Are you already developing applications for the Salesforce AppExchange marketplace? That's great! But how long does it take you, and is everything going smoothly? While problems in development are a natural part of the process, you could be losing precious time because of them.
Considering that there are currently 7,000 unique applications on AppExchange, most of which compete with each other, the speed and quality of your development matter.
Fortunately, Salesforce has done everything possible to simplify and speed up your experience. This is all thanks to Salesforce DX. It’s a philosophy and a set of tools that focus on source-driven development. This means your code and configurations are stored in Git rather than in the development environment itself.
We have already developed over 15 Salesforce applications for our clients and created three of our own projects that we are promoting on AppExchange. In many of these, we used Salesforce DX tools. Our experience shows that, in some cases, they can speed up your development process by 50%.
To help you better understand how all this works, we have prepared this guide. In it, we detail all the components of Salesforce DX and share our insights from previously developed projects.
How Salesforce DX addresses the challenge of traditional AppExchange development
Salesforce initially embraced a declarative programming approach, which evolved into the "Click, not code" philosophy. In simple terms, this allowed anyone—even without technical skills—to customize their solution. You could modify the interface with just a click or by dragging and dropping elements. But by 2017, it became clear that this approach had its limits like customization complexity and scalability issues, especially for professional developers. That’s where Salesforce DX came in.
“As professional developers, Salesforce DX is a game-changer for us. We can track all changes through a version control system, making it easy to see who on the team adjusted what. Plus, we can test everything in a 'sandbox' environment without touching the main system. For our clients, this speeds up development and makes the process much more flexible,” said our Salesforce