What Al programming ?

 AL (Advanced Language) is the programming language used in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, formerly known as Microsoft Dynamics NAV. AL is specifically designed for developing extensions and customizations within the Business Central platform.

AL is a statically typed, procedural programming language with object-oriented capabilities. It is similar to other programming languages like C/AL (C/SIDE) and C#. However, AL is more lightweight and focused on the needs of Business Central development.

Here are some key features and characteristics of AL programming:

1. Object-Oriented: AL supports object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts such as encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. Developers can define classes, objects, properties, methods, and events to build modular and reusable code.

2. Data Types: AL has various data types, including text, integer, decimal, boolean, date, time, and more. Developers can declare variables, constants, and parameters using these data types.

3. Code Units and Functions: AL programs are organized into code units, which are containers for functions and procedures. Functions in AL can have input and output parameters and can return values.

4. Events: AL allows developers to subscribe to predefined events in the Business Central platform, such as "OnInsert," "OnModify," or "OnValidate." This enables custom code to execute when certain actions or conditions occur.

5. Integration with Business Central Objects: AL allows developers to define and modify various objects within Business Central, such as tables, pages, reports, and codeunits. This enables the customization and extension of the application's functionality.

6. IntelliSense and Visual Studio Code: Developers can write AL code using Visual Studio Code, a lightweight and extensible code editor. Visual Studio Code provides IntelliSense, a feature that suggests code completions and provides contextual information to help developers write code more efficiently.

7. Debugging and Testing: AL supports debugging capabilities, allowing developers to set breakpoints, step through code, inspect variables, and analyze program flow. Developers can also write unit tests to verify the correctness of their code.

8. Extensions: AL is primarily used for creating extensions for Business Central. Extensions are modular components that add custom functionality to the existing Business Central application without modifying the core system. AL allows developers to define tables, pages, codeunits, and other objects within an extension.

Microsoft provides development tools, documentation, and resources to assist developers in learning and working with AL. With AL programming, developers can extend Business Central's capabilities, create tailored solutions, integrate with external systems, and meet specific business requirements.