Canvas Apps Open Beta: A Sneak Peek for Admins

[AlexisNast]

We're excited to announce the Canvas Apps page will be going live to open beta on December 16th! This new feature is designed to streamline app integration and management for Canvas root admins. While still in development, this initial release, which will be made available automatically in all beta accounts, offers a glimpse into the future of app management within Canvas. 

One beta tester shared, “This is way better! You can actually view all of the different app permissions and placements in one spot,” highlighting the transformative simplicity this update brings to managing tools within Canvas. With insights from over 100 institutions during the closed beta, we’ve honed this experience to meet the needs of educators and admins alike.

Screenshot of the Discover page in the new Canvas Apps experience

What's Included in the Open Beta:

• Centralized Access: Admins can now access the Apps page directly from the admin menu at the Root Account level.
• App Discovery: The Discover tab provides 143 in-depth LTI 1.3 product listings, making it easier to find and explore new tools.
• Simplified Configuration: Tools can be configured effortlessly from the Discover tab, with support for various configuration methods (Dynamic Registration, JSON, JSON URLs, Inherited Keys, and manual). So far 75 apps have provided their registration information for “one-click” configuration, with more to come! All other apps can be configured with the new, simplified manual installation flow.
• LTI 1.3 Management: A simplified modal view makes managing LTI permissions and access easier than ever.
• Permission Clarity: Gain a clear understanding of the permissions and access granted to each tool.
• Continued Access to Developer Keys: The current Developer Keys page and its functionality will remain available as we continue to develop the new experience. Data will be synced between both pages.

What's Still in the Works:

• Tool Deployment: The ability to deploy tools directly from the Apps page is coming soon.
• Granular Controls: Subaccount and course-level controls are on the horizon.
• Teacher Interface: We're working on a teacher interface with options for admins to control tool accessibility.
• EduAppCenter Deprecation: We do not have a timeline for deprecation and will give plenty of notice once we do, but we wanted to make it clear that this Apps page will ultimately be replacing EduAppCenter once we have a replacement for the key features.

Stay Tuned!

This is just the beginning. We're actively developing additional features and enhancements based on your feedback. We encourage all Canvas admins to explore the open beta and share your thoughts via this Google Form. Your input is critical as we shape the future of Canvas Apps. If for any reason you need to disable the feature, you can use the “LTI Apps Page” Feature Flag under Settings.