๐ Development & Deployment in Salesforce
Salesforce provides a robust and flexible environment for customizing and extending the platform to meet your business needs. This article outlines the key components of development and deployment in Salesforce, including tools, environments, and best practices.
๐งฑ 1. Development in Salesforce
Salesforce development involves building custom functionality using a mix of declarative (clicks) and programmatic (code) tools.
๐น Declarative Development (Low-Code)
- Process Builder / Flow Builder โ Automate business processes
- Validation Rules โ Ensure data accuracy
- Custom Objects & Fields โ Extend the data model
- Page Layouts & Record Types โ Customize UI by role or context
๐น Programmatic Development
- Apex โ Salesforceโs proprietary Java-like programming language
- Visualforce โ Used for building UI pages (legacy)
- Lightning Web Components (LWC) โ Modern front-end framework using JavaScript
- Triggers โ Execute Apex on DML events (Insert, Update, Delete)
๐ 2. Development Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Developer Console | In-browser debugging and testing |
| VS Code + Salesforce Extensions | Local development, version control |
| Salesforce CLI | Command-line deployment & scripting |
| Workbench | API testing and metadata queries |
| Code Builder (Beta) | Cloud-based IDE |
๐งช 3. Environments (Orgs)
Salesforce uses orgs to manage and isolate development, testing, and production.
| Org Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Developer Org | Personal dev space with limited features |
| Sandbox | Mirrors production for testing and training |
| Scratch Org | Temporary, source-driven org for SFDX dev |
| Production Org | Live, customer-facing environment |
๐ 4. Deployment in Salesforce
Deployment is the process of moving metadata and code from one Salesforce environment to another (e.g., Sandbox โ Production).
๐น Deployment Methods
| Method | Best For |
|---|---|
| Change Sets | Point-and-click deployments |
| Salesforce CLI + SFDX | Scripted deployments with source control |
| ANT Migration Tool | Legacy automation, metadata migration |
| Third-Party Tools | Advanced release management (e.g., Gearset, Copado, Flosum) |
๐ฆ 5. Deployment Lifecycle
- Develop & Test in Sandbox or Scratch Org
- Use Version Control (Git) for source tracking
- Perform Code Review and Run Unit Tests
- Deploy to UAT (User Acceptance Testing)
- Deploy to Production using Change Sets, CLI, or DevOps tools
๐งช 6. Testing & Validation
Salesforce requires 75% code coverage to deploy Apex to production.
- Use @isTest methods to create test classes
- Focus on positive, negative, and bulk test cases
- Validate changes in UAT before going live
โ Best Practices
- Follow naming conventions and maintain consistent metadata
- Always use version control (e.g., GitHub, Bitbucket)
- Use scratch orgs for agile and modular development
- Perform regular backups and sandbox refreshes
- Use code reviews and automated CI/CD pipelines
- Separate config (flows, objects) from code for manageability
๐ FAQs
Q: What’s the difference between a Sandbox and a Scratch Org?
A: Sandboxes are long-term mirrors of production; scratch orgs are temporary and source-driven.
Q: Can I deploy Apex code without tests?
A: Not to productionโyou need at least 75% code coverage and all tests must pass.
Q: Whatโs the best tool for enterprise-scale deployment?
A: Use Salesforce CLI + Git for automation, or third-party DevOps tools like Gearset or Copado.