---
id: post/demiliani-com/13882
type: post
title: "Dynamics 365 Business Central: using AL MCP Server from GitHub Copilot CLI."
summary: The AL MCP Server exposes AL development tools through the Model Context Protocol, allowing CLI-based AI agents to perform AL operations like building, compiling, and publishing without Visual Studio Code. Install via dotnet tool and configure in GitHub Copilot CLI to automate AL development workflows in CI/CD pipelines and agent-driven scenarios.
tier: community
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  - mcp protocol
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  - cli
  - automation
  - ci/cd
  - code compilation
  - agent workflows
system: development
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    title: "Dynamics 365 Business Central: using AL MCP Server from GitHub Copilot CLI."
    date: "2026-06-18"
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  - kind: blog
    url: https://demiliani.com/2026/06/18/dynamics-365-business-central-using-al-mcp-server-from-github-copilot-cli/
    title: "Dynamics 365 Business Central: using AL MCP Server from GitHub Copilot CLI."
    date: "2026-06-18"
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    quote: It runs as a separate process and doesn't require Visual Studio Code.
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post_id: "13882"
source_id: demiliani-com
source_name: Stefano Demiliani
url: https://demiliani.com/2026/06/18/dynamics-365-business-central-using-al-mcp-server-from-github-copilot-cli/
published_at: "2026-06-18T13:01:41.000Z"
author: Stefano Demiliani
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words: 387
quotes:
  - text: It runs as a separate process and doesn't require Visual Studio Code.
    why_it_matters: Highlights the key advantage for CI/CD pipelines and headless automation scenarios
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# Dynamics 365 Business Central: using AL MCP Server from GitHub Copilot CLI.

[Read the post](https://demiliani.com/2026/06/18/dynamics-365-business-central-using-al-mcp-server-from-github-copilot-cli/) · Stefano Demiliani (Stefano Demiliani, MVP) · 2026-06-18 · 387 words · tier community · reviewed (checked by Opus)

> The AL MCP Server exposes AL development tools through the Model Context Protocol, allowing CLI-based AI agents to perform AL operations like building, compiling, and publishing without Visual Studio Code. Install via dotnet tool and configure in GitHub Copilot CLI to automate AL development workflows in CI/CD pipelines and agent-driven scenarios.

## Key points

- AL MCP Server runs as a standalone process that exposes AL development tools over the Model Context Protocol for any MCP-compatible AI agent
- Install via dotnet tool command: dotnet tool install --global microsoft.dynamics.businesscentral.development.tools --prerelease
- Configure in GitHub Copilot CLI by adding MCP server with name, selecting STDIO type, and entering command: al launchmcpserver
- Enables automated workflows where agents call AL tools in sequence like al_downloadsymbols, al_compile, and al_getdiagnostics for CI/CD validation
- Supports AppSource validation by running code analysis with AppSourceCop and filtering diagnostics by specific areas

## Quotes

- "It runs as a separate process and doesn't require Visual Studio Code." (Highlights the key advantage for CI/CD pipelines and headless automation scenarios)

## Context

- Features: AL MCP Server, Model Context Protocol integration, Symbol download, Code compilation, Publishing extensions, Diagnostics, Code analysis, AppSource validation

Source: Stefano Demiliani, community blog. Summary, key points and quotes are derived (CONTENT-NOTICE.md); read the original for the full text.