailed try...except blocks ensure stability by gracefully handling errors, while comprehensive logging captures critical information for troubleshooting.
  • Mocking for Testability:
    Using a GPIO mock module, we simulate sensor behavior during testing, enabling rapid iteration without needing access to physical hardware.

🧙‍♂️ 2. Automating the Magic with GitHub Actions

To ensure our hardware remains ready for action, we created a GitHub Actions workflow that automates ESP32 firmware updates.

ESP32 Firmware Deployment Workflow:

  • Triggering the Workflow: Commits pushed to the main branch automatically initiate the firmware update process.
  • Code Checkout: The workflow uses the actions/checkout@v3 step to pull the latest code onto the runner.
  • Installing Dependencies: The esptool Python package is installed to enable communication with the ESP32.
  • Flashing the ESP32: The firmware is flashed using a shell command:
on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
 
jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: self-hosted
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v3
 
      - name: Install Python dependencies
        run: python -m pip install esptool
 
      - name: Flash ESP32
        run: |
          python -m esptool --chip esp32 --port COM3 --baud 115200 write_flash -z 0x1000 .pio/build/esp32dev/firmware.bin

This process ensures fast, accurate, and automated firmware updates, reducing the risk of errors and saving time.

Why This Workflow Matters:

  • Automation: Eliminates manual steps, ensuring reliable and repeatable firmware updates.
  • Hardware Integration: Bridges the gap between software and IoT devices using a self-hosted runner for direct ESP32 access.
  • Scalability: Adaptable for multiple ESP32 units, making it a powerful tool for future growth.

✨ 3. CI/CD Pipelines: From Development to Deployment

Our CI/CD pipelines exemplify best practices in automation, ensuring smooth transitions from development to production:

  • Pre-Build Pipeline:
    A smart script starts the build box and waits for the service to become available before initiating the express build, which performs a simplified build without syncing.
  • Full Build Pipeline:
    If the express build succeeds, the full build pipeline is triggered. Success activates a webhook to:
    • Notify a Teams channel about the new release.
    • Trigger the upload of the package to the target environment.
    • Automatically deploy the package, ensuring rapid access to new features.

This pipeline streamlines the entire development lifecycle, ensuring efficiency and reliability at every step.

🧙‍♂️ 4. ALM Magic: Consistency in Customizations

Our Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) practices ensure clarity and structure across all customizations:

  • Naming Standards: We prefix all artifacts with Ad (Application Development) to maintain consistency. Examples:
    • AdCustGroup_Frm_Extension: Form extension for CustGroup.
    • AdCustGroup_Frm_dsCustGroup_fldGroupId_Extension: Field extension for CustGroup data source.

These conventions create an organized and easily navigable codebase, critical for large-scale projects.

🔮 Why We Deserve the ACDC Craftsman Badge

Our development practices embody the principles of the ACDC Craftsman badge:

  1. Modular, Maintainable Code: Python scripts are well-structured and adhere to best practices, ensuring long-term scalability and clarity.
  2. Automation Excellence: CI/CD pipelines and GitHub Actions workflows eliminate manual steps, streamline deployment, and reduce errors.
  3. Consistency and Standards: Rigorous ALM practices, including naming conventions and structured customization, reflect our commitment to professionalism.

🐍 Crafting a Legacy of Excellence

From clean code to seamless deployment workflows, we’ve poured our hearts into creating a solution that reflects true craftsmanship. With every detail carefully considered, we humbly submit our case for the ACDC Craftsman badge.

Follow our journey as we continue to innovate and enchant ACDC 2025: acdc.blog/category/cepheo25.

#ACDC2025 #ACDCCraftsman #PowerPotters #AutomationMagic #CI/CDPipelines

Automating the Magic: PowerPotters’ Shell-Powered ESP32 Firmware Deployment

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Greetings, fellow tech wizards and hackathon enthusiasts! ✨

At Team PowerPotters, we understand the power of automation—especially when it comes to managing hardware like the ESP32 microcontroller in our potion-making IoT system. To streamline firmware updates and ensure seamless operation, we’ve created a GitHub Actions workflow that automates the entire process of flashing firmware to the ESP32.

