Packt+ | Advance your knowledge in tech

You're reading from Dynamics 365 Business Central Development Quick Start Guide

Product typeBook

Published inAug 2018

PublisherPackt

ISBN-139781789347463

Edition1st Edition

Tools

Dynamics 365

Concepts

CRM

Authors (2):

Stefano Demiliani

Duilio Tacconi

View More author details

Chapter 3. Modern Development Environment Overview

In Chapter 2, The New Extension Model, we introduced what extending an application means and we tasted the new extensibility model for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

In this chapter, we will provide you with an overview of the new Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central modern development environment and we will help you to configure its core application, Visual Studio Code, for developing extensions and solutions targeted for a single tenant or SaaSified for AppSource. SaaSify is a neologism typically used by Microsoft Dynamics NAV developers when moving standard legacy C/AL customization to certified cloud-ready AL solutions for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

We will also learn how to use and create customized AL snippets to squeeze the maximum out of an efficient development environment.

By the end of the chapter, we will have also learned source-code management (SCM) with the powerful Visual Studio Code Git native integration...

Modern versus classic development environments

The history and success of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central's predecessor, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, starts with classic client.

From day one, this Visual C++ application was promising and after some decades of glory its retirement looks quite near. It will be replaced by the more modern, shiny, multi-platform, web application development-oriented Visual Studio Code.

Classic client used to be a two-sided application: a first-in-class production client for end users and at the same time a suitable workbench for developers.

With Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013, it was deprecated as a production client and just simply named CSIDE (Client server integrated development environment), relegated to only a development application targeted as a Windows and/or web client.

Characteristics and advantages of CSIDE

CSIDE comes with native support for a proprietary language called C/AL (Client/Application Language), a solid and robust development language engineered...

The AL Extension

Visual Studio Code can be considered just a simple and powerful code editor as is.

What gives this application its sixth gear and credentials as a real modern development environment is the AL Extension created and engineered by the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Development Team.

The AL Extension is Built using the standard Visual Studio Code API; it can be deployed in the following ways:

Directly as a downloadable package from the Visual Studio Code marketplace. Targeted only for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Manually as an installable package (VSIX) from the product DVD. Targeted only for on- premises Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

Even if they might look like the same, they are consistently different, since VSIX is coming from the on-premises product DVD and is currently just a cut-off, limited version from the fall of 2017 and does not contain all the enhancements and new features made by the modern development team up to now. These features will be exclusively...

AL snippets

Code snippets are pieces or small template of codes that can be recycled and reused through the intellisense feature for fast application coding. These are typically used to rapidly create

Object structure definition (for example, a table, field, page, report, xmlport, and so on)
Looping statements (for example, for, repeat until, while, and so on)

AL Snippets come with the prefix t, followed by a meaningful name. To show them up, go to the HelloWorld.al, hit return at the end of Message(…), and type t. Intellisense will show up a list for the current standard code snippets dispatched with AL Extension for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

You can practice yourself by choosing some of them and populating the relevant placeholders to create a meaningful script.

You can see from this table a list of the standard snippets. This standard list can be extended in future updates and enhanced for AL Extension:

Native AL source-code management with Git

The Source-Code Management (SCM) is a problem that is amplified coming from a single object created and maintained by a single person for up to several objects (also called a project or, with more complexity, solution) developed by several persons (also known as teams).

As developers, document and tracking changes is a must, as well as maintaining a chronological history of these changes, the people who performed these changes, and the business reason that lies behind these changes.

Looking at the CSIDE Development Environment, this really has zero footprint out of the box and no documentation related to source-code management. If you browse through official literature or blogs, you might find out how hard it is to maintain a vertical solution with on-premises Microsoft Dynamics NAV in terms of version control, using CSIDE. You might find out partners or customers who blogged about using the Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation to track changes...

Summary

This chapter has shown you how to set up Visual Studio Code as a modern development environment for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and how to get started developing your very first extension with AL.

You learned how to work with code snippets, to improve development productivity.

The chapter also gave you a brief introduction to source-code management with Git.

Now you know all you need to know to use Visual Studio Code to develop custom applications. In Chapter 4, Creating Your Development Sandbox, we'll see how to use all these concepts to create a more complex extension.

The rest of the chapter is locked

You have been reading a chapter from

Dynamics 365 Business Central Development Quick Start Guide

Published in: Aug 2018Publisher: PacktISBN-13: 9781789347463

A free Packt account unlocks extra newsletters, articles, discounted offers, and much more. Start advancing your knowledge today.

undefined

Unlock this book and the full library FREE for 7 days

Get unlimited access to 7000+ expert-authored eBooks and videos courses covering every tech area you can think of

Start free trial

Renews at $15.99/month. Cancel anytime

Authors (2)

Stefano Demiliani

Stefano Demiliani is a Microsoft MVP on Business Applications and Azure, MCT, Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD), Azure Certified Architect, and an expert in other Microsoft related technologies. His main activity is architecting and developing enterprise solutions based on the entire stack of Microsoft technologies (mainly focused on ERP and serverless applications). He has worked with Packt Publishing on many IT books related to Azure cloud applications and Dynamics 365 Business Central and is a frequent speaker at IT conferences around Europe. In his free time Stefano is also a runner and a cyclist.
Read more about Stefano Demiliani

Duilio Tacconi

Duilio Tacconi is a Microsoft Dynamics NAV/Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Escalation Engineer at Microsoft EMEA Customer Support & Services (CSS). He joined Microsoft in 2008 after working in a customer IT department with a focus on system administration and development. Despite graduating with the highest score in Agricultural Science in 1996, he is in the ERP circuit since 1998 as developer and system implementer for several companies with Microsoft and non-Microsoft technologies. Currently, he is a subject matter expert in EMEA for RDLC Report development and one of Microsoft EMEA CSS reference for Managed Service for Partners (MSfP). Three times IronMan finisher, Duilio lives in Cernusco Sul Naviglio (Italy) with his beloved wife Laura and his 2 years old son Leonardo.
Read more about Duilio Tacconi

Other recommended products

Related to this chapter

Mastering Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Mastering Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a comprehensive solution which will help you in managing end-to-end business requirements with its features to connect to your financials, sales, service, and operations to streamline business processes. This book will help you in advancing with developing the solutions for your customers with improved interactions and better decisions.

BookDec 2019770 pages

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Cookbook

With this comprehensive guide, you will become familiar with the latest Dynamics 365 Business Central which is a complete business application management application. It helps you streamline business processes in your company, connect the company across the individual departments, and enhance customer interactions.

BookAug 2019380 pages

Implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central On-Premise

Microsoft Dynamics Business Central is a complete ERP software solution for all kinds of organizations. It is fast to implement and easy to configure and use. It also allows companies to grow the application by customizing the solution to meet specific requirements. This book details new features and functionalities available in Dynamics Business Central and NAV.

BookDec 2018764 pages

Automated Testing in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Dynamics 365 Business Central is the new Cloud-based SaaS ERP proposition from Microsoft. It’s not as simple as it used to be way back when it was called Navigator, Navision Financials, or Microsoft Business Solutions-Navision. Our development practices are becoming more formal, and with this the call for test automation is pressing on us. This book will teach you to leverage testing tools available with Dynamics 365 Business Central to perform automated testing.

BookApr 2019222 pages

Building ERP Solutions with Microsoft Dynamics NAV

BookMar 2017392 pages

Microsoft Dynamics NAV Development Quick Start Guide

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software suite for organizations. The system offers specialized functionality for manufacturing, distribution, government, retail, and other industries. This book gets you started with its integrated development environment for solving problems through customizing business processes.

BookDec 2018210 pages

Extending Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016 Cookbook

BookJan 2017458 pages

Implementing Azure Cloud Design Patterns

A well designed cloud infrastructure covers factors such as consistency, maintenance, simplified administration and development, and reusability. Hence it is important to choose the right architectural pattern as it has a huge impact on the quality of cloud-hosted services. This book covers all Azure design patterns and functionalities to help you build your cloud infrastructure so it fits your system requirements.

BookJan 2018300 pages

Programming Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Programming Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central will help you effectively use the development tools that are built into Dynamics Business Central. You will understand the strengths of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central’s development tools and how they can be applied to address functional business requirements.

BookApr 2019536 pages

Mastering Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016

With the latest release, Microsoft has rolled out several new features for developers, administrators, consultants, and users alike, to tailor their implementation to best meet each individual’s requirements. This book will help you get a firm understanding of the ins and outs of the latest version of Dynamics NAV.

BookMar 2017450 pages

Implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations Apps

Microsoft has changed the technology so customers can now select, evaluate and implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 and other applications for their enterprise. This book will provide insights and relevant information around Dynamics 365 Apps, trial experience and implementation of Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations Apps

BookMar 2020528 pages

Programming Microsoft Dynamics NAV

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a full business solution suite, and a complete ERP solution, which contains a robust set of development tools to support customization and enhancement. These tools help in greater control over financials and can simplify supply chain, manufacturing, and operations. This book will take you from an introduction to Dynamics NAV and its integrated development tools to being a productive developer in the Dynamics NAV Development Environment.

BookApr 2017706 pages

Personalised recommendations for you

Based on your interests and search pattern

C++ Programming for Linux Systems

This book covers the essential system programming tools and helps you explore the features of C++20. It emphasizes important details to maintain code quality and tackle everyday challenges of developing software for high performance, optimization, and more.

BookSep 2023288 pages

Expert C++

Discover advanced programming techniques, the latest features of C++17 and C++20, and best practices for memory management, debugging, testing, and large-scale application design with Expert C++. Ideal for experienced developers advancing to proficient programmers and building professional-grade C++ applications.

BookAug 2023604 pages

iOS 17 Programming for Beginners

iOS 17 Programming for Beginners, Eighth Edition is your comprehensive guide to learning the art of iOS app development. Whether you dream of creating the next chart-topping app or simply want to enhance your programming skills, this book is your trusted companion on this exciting journey.

BookOct 2023604 pages4

Developer Career Masterplan

Written by industry experts that have spent the last 20+ years helping developers grow their career path towards senior developer positions and beyond. This book provides a comprehensive guide, sharing examples and stories from their global careers. By the end, you’ll have the knowledge to create a clear career progression plan as a technical professional.

BookSep 2023310 pages

Refactoring with C#

In Refactoring with C#, you’ll explore the process of safely refactoring modern .NET code using Visual Studio features, advanced unit tests, AI assistance, and custom Roslyn analyzers.

BookNov 2023434 pages

Python Real-World Projects

Amplify your developer journey by curating a dynamic project portfolio that outshines traditional resumes. Delve into the Python realm through immersive projects, mastering core concepts while constructing comprehensive modules and applications. From data acquisition prowess to impactful data visualization, Python Real-World Projects arms you with essential skills to beat the competition.

BookSep 2023478 pages5

The MVVM Pattern in .NET MAUI

The MVVM Pattern in .NET MAUI enables developers to master MVVM principles and effectively apply them to .NET MAUI. This book uses real-life examples and covers complex problems to help you successfully apply MVVM with .NET MAUI to confidently develop robust and high-performing cross-platform apps.

BookNov 2023386 pages

Extending Microsoft Business Central with Power Platform

Extending Business Central with the Power Platform is a step-by-step guide for Business Central professionals to create solutions that automate business processes, explain complex workflow approvals, and integrate with hundreds of other systems, without traditional development. It’ll guide you in customizing Business Central with Power Platform.

BookAug 2023458 pages5

Extending Microsoft Business Central with Power Platform

Extending Business Central with the Power Platform is a step-by-step guide for Business Central professionals to create solutions that automate business processes, explain complex workflow approvals, and integrate with hundreds of other systems, without traditional development. It’ll guide you in customizing Business Central with Power Platform.

BookAug 2023458 pages5

Quantum Computing Algorithms

The book emphasizes intuitive ideas behind quantum algorithms in ways that other books don’t cover, striking a careful balance between no math and too much math. To get the most from this book, you should be comfortable with basic algebra and writing simple computer code. No prior understanding of quantum physics is needed to get started.

BookSep 2023342 pages

Python – Complete Python, Django, Data Science and ML Guide

Unlock Python's full potential with this 50+ hour course! From programming to web and game development, data manipulation, and machine learning, gain the skills required to succeed in various Python-related careers. With practical tasks, hands-on experience, and a strong foundation in Python, you'll be ready to tackle real-world challenges and take advantage of the many opportunities this versatile language offers.

VideoNov 202350 hours 30 minutes5

Python – Complete Python, Django, Data Science and ML Guide

Unlock Python's full potential with this 50+ hour course! From programming to web and game development, data manipulation, and machine learning, gain the skills required to succeed in various Python-related careers. With practical tasks, hands-on experience, and a strong foundation in Python, you'll be ready to tackle real-world challenges and take advantage of the many opportunities this versatile language offers.

VideoNov 202350 hours 30 minutes5

Metadata Structure	Statement Brick	Field	Object
`taction`	`tassert`	`tfield`	`tcodeunit...`