RAPID MOBILE APP DEVELOPMENT WITH LOW-CODE METHOD USING MS POWER APPS
By: Dr. Khairul Annuar bin Abdullah
Computer Technology Students Club (COMTECH), Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics (FSKM), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) had successfully organized Workshop on Mobile App Development with MS Power Apps for Novices on 19th of December, 2025 located at Programming Laboratory 1, FSKM. The workshop was attended by Project Development Team comprising Computer Science students who are also COMTECH members along with other participants. It is a part of preparedness planning for the execution of COMTECH2Serve: A Sustainable Mobile App for Community Volunteering, a project funded by Center for Sustainability Management, UMT.
The COMTECH2Serve project focuses on the design and development of a mobile app that connects UMT students particularly COMTECH members with community volunteering activities centered in the districts of Kuala Nerus and Kuala Terengganu. The project aims to instill civic responsibilities in collaboration with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), schools, and the local community while espousing the aspirations of ‘Touching Lives’, ‘Making a Difference’, and ‘Be Kind’. The establishment of COMTECH2Serve mobile app is anticipated to expand COMTECH’s roles which has traditionally revolved around academic excellence, by actively engaging in UMT’s social sustainability initiatives.
The objective of workshop was to provide exposure and basics on using Power Apps as a low-code mobile app development platform. The low-code method enables a faster and easier app development so that developers may emphasize to what matters, that is the app functionalities and creativity.
The Project Development Team and participants were introduced to the platform interface, integrable data sources, and application development workflow. They were guided step-by-step in building a functional simple app starting from interfaces preparation and data connection to app testing. Toward the end of workshop, critical aspects of project planning and management as well as activities organization and coordination were also deliberated to ensure the COMTECH2Serve project runs systematically and controllably.
The Power Apps workshop was conducted by Ts. Dr. Khairul Annuar bin Abdullah, the Computer Science lecturer of FSKM cum Advisor of COMTECH who generously shared his knowledge and experiences in mobile app development. The interactive and hands-on approach of the workshop had facilitated and expedited Project Development Team and participants in using Power Apps. The workshop was initiated by Nur Syahirah binti Mohd Johari, Project Manager of COMTECH2Serve with the full support of COMTECH President, Noratikah binti Noor Azmien as well as the entire club leadership.
The organization of such workshop aligns with FSKM’s and UMT’s commitments to empowering students’ digital competencies and promoting social innovations with sustainability impacts in mind. It is hoped that this humble initiative may serve as a stepping stone for COMTECH to amplify its volunteering efforts and contribute more to community in the future.
Kelab Mahasiswa Teknologi Komputer (COMTECH), Fakulti Sains Komputer dan Matematik (FSKM), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) telah berjaya menganjurkan Bengkel Mobile App Development with MS Power Apps for Novices pada 19 Disember 2025 berlokasikan Makmal Pengaturcaraan 1, FSKM. Bengkel Power Apps yang dihadiri oleh Pasukan Pembangun Projek daripada kalangan mahasiswa Sains Komputer yang juga merupakan ahli COMTECH bersama para peserta lain adalah sebagai langkah kesiapsiagaan pembangunan projek COMTECH2Serve: A Sustainable Mobile App for Community Volunteering. Projek ini menerima pendanaan daripada Pusat Pengurusan Lestari, UMT.
Projek COMTECH2Serve ialah projek reka bentuk dan pembangunan aplikasi mudah alih yang mendekatkan mahasiswa UMT, khususnya warga COMTECH dengan aktiviti kesukarelawan komuniti yang bertumpu di daerah Kuala Nerus dan daerah Kuala Terengganu. Projek ini bertujuan untuk memupuk tanggungjawab sivik bersama Pertubuhan Bukan Kerajaan, sekolah dan masyarakat setempat dengan mendokong aspirasi ‘Touching Lives’, ‘Making a Difference’ dan ‘Be Kind’. Kewujudan aplikasi mudah alih COMTECH2Serve dijangka akan mengembangkan peranan COMTECH yang selama ini memfokus kepada kecemerlangan akademik dengan turut mengambil bahagian dalam inisiatif kelestarian sosial UMT.
Matlamat bengkel adalah untuk memberikan pendedahan dan asas penggunaan Power Apps sebagai platform pembangunan aplikasi mudah alih yang berteraskan low-code. Kaedah low-code membolehkan pembangunan aplikasi mudah alih dilakukan dengan mudah dan pantas serta tumpuan terarah kepada kefungsian aplikasi dan kreativiti pembangun.
Pasukan Pembangun Projek dan para peserta telah diperkenalkan kepada antara muka platform, sumber data yang boleh diintegrasikan dan aliran kerja pembangunan aplikasi. Mereka dibimbing langkah demi langkah dalam membina aplikasi ringkas yang berfungsi bermula daripada penyediaan reka bentuk, sambungan data sehinggalah proses pengujian aplikasi. Di akhir bengkel, aspek perancangan dan pengurusan projek serta aspek penyusunan dan penyelarasan aktiviti turut disentuh agar projek COMTECH2Serve dapat berjalan dengan sistematik dan terkawal.
Bengkel Power Apps telah dikendalikan oleh Ts. Dr. Khairul Annuar bin Abdullah iaitu Pensyarah Sains Komputer FSKM merangkap Penasihat COMTECH yang sudi berkongsi kemahiran dan pengalaman dalam pembangunan aplikasi mudah alih. Pendekatan bengkel secara interaktif dan hands-on memudah dan mempercepatkan Pasukan Pembangun Projek dan para peserta dalam mengaplikasikan Power Apps. Bengkel ini adalah cetusan idea saudari Nur Syahirah binti Mohd. Johari selaku Pengurus Projek dengan sokongan Presiden COMTECH, saudari Noratikah binti Noor Azmien dan seluruh barisan kepimpinan.
Penganjuran bengkel Power Apps adalah selaras dengan komitmen FSKM dan UMT untuk memperkukuh kemahiran digital mahasiswa dan menggalakkan inovasi sosial yang memberi impak terhadap kelestarian. Semoga usaha kecil ini menjadi tapak kepada COMTECH untuk mengembangkan aktiviti kesukarelawan sekaligus dapat menyumbang kepada komuniti secara berterusan.