SysCompilerTarget - compiling X++ code without showing the compilation window

I have been posed with a question about how to avoid showing the compilation window during compilation of some X++ code (When doing compilation from code, naturally).

So I decided to post a possible solution for this question, re-using one of my previous posts about ClassBuild class.

Basically, AOTcompile method on TreeNode class supports an optional flag, controlling the compilation output:

An integer that indicates whether output should be sent to the message box. If the value 1 is passed, no output is sent to the message box. The default value is 0. This parameter is optional.

So all we need to do now is change the compilation output target to Message Window. Looking at the SysCompilerSetup form code, it's rather easy to come up with the following code:

static void SysCompilerTargetExample(Args _args)
{
    ClassBuild          classBuild;
    DictClass           dictClass;
    SysCompilerTarget   targetOrig;
    ;
    // Setting Compilation Target = Message Window
    targetOrig = SysUserInfo::compilerTarget();
    SysUserInfo::compilerTarget(SysCompilerTarget::MessageWindow);
    SysCompilerOutput::setCompilerTarget(SysCompilerTarget::MessageWindow);
    SysCompilerOutput::updateParm();

    // Building the class with 1 method
    classBuild = new ClassBuild("TRN_ClassBuild", false);
    classBuild.addMethod("test", 'void test()\n{\n}');
    classBuild.addSourceToMethod("test", @"
    ;
    info('We created a Class and can call its methods');");

    // The actual compilation. Note the _flag argument == 1
    classBuild.classNode().AOTcompile(1);

    // Call the class method to show that we are done and the code is compiled
    dictClass = new DictClass(className2Id(classBuild.name()));
    dictClass.callObject('test', dictClass.makeObject());

    // Restoring Compilation Target to its original value
    SysUserInfo::compilerTarget(targetOrig);
    SysCompilerOutput::setCompilerTarget(targetOrig);
    SysCompilerOutput::updateParm();
}

Don't forget to restore the original settings after the compilation is complete, as shown above.

Running a class from AOT or "How to assign a class to an action menu item?"

OK, so this might seem as a very simple question for many of you.

But, in reality, I still now and then meet people who have worked with AX for quite some time, but don't know this very basic concept.

Therefore, I just want to briefly describe it here to refresh everyone's memory

Apart from allowing to run the class from AOT, this will allow to assign it to a menu item (according to Best Practices, it should be a menu item of type Action), and run the class using this menu item.

Below is the correct syntax of the main method:

public static void main(Args _args)
{
    //Your code here
}

Please also note, that there is an editor script that contains the template for the main method. You can invoke it from Scripts->template->method->main