This submission demonstrates how the Power of the Shell has enabled us to simplify complex processes, saving time and reducing errors while showcasing our technical wizardry.

🪄 The ESP32 Firmware Deployment Workflow

Our GitHub Actions workflow, named “Deploy ESP32 Firmware,” automates the process of flashing firmware to an ESP32 microcontroller whenever code changes are pushed to the main branch. Here’s how it works:

1. Triggering the Workflow

The workflow kicks off automatically when a commit is pushed to the main branch of our repository. This ensures that the firmware on the ESP32 is always up to date with the latest code.

2. Code Checkout

Using the actions/checkout@v3 action, the workflow pulls the latest code from the repository and prepares it for deployment.

3. Installing Dependencies

The workflow installs the esptool Python package, a critical tool for communicating with the ESP32 and flashing firmware. This step ensures that the deployment environment is ready for the flashing process.

4. Flashing the ESP32

The magic happens here! The workflow runs the following shell command to upload the firmware to the ESP32:

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
 
jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: self-hosted
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v3
 
      - name: Install Python dependencies
        run: python -m pip install esptool
 
      - name: Flash ESP32
        run: |
          python -m esptool --chip esp32 --port COM3 --baud 115200 write_flash -z 0x1000 .pio/build/esp32dev/firmware.bin
  • Chip Selection: Specifies the ESP32 chip for flashing.
  • Port Configuration: Uses the COM3 port to communicate with the ESP32.
  • Baud Rate: Sets the communication speed to 115200 for efficient data transfer.
  • Firmware Location: Specifies the path to the firmware binary to be flashed onto the device.

The process ensures the firmware is deployed quickly, accurately, and without manual intervention.

✨ Why This Workflow is a Game-Changer

  1. Automation: By automating the firmware deployment, we’ve eliminated manual steps, reducing the risk of errors and saving time for potion production magic.
  2. Reliability: The workflow runs on a self-hosted runner, ensuring direct access to the ESP32 hardware and a stable deployment environment.
  3. Efficiency: The esptool command streamlines the flashing process, enabling us to quickly update the firmware as new features or fixes are developed.
  4. Scalability: This workflow can be adapted for other IoT devices or expanded to handle multiple ESP32 units, making it a versatile solution for hardware automation.

🧙‍♂️ Why We Deserve the Power of the Shell Badge

The Power of the Shell badge celebrates the creative use of shell scripting to automate technical processes. Here’s how our workflow meets the criteria:

  • Command-Line Expertise: We leveraged the power of esptool and shell scripting to automate the firmware flashing process, showcasing our technical proficiency.
  • Automation Innovation: The integration with GitHub Actions ensures that every code push triggers an immediate, accurate firmware update.
  • Hardware Integration: By running on a self-hosted runner with direct hardware access, our solution bridges the gap between software and IoT hardware seamlessly.

🔮 Empowering Potion Production with Automation

From potion-making to IoT innovation, our ESP32 firmware deployment workflow ensures that our hardware is always ready for the next magical task. We humbly submit our case for the Power of the Shell badge, showcasing the efficiency and power of shell scripting in modern hackathon solutions.

Follow our magical journey as we continue to innovate at ACDC 2025: acdc.blog/category/cepheo25.

#ACDC2025 #PowerOfTheShell #ESP32 #AutomationMagic #PowerPotters

Visualizing Potion Mastery: PowerPotters’ Power BI Report

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Greetings, wizarding data enthusiasts! ✨

At Team PowerPotters, we believe that knowledge is power, and what better way to empower potion masters than by providing them with real-time insights? Our Power BI report transforms data from Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (FO) into an intuitive, visually compelling dashboard, providing immense business value to the alchemy lab.

