Write Faster AL: Performance Patterns & Anti-Patterns
Almost every performance issue in Business Central traces back to the same place: how AL code talks to SQL. The gap between code that works and code that performs is often just a handful of decisions, and most of them happen at the moment you write the statement.
In this focused expert session, Microsoft MVP Steven Renders cuts straight to that relationship, giving AL developers a concrete, practical understanding of how their code translates to database operations and what that means for the solutions they ship.
Rather than covering performance in the abstract, Steven zeroes in on three areas where small coding decisions have an outsized impact: field loading, read isolation and calculated fields. Each one is covered with clear best practices you can adopt immediately and carry into every project going forward.
Write code that is correct from the start. And fast from the start.
1. Introduction
- Objectives and learning outcomes for attendees
2. Basic AL to SQL translations
- Understand common AL statements that involve data access
3. SetLoadFields
- All the pros in using SetLoadFields (and related AL statements) as development pattern
4. ReadIsolation
- Create a lock-handling practice using the appropriate isolation level
5. AutoCalcFields
- Best practice in calculating fields: because latency matters
6. Q&A Session
- Open forum for participant questions and clarifications
Calendar
| Webinar | Price | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 01/09/2026 (16:00 - 17:00 CET/CEST) | € 75,00 | Register |
| 17/11/2026 (16:00 - 17:00 CET/CEST) | € 75,00 | Register |
Enjoy a discount and leverage your Companial Service Funds.
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Who is this course for?
AL developers working with Business Central who want to write more performant code and reduce common performance and locking issues in their solutions.
What will you learn?
- How AL statements translate to SQL and why understanding that relationship is essential for writing performant code
- How to use SetLoadFields and related statements to reduce unnecessary data loading and improve query efficiency
- How to apply ReadIsolation correctly to handle locking scenarios and avoid concurrency issues
- How to manage AutoCalcFields to eliminate hidden latency caused by unintended automatic calculations
- How to build performance-conscious habits into your daily AL development routine from the ground up