Smarter Power Platform Development with Xrm Tools 1.5.8

Introducing Code Analyzers & Fixers (and why they matter)

With the next release of Xrm Tools (1.5.6), I’m introducing a feature that has been on my mind for a long time: code analyzers and fixers.

If you have worked with Xrm Tools in Visual Studio to develop plugins and custom APIs for Power Platform, you know how it accelerates your development cycles and reduces the chances of errors. Most notable are the registration attributes that let you define your intention in the code. There is also code generation that gives you lots of other features, including dependency injection (DI). I have tried my best to keep things as simple as possible and reduce the learning cure to the minimum, but still we are humans and it's easy to make some mistakes more than others. I'm talking about issues that don't break the compile and will be detected after deployment when the plugin actually runs.

With this version I am introducing code analyzers and fixers that detect these issues and can help you fix them too.

From “you should know this” to “the tooling tells you”

Xrm Tools relies on a development-time NuGet package called XrmTools.Meta.Attributes. The package contains all the attributes and other helpers that you use for adding metadata to your code and define your intent.

Starting with XrmTools.Meta.Attributes 1.1.1, the package now ships with Roslyn analyzers that actively inspect your code while you’re writing it. They detect incorrect or incomplete usage of Xrm Tools attributes, common configuration mistakes, and other easy-to-make errors that would otherwise surface much later.

When an issue can be fixed deterministically, the analyzer offers a code fix that you can apply with a single click. When it can’t, Visual Studio’s AI suggestions can step in and help you complete the change with full context. The result is a much smoother development experience — fewer surprises, less context switching, and faster feedback.

How this fits into the VSIX

Although the analyzers live in the NuGet package, the Xrm Tools VSIX still plays an important role. If it detects that your project is using an older version of XrmTools.Meta.Attributes, it will recommend upgrading, ensuring you automatically benefit from the latest analyzers and fixes.

In other words, the VSIX keeps an eye on your setup, and the NuGet package does the heavy lifting inside your code.

You can find the full list of analyzers and code fixes here in the wiki.

Versions

• Xrm Tools: 1.5.8
• XrmTools.Meta.Attributes: 1.1.1

This release is a big step toward making Power Platform plugin development more forgiving, more guided, and more enjoyable — especially for people who are just getting started.

As always, feedback is welcome and if you’re enjoying Xrm Tools, please:

• Leave a 5-star rating on the Visual Studio Marketplace ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Star the GitHub repository ⭐

Your support helps more developers discover the tool ❤️