Here’s why our dashboard deserves the Dash It Out badge and how it brings clarity to even the most complex potion-making processes.

🪄 A Dashboard with Real Business Value

Our Power BI report is designed for maximum utility in the alchemy lab, offering critical insights at a glance. Let’s explore its key components:

1. Current Inventory Overview

  • The dashboard displays the current stock of potion ingredients and finished potions, allowing potion masters to keep tabs on inventory levels without manually checking shelves.
  • This ensures the lab runs smoothly, with no delays caused by missing ingredients during critical production runs.

2. Recent Potion History

  • Potion masters can view a history of recently completed potions, providing insight into production trends and helping manage demand.
  • This data empowers Snape and his assistants to identify which potions are in high demand and adjust future production accordingly.

3. Live Production Updates

The heart of the dashboard is the latest production order section, which displays:

  • Potion Name: The potion currently being brewed.
  • Production Status: Directly linked to FO, showing real-time updates (e.g., “Pending Approval,” “In Progress,” “Completed”).
  • Production Order Reference: A clickable link back to FO for detailed information.
  • Quantity: The number of potions in the current production batch.
  • Bill of Materials Visualization: A breakdown of the ingredients required to complete the production, ensuring all materials are on hand.

This section enables potion masters to monitor active production closely, addressing issues like delays or ingredient shortages in real time.

✨ The Technical Magic Behind It

The Power BI report is powered by data directly pulled from D365FO using an OAuth legacy connection, ensuring accurate and timely updates.

Data Collection Process:

  • OAuth Integration: Data is securely extracted from FO tables, including production orders, inventory levels, and bills of materials.
  • Power BI Cloud: The dashboard will be published to the cloud and set to update at regular intervals, keeping the data as current as possible.
  • Future Vision: If time and licenses permitted, we would configure Fabric tables as a data source, enabling live, real-time updates for even greater accuracy.

🧙‍♂️ Why This Dashboard is Business-Critical

  1. Real-Time Insights: Potion masters have access to live data on production and inventory, reducing downtime and ensuring smooth operations.
  2. Transparency: The link to FO production orders allows for deep dives into production details when needed, keeping all stakeholders informed.
  3. Inventory Management: By visualizing ingredient levels and recent potion production, the dashboard helps prevent shortages and ensures the lab runs like a well-oiled machine.
  4. Efficiency: The bill of materials visualization eliminates guesswork, ensuring potion makers always know what they need for the next batch.

🐍 Why We Deserve the Dash It Out Badge

Our Power BI report exemplifies what the Dash It Out badge is all about:

  • Business Value: The dashboard delivers actionable insights, enabling better decision-making and smoother workflows in the alchemy lab.
  • Real-Time Data: By pulling data directly from FO and automating updates, we’ve created a near-live reporting tool that ensures potion makers are always informed.
  • Visual Impact: With intuitive charts, tables, and visualizations, the dashboard is as user-friendly as it is powerful.
  • Scalability: Our design ensures that the dashboard can grow with the lab’s needs, with the potential for real-time updates through Fabric in the future.

🔮 The Future of Alchemy Analytics

With our Power BI report, we’ve brought transparency and efficiency to potion-making, proving that even the most magical processes can benefit from data-driven insights. We humbly submit our case for the Dash It Out badge and invite you to explore the magic of analytics with Team PowerPotters: acdc.blog/category/cepheo25.

#ACDC2025 #DashItOut #PowerBI #PotionAnalytics #PowerPotters

Potion Approval Made Magical: A Canvas App for the Ages

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Greetings, wizards, witches, and tech sorcerers! ✨

At Team PowerPotters, we’ve crafted a solution that combines ambition, design, and versatility to streamline potion approval processes in Hogwarts’ potions lab. Our Canvas app not only ensures Professor Snape retains his tight grip on potion-making but also demonstrates innovation worthy of the Chameleon, Glossy Pixels, and Plug N’Play badges.

