Overview of supported APIs and customization needed

[ChristianGalla]

What type of issue is this?

other

What SharePoint development model, framework, SDK or API is this about?

other (enter in the "Additional environment details" area below)

Target SharePoint environment

other (enter in the "Additional environment details" area below)

What browser(s) / client(s) have you tested

• 💥 Internet Explorer
• 💥 Microsoft Edge
• 💥 Google Chrome
• 💥 FireFox
• 💥 Safari
• mobile (iOS/iPadOS)
• mobile (Android)
• not applicable
• other (enter in the "Additional environment details" area below)

Additional environment details

• SharePoint Online
• SharePoint Server 2016
• SharePoint Server 2019
• SharePoint Server Subscription Edition
• All APIs and customization

Issue description

As a SharePoint consultant, I often must choose the best technology for customization and automation.

Unfortunately, over time, many technologies have emerged and gone again. Also, many new technologies are SharePoint Online exclusive or have limited OnPremise capabilities and documentation of supported platforms is sometimes outdated and / or only targeting SharePoint Online. Please note, there are still many customers that are using SharePoint Server for example because of data privacy or legal reasons.

Therefore, an overview of all currently supported and deprecated extension points and APIs as orientation is needed.

As far as I know, this is the status quo:

Type	Name	Status	Technology	SharePoint Online compatible	SharePoint Server 2016 / 2019 compatible	SharePoint Server Subscription Edition compatible	Notes
API	Graph	Maintained (Preferred)	REST, SDKs for: .NET, Go, Java, JavaScript, PHP, PowerShell, Python (preview)	Yes	No	No
API	(2013) REST / Odata	Maintained	REST	Yes	Yes	Yes
API	(2010) REST	Maintained	REST	Yes	Yes	Yes
API	Collaborative Application Markup Language (CAML)	Maintained	REST	Yes	Yes	Yes
API	PnPjs 3+	Maintained	JavaScript	Yes	No	No
API	PnPjs 2	Not Maintained anymore	JavaScript	Yes	Yes	Yes
API	JavaScript Object Model (JSOM)	Deprecated	JavaScript, REST	Yes	Yes	Yes
API	PnP PowerShell 2	Maintained	PowerShell 7, .NET 6	Yes	No	No
API	PnP PowerShell	Not maintained anymore	PowerShell 5, .NET Framework 4.6	Yes	Yes	Yes
API	SharePoint Server Cmdlets	Maintained	PowerShell 5, .NET Framework 4	No	Yes	Yes
API	Client Side Object Model (CSOM) .NET Framework version	Maintained	.NET Framework 4	Yes	Yes	?	Missing nuget package for Subscription Edition
API	Client Side Object Model (CSOM) .NET Standard version	Maintained	.NET	Yes	No	No
API	Windows Phone assemblies	Not maintained anymore	.NET Framework, C#	?	?	?
API / Customization	Silverlight redistributable assemblies	Not maintained anymore	C#	No	No	No
Automation	Power Automate	Maintained (Preferred)	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	Mailing requires Exchange Online. Premium required for server access.
Automation	Azure Logic Apps	Maintained	-	Yes	Yes	Yes
Automation	Webhooks	Maintained	-	Yes	No	No
Automation	SharePoint 2010 workflow	Deprecated	-	No	Yes	Yes	Supported until 2026
Automation	SharePoint 2013 workflow	Deprecated	-	No	Yes	Yes	Supported until 2026
Customization	SharePoint Framework (SPFx)	Maintained (Preferred)	JavaScript/ TypeScript	Yes	Yes	Yes	OnPremise versions are very old and support only a few extension points. For example: Full page is not supported.
Customization	Power Apps	Maintained (Preferred)	-	Yes	No	No
Customization	SharePoint Add-ins	Maintained	JavaScript/ TypeScript	Yes	Yes	Yes	No App-Parts in OnPremise modern experience sites, App Web not supported for example by migration tools
Customization	Farm Solutions	Maintained	C#	No	Yes	Yes	Should be used for customizations of SharePoint administrative functions and not for primary use by end users
Customization	No code Sandbox Solutions	Maintained	JavaScript	No	Yes	Yes	Should be migrated to Add-Ins
Customization	Code-Based Sandbox Solutions	Removed	C#	No	No	No	Should be migrated to Add-Ins
Customization	SharePoint Designer 2013	Deprecated	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	Supported until 2026
Customization	InfoPath Forms Services	Deprecated	-	No	Yes	Yes	Supported until 2026, should be migrated to Power Apps

Now to my questions:

1. Can this table be validated, added to the official documentation, and maintained by Microsoft?
2. For SharePoint Online, it is noticeably clear what should be used, but what are the recommended future proof APIs and customization for SharePoint OnPremise development? Unfortunately, the SPFx version is so old, no modern JavaScript / React library can be used, and many features are missing. For offline automation I think the 2013 REST API should be used. Because CSOM / .NET Framework 4.x is old, many new language and .NET features like dependency injection cannot be used.

Thank you for reporting this issue. We will be triaging your incoming issue as soon as possible.

[nick-pape]

Hi @ChristianGalla , this is a really good post.

1. I'll keep this ticket open for now, as we may either convert this to a pinned discussion or add a page to documentation with this table. Unfortunately, we don't necessarily have the resources to validate it and keep it fully up-to-date, so it would need to be community maintained.

2. I'm working on an answer for this and will update the thread when I have one.

[fowl2]

Just a drive by, but the note that CSOM has been updated for .NET Core - see Using CSOM for .NET Standard instead of CSOM for .NET Framework. See also pnpcore.

I definitely agree that it's lack of good up to date(!) guidance is perennial problem with a sprawling and, uh, well historied, platform like SharePoint.