Top 10 Developer Changes in Business Central v28 (AL / VS Code)

Every major release of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central introduces improvements that impact how developers design, build, and maintain extensions.

Version 28 (2026 Release Wave 1) focuses strongly on performance optimization, platform modernization, and improved developer productivity.

For developers building extensions using AL and Visual Studio Code, several changes require attention during upgrades.

In this article, I will walk through the Top 10 developer changes in Business Central v28 and what they mean for your extensions.

1. Legacy Pricing Engine Removed

One of the biggest platform changes in v28 is the complete removal of the legacy pricing engine.

Microsoft introduced the new Price List architecture in earlier versions, and now it becomes the only supported pricing model.

Developer Impact

Extensions relying on older pricing logic must migrate.

Areas to review include:

• custom price calculations
• discount logic
• pricing-related code units
• integrations referencing legacy pricing tables

The new pricing system provides a more flexible framework for managing pricing rules and discounts.

2. FlowField Calculation Optimization

Business Central v28 introduces an important optimization for FlowField calculations.

Previously, FlowFields could be calculated even if they were not visible on the page.

In v28, FlowFields are calculated only when the field is visible in the UI.

Benefits

• fewer SQL queries
• faster page loading
• improved scalability for large datasets

3. Improved Search Metadata

Search and navigation are significantly improved in v28.

Developers can now provide better search metadata that improves how users discover pages, actions, and data.

Why this matters

In large Business Central environments with hundreds of pages and reports, improved search helps users locate functionality much faster.

Developers should review:

• page captions
• action captions
• field descriptions

Clear naming improves search results and usability.

4. Resource Files in Extensions

Another useful improvement in v28 is the ability to include resource files within extensions.

These files can store:

• configuration data
• templates
• initialization data

Benefits

Developers can package configuration data directly with the extension instead of writing complex installation code.

This simplifies deployment and improves maintainability.

5. Profile Extension Objects

Customizing user profiles previously required copying base profiles, which created upgrade issues.

Business Central v28 introduces profile extension objects, allowing developers to extend profiles without duplication.

Advantages

• cleaner customization model
• easier upgrades
• better maintainability

Developers can now modify Role Centers and user experiences in a more structured way.

6. Improved Performance Profiling

Performance troubleshooting becomes easier with new profiling improvements.

Developers can capture performance data to analyze:

• long-running AL procedures
• page load times
• inefficient database queries

Why this matters

In large implementations with many extensions, performance bottlenecks can be difficult to detect.

Profiling tools help developers identify inefficient code earlier.

7. SQL Telemetry Insights

Business Central v28 provides better telemetry insights for database operations.

Telemetry data includes:

• SQL query execution time
• table interactions
• query performance statistics

This information integrates with Microsoft Azure Application Insights.

Developer Advantage

Developers can monitor real production workloads and optimize extensions based on actual usage patterns.

8. Sandbox Upgrade Testing Improvements

Upgrade testing is easier in v28.

Developers can now upgrade existing sandbox environments to preview versions.

Benefits

• test extension compatibility earlier
• simulate production upgrades
• reduce upgrade risks

This is particularly important for partners maintaining multiple customer environments.

9. AI Agent Development Scenarios

Microsoft continues to move toward AI-assisted development workflows.

New tools and integrations enable AI agents to assist developers in tasks such as:

• analyzing AL code
• generating documentation
• improving developer productivity

This aligns with Microsoft’s broader AI strategy across the Dynamics ecosystem.

10. Enhanced VS Code Development Experience

The development experience in Visual Studio Code continues to improve.

Enhancements include:

• better debugging capabilities
• improved symbol downloads
• smoother Git integration
• improved navigation in large AL projects

These improvements help developers manage complex extension projects more efficiently.

What Developers Should Prepare for in v28

Before upgrading to Business Central v28, developers should review their extensions carefully.

Key areas to validate include:

• pricing logic compatibility
• FlowField calculations
• performance-sensitive code
• search metadata
• extension initialization processes

Testing extensions in sandbox environments before production upgrades is strongly recommended.

Business Central v28 continues Microsoft’s focus on modernizing the platform and improving developer productivity.

The most significant changes for developers include:

• removal of legacy pricing logic
• optimized FlowField calculations
• improved telemetry and profiling tools
• better development workflows in Visual Studio Code

Stay tune for more..

Original Post https://ammolhsaallvi.blog/2026/03/10/top-10-developer-changes-in-business-central-v28-al-vs-code/