• X++ compiler performance is the bottleneck of build
and installation scenarios in many organizations
• Some simple tricks can be applied to minimize the
compilation time (pre cu7)
Phase 1
Types and signatures compilation
Phase 2
Bodies compilation and p-code
generation
Phase 3
Phase 2 is re-executed, but only for
elements with errors
• Metadata is read and
validated
• X++ source code is
converted to p-code
and saved
• Error logs are created
How the Microsoft Dynamics AX compiler works
• Compilation happens on the
client.
• Metadata is exchanged from
SQL all the way to the client
and back to SQL
• Compiler is single threaded
• Compilation happens on the
•
•
•
•
AOS (no metadata exchange)
X++ execution during
compilation has been reduced
(output log)
64 bit process
Single threaded compilation
~30% performance boost
Parallelization
AXBuild.exe is a new
stand-alone command
line tool, to coordinate
multiple AOS in the
same box to complete a
full compilation in
parallel
Private AOS
Topology with TFS
• A private AOS topology is a setup
where each developer has his or her
own Microsoft Dynamics AX client,
AOS instance, model database, and
business database.
• Artifacts are synchronized between
developers using a supported version
control system like TFS
As needed
Periodic
Administrator: Setup
TFS
Administrator:
Configure Version
Control for AX
Development (Build
Computer)
Administrator: Add
Model (s) to Version
Control (Build
Computer)
Administrator: Apply
a Label to Latest
Version of Source
Files
Developer:
Configure Version
Control on
Developer
Computer
Developer: Deploy
Build
Developer: Check
out, Check in and
Get Latest
Administrator:
Create AX Build
(Build Computer)
Developer:
Synchronize to
Latest
No
Yes
Need new clean
build?
12. Load combined XPOs into AX using ax32Serv.exe
 Ax32Serv.exe -console 01 -model=@Model.xml -aol="%Layer%" -
AOTIMPORTFILE=%xpoFile% nocompile
13. Compile the application using AXBuild.exe
**
Configuration
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
MorphX client, AOS and SQL Server installed on the same computer.
4 Cores 3.7 GHz. Hyper-Threading enabled, which logically doubles the CPU count.
32 Gigabytes of physical active memory.
6.0 Gigabits/s SATA Controller
Windows Server 2012
SQL Server 2012 Enterprise with SP1 (no memory constraint)
Windows virtual page caching disabled.
Fresh AX 2012 R2, with cu7 installed.
•
•
Compilation using AXBuild.exe running 9 AOS workers: About 12 minutes.
Compilation using MorphX client (for comparison): 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Both measurements were done using the same hardware and setup.
Official documentation for the tool
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d6da631b-6a9d-42c0-9ffe-26c5bfb488e3.aspx
Blog post that explains the architecture of the tool
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/axtools/archive/2013/11/04/parallel-x-compilation-for-microsoft-dynamicsax2012-r2-in-cumulative-update-7.aspx
• This white paper describes in details tasks and best practices that are related to development
life cycle management in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. It is located on information source at
this link
• It focuses on TFS integration, creation of AX builds, and deployment on development
environments.
link
PowerShell gallery
Windows
www.microsoft.com/dynamics/axtechconference