Introduction to Aptean Mesh

Aptean Mesh is a framework that connects a native Android mobile app to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. It enables BC AL developers to build rich, mobile-first warehouse experiences without writing any mobile code.

Platform support

The current Aptean Mesh client targets Android. iOS is not supported at this time.

How It Works

Aptean Mesh uses a Server-Driven UI (SDUI) architecture:

1. Business Central serves page definitions as JSON
2. The Aptean Mesh Client mobile app fetches those definitions and renders them natively
3. Communication happens via an RPC-based API exposed by the BCRPC220FDW API page

JSON-RPC

Aptean Mesh Client

(Mobile App)

• Renders pages
• Handles scans
• Sends input

<>

HTTP POST with
JSON-RPC payload

Business Central

BCRPC220FDW (API Page)

|v

MobileRPCRegistry220FDW

|v

Service Registry

|v

Your AL Codeunit

(implements IBCRPC220FDW)

Key Concepts

Server-Driven UI

The mobile app has no hardcoded screens. Every page — its layout, fields, buttons, actions, and data bindings — is defined as a JSON document stored in Business Central. When the app starts, it fetches all page definitions and renders them dynamically.

This means:

• No mobile deploys required for UI layout and business logic changes — update the JSON in BC, reload the app
• BC drives the logic — all business rules, validations, and data access stay in AL
• One AL developer can build and maintain the full mobile experience

RPC Services

Each page is backed by a service codeunit in BC that implements the IBCRPC220FDW interface. The mobile app calls methods on this service — such as Initialize, HandleWorkFlow, or PrintLabel — by sending JSON-RPC requests. The codeunit reads input, executes business logic, and returns a JSON response that the app renders.

App Bundles

Pages are grouped into App Bundles. A bundle defines the full page flow for the mobile app: which pages exist, what their Root Page is, and which users are assigned to it. Multiple bundles can coexist — useful for different roles or development vs. production environments.

What You Can Build

With Aptean Mesh you can build:

• Warehouse document flows — receipt, put-away, pick, shipment
• Inventory lookups — bin contents, item tracking, lot queries
• Guided workflows — step-by-step processes with barcode scanning, lot entry, and quantity input
• Label printing — print bin lot and receipt labels via an extensible provider interface
• Custom mobile pages — any BC data surfaced on Android in minutes

Project Structure

The Aptean Mesh repository contains three projects:

Folder	Contents
Mesh/	The BC AL extension — core SDUI framework, services, and warehouse logic
MeshClient/	The Android mobile app — Kotlin, SDUI rendering engine
MeshTest/	AL test app for BC-side unit and integration tests

Next Steps

Head to Prerequisites to set up your development environment.