Unlike in the older version of Dynamics NAV, where you need a Windows platform, SQL Server, the required NAV version installed with the developer environment, and a must-required developer license, Microsoft made the development and setting of the development environment far easier for Business Central, freeing the developer from the need for a developer license all the time. There are specific scenarios during development or migration where you will need to have a developer license; other than that, you can build apps and extend business central. The beauty of this is its platform independence, which means you can be on the Windows, Mac, or Linux platforms and do the development for Business Central.
You will need the following programs:
- Visual Studio Code
VS Code is a free, lightweight, yet powerful integrated development editor. It is an open-source project, and community contributions are one of the major streams from which VS Code gets features and enhancements. VS Code is available on Windows, MacOS, and Linux and can be downloaded from here. - Docker or Business Central SaaS login
Docker or Business Central is required to download Business Central Base and system apps or when you want to publish your app. If you are a little tech-savvy you can have docker installed on your laptop and have a Business Central container for your development. I will have another blog dedicated to this.
If you have a Business Central login that is wonderful and you can start right after setting up your Visual Studio for Business Central development. - A handful of VS Code extensions.
- AL Business Central Extension (Important)
- Waldo’s AL (Recommended)