Here’s how our magical app comes to life!

🪄 The Process: From Student to Snape

Our app powers the potion production workflow, starting from the moment a student initiates the brewing process to Snape’s final approval. Here’s the step-by-step magic:

  1. Potion Initiation:
    • When a student triggers the cauldron with a voice command like “Start potion,” a Power Automate flow kicks into action, creating a production order in Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (FO).
  2. Flow Logic:
    • The production ID and related data are returned to the flow and enhanced with compose actions to ensure clarity.
    • The production BOM (Bill of Materials) is retrieved from FO and transformed into an easy-to-read format, beautifully rendered in the app.
  3. Snape’s Oversight:
    • An SMS alert is sent to Snape, notifying him of the brewing attempt with details of the potion and ingredients.
    • The app dynamically updates with the potion’s name, required ingredients, and a scroll-like design for approval or rejection.
  4. Elf-Friendly Data Publishing:
    • Post-approval or rejection, the elf’s are messaged on Teams and their SharePoint list is updated. Since house-elves have limited access to advanced systems, this ensures they have clear and simple instructions for ingredient management on a low-cost client.

🧙‍♂️ Badge Highlights: Chameleon, Glossy Pixels, Plug N’Play

1. Chameleon Badge: Responsive Design Across Screens

Our Canvas app adapts seamlessly to screens of all sizes, from mobile phones to desktop displays, ensuring Snape can approve potions whether he’s in the dungeons or pacing the Great Hall.

  • Screenshots:
    • Small-screen mobile view for Snape on the go.
    • Larger desktop display for potion reviews during classroom lectures.
  • The app’s responsive design ensures usability and consistency, providing an intuitive experience no matter the device.

2. Glossy Pixels Badge: A Visual Feast

The app’s aesthetic brings the wizarding world to life, making potion approvals as enchanting as the potions themselves:

  • Dynamic Imagery: A scroll-like interface hosts the potion’s details, while a vivid, animated potion bottle in the center represents the brewing request.
  • Harry Potter Themed Design: The lab background and parchment scrolls immerse users in the magic of Hogwarts, creating a cohesive visual theme.
  • Interactive Buttons: “Approve” and “Reject” buttons are styled like enchanted seals, completing the magical look and feel.

The app’s glossy finish transforms a standard approval system into an immersive, Harry Potter-themed experience that stands out among competitors.

3. Plug N’Play Badge: Seamless Workflows

Our app is built to integrate effortlessly into existing systems, demonstrating the true power of automation and low-code platforms:

  • Data Flow: The Power Automate flow connects FO, SMS notifications, Teams, SharePoint, and the app itself to ensure a smooth, automated workflow.
  • Elf Accessibility: The Teams messageing and SharePoint list ensures house-elves can view instructions without requiring access to complex systems.
  • Scalability: The app’s modular design allows new potions or additional workflows to be added with minimal effort, ensuring future readiness.

🐍 Why We Deserve These Badges

  • Chameleon Badge: The app’s responsiveness ensures a consistent, intuitive experience across devices, making it accessible for any user, anywhere.
  • Glossy Pixels Badge: The polished design, immersive visuals, and Harry Potter-themed aesthetics elevate the app beyond functional utility into an enchanting experience.
  • Plug N’Play Badge: With seamless integrations and a modular design, the app showcases the potential of low-code platforms for powering end-to-end workflows.

🔮 Potion-Perfect Innovation

From dynamic visuals to responsive functionality, our Canvas app brings a touch of magic to the hackathon. We humbly submit our case for the Chameleon, Glossy Pixels, and Plug N’Play badges and invite you to explore our journey as we continue to innovate at ACDC 2025: acdc.blog/category/cepheo25.

#ACDC2025 #ChameleonBadge #GlossyPixelsBadge #PlugNPlayBadge #PowerPotters #PotionApprovalMagic