NAV 2009, Part 2: For Web Services, "Sky Is the Limit"
In my first article previewing Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009, I focused on its significant changes in the role tailored experience and in architecture. In this article, I examine the reality of using NAV 2009 via the Internet, and programming issues for developers. I also consider the issues associated with the upgrade decision.
Web Services
Imagine you could publish any codeunit that you have ever written as a webservice by just enabling one checkbox. Yes, it's going to be as easy as that! Posting routines, calculations, ... all Dynamics NAV business logic will be available on the web by just one button click. Personally, I'm most excited about this feature, because of our own integration products.
And it will not be limited by just codeunits. We will also be able to publish pages. This sounds odd, but actually it's brilliant. It will foresee a predefined set of functions that you can use on a certain table. So if you publish the Customer Page, you will be able to view, filter, alter, ... (and much more) the data in the customer table.
Just imagine what integration possibilities this is going to offer. Communication with mobile devices, third party applications, web sites, ... . And all of his over the net ... . The sky is the limit.
So, what about the Developer Experience
At Directions EMEA 2008 in Paris, I followed a pretty interesting session about this. It showed clearly that Microsoft is doing its best to "keep things as simple as possible". Basically, there is not that much going to change for the developer (Basically!):
- We'll still be...
