Copilot can help small and midsize businesses bring new products to market faster by using artificial intelligence (AI) to generate product descriptions and reduce the steps needed to publish products to e-commerce stores. Copilot also can help developers who work with Business Central extensions write code more efficiently. Microsoft’s new AI-powered tool can assist anyone looking to increase productivity and reduce development time. In this FORsights™ article, we’ll explore how Copilot can be used for Business Central extension development and why it may be worth considering for your next project.
What Is Business Central Extension Development?
Business Central is an enterprise resource planning application from Microsoft that offers a range of features and capabilities for small and midsize businesses. Extensions are add-ons that can be developed and deployed to Business Central to extend its functionality and provide additional capabilities. Developing extensions for Business Central requires a deep understanding of Microsoft’s AL (assembly language) and familiarity with the system’s application programming interfaces (APIs) and data structures.
How Can Copilot Power Business Central Extension Development?
Copilot is integrated with Visual Studio Code, providing intelligent suggestions for code generation and completion. Copilot uses machine learning algorithms to analyze code patterns and suggest relevant snippets based on process and application context. This can be particularly helpful when working with Business Central extensions, which often involve complex data structures and APIs.
Copilot can help with the following aspects of Business Central extension development:
- Autocomplete – Copilot provides context-aware autocompletion suggestions as you type, which can help save time and reduce errors.
- Code Generation – Copilot can generate code snippets based on the context in which they are used; this can be particularly helpful when working with complex data structures and APIs.
- Error Detection – Copilot can detect common errors and suggest fixes, which can help save time and reduce the need for manual debugging.
- Code Review – Copilot can assist with code review by suggesting best practices and identifying potential issues before problems arise.
Using Copilot for Business Central extension development can lead to faster development times, fewer errors, and a more efficient workflow. Copilot’s context-aware autocompletion and code generation features can help developers write code faster and with fewer errors, saving time and reducing the need for manual debugging.
In addition to speeding up development, Copilot can help improve code quality. Its error detection and code review capabilities can help identify potential issues before they become problems. These capabilities also can help reduce the risk of software bugs and other issues down the line, which can produce more stable and reliable programming.
How to Get Started With Copilot for Business Central Extension Development
You’ll need to install the Visual Studio Code extension to get started with Copilot. Once installed, you can use Copilot by simply typing in the editor. Copilot will provide suggestions as you type, which you can accept or reject by using the tab key.
It’s critical to have a good understanding of Microsoft’s AL and Business Central’s APIs and data structures to make the most of Copilot. This understanding can help you use Copilot more effectively and take full advantage of its features.
Copilot is a powerful tool that can be used to help improve productivity and reduce development time when working with Business Central extensions. Its context-aware autocompletion and code generation features can help you write code more efficiently and with fewer errors. At the same time, its error detection and code review capabilities can help save time and improve code quality. If you’re a developer working with Business Central extensions, it may be worth considering Copilot as a tool to add to your collection.
How FORVIS Can Help
The Business Technology Solutions team at FORVIS can provide Business Central extension development and many other services, including analysis, design, implementation, upgrade, training, and support. We are a Microsoft Dynamics Gold Partner and 2022–23 recipient of the Microsoft Inner Circle award. For assistance moving forward with Copilot in Business Central, use the Contact Us form below to ask questions or schedule a personalized demo.