Peter and Robert's XLNT Adventure part TWO

The new X++ compiler and the Microsoft Dynamics AX development platform click to download
The new X++ compiler and the Microsoft Dynamics AX development platform click to listen

Strange things were afoot at the Tech Convention and the Earl of Villadsen and the Duke of Robear were giving us a heavy dose of "Check this out," during the developer sessions!

The X++ code base is not well-structured for larger data sets and VS projects and therefore the concept of loading everything into one project would be unbearable. Now there is an assembly for each package. These assemblies are composed of net modules and PDB files. each NM contains code for artifacts that are similar in nature. This makes for more efficient use.

AX has introduced IGNORE LIST of for code assemblies that push the boundaries of code generation and legacy code.

Peter and Robert's XLNT Adventure part ONE

The new X++ compiler and the Microsoft Dynamics AX development platform click to download
The new X++ compiler and the Microsoft Dynamics AX development platform click to listen

Dylan knew something about AX even in the 60's

The times they are a changin', and change they have... the compiler is completely rebuilt from 2012, not one line of code! - Peter V

This has been a four year endeavor to rewrite from scratch in C# by a small team, which expanded, and came up with a set of tools available to us end-using developers.

• The Visual Studio intellisense engine.
• The extensible Best Practice engine.
• The Code Migration tools.
• Other ad-hoc tools

As an example of the flexibility of the new XLNT, Peter crowed about someone that had used a web-based app to search all of the artifacts in AX7 using XLNT. This is certainly most non-heinous.

eX PLUS PLUS (X++ for those not into phonetics)

The X++ language click to download the slide deck.
The X++ language VIDEO click to watch Peter in his glory.


Mister Villadsen was at again highlighting the NEW X++ language changes during an informative and fun-filled session, yes fun-filled. Where else are you going to get an X++ genius using arcane terms such as "Cludgy" or "Syntatic Sugar?"

I must start with a digression... Did anyone else think that the dude from the stock image on the opening slide looked like a bizarro Kevin Costner? I could not get it out of my mind at each session.

Anyways, X++! If you build it better they will come! As it was with every other P-Vill sesh, this one was standing room only.

X++ does remain the the vehicle for development in the NEW AX with some changes to promote consistency with other langauges, integration with the CIL and some general house cleaning to sweep away quirks and cludgy elements. The goal is to keep X++ familiar enough as to not scare away legacy developers but evolve it in strategic ways to innovate and attract C# dev folk.

All artifacts are now classes. ALL of them. Every last one. Forms? Yep, Classes? Meta and Yep. Queries and tabular objects? Yep and yep. The designer experience is a little flat, flattened on purpose to be view-able on one page. Not sure that I am going to like this change

• Can now declare variables anywhere in code
• Can now use ‘var’ variables as a shortcut
• Will set data type on assignment
• Static constructors supported

What are you waiting Form, check out Patterns in the NEW AX

Form patterns in Microsoft Dynamics AX click to download slide deck

Form patterns in Microsoft Dynamics AX (BSAX54) THE VIDEO!

Form patterns are a shift from the purely customized form structure in AX 2009. Ahhhh, freedom to do as you please. BUT, customization is the answer to and the cause of all your problems!  In 2012 we get limited template support and a few pain points as a bonus: no feedback without the form style checker, no help building the forms, and not all forms fit a pattern. 

Introducing the new and improved Form patterns! The NEW AX FP's define the basic structure, the objects and controls, and the meta data.

Some highlights:

• Consistent UI
• With patterns there are guaranteed responsive designs
• Validation (validates against the patterns in dev)
• Simpler/faster construction

I never Meta Data I didn't like.

Mining the metadata and authoring X++ best practice rules in Microsoft Dynamics AX click to download the slide deck
Mining the metadata and authoring X++ best practice rules in Microsoft Dynamics AX The Recording!

I recently watched the Lego Brickumentry and found out that the little bricks that I grew up loving originated in Denmark. I immediately thought that Denmark has produced some extraordinary influences; including Dynamics AX Rock Star, Peter Villadsen. Not only is Peter knowledgeable in AX but his style of delivery and cadence in his technical sessions are a genius blend of intellect and curmudgeonry that keeps a room of nerds on edge.

Meta Data has a HUGE role in the new AX...

Some of the most impressive aspects of the meta data shift is the accessibility of the data on which AX is built. This also shifts the processing from a server to file access!

It is all about the WEB and FLOW

It is all about the WEB and FLOW

Productivity and anywhere access through the Microsoft Dynamics AX  web client experience (click to download the slide deck)

Considering where AX is headed, this session opened up with an appropriate quote from one of the moderators,Todd Lefor, "Put your head into the cloud and start dreaming!" This a call in response prompted by the age old adage, "Get head out of the clouds and stop daydreaming."

Obviously, the UI of the New AX is beautiful. Gorgeous. It is built on the web for the web. The application is available in all modern browsers using native web controls that we are all used to seeing. The genius is that unless you as developer are looking to build custom controls you do not need to know HTML or Java Script with AX in the Cloud.

The Form Style Checker introduced in 2012 has morphed into Form Patterns.

MS Tech Conference Developer Experience

The Developer Experience or the Peter Villadsen and Robert Badawy Power Hour

NEW ** Developer experience and customization in the newest release of Microsoft Dynamics AX CLICK forVIDEO

Developer experience and customization in the newest release of Microsoft Dynamics AX
(Click to download full presentation deck)


Ok. After the first session with Peter and Robert it was clear that the organizers needed to move this and all future Dev sessions to Century Link Field. It was insane in my membrane. People were camped out on the floor, auctioning off seats to the highest bidder, and everyone had their lighters out at the end waiting for the encore!

First off, gone are the days of the inherent X++ code compiler. It was a nice vehicle but it is being replaced by the might and power of Visual Studio. It is very similar to C# but picture C# with an AOT. The code is no longer written in the AOS. You will need the AOS to compile, test, and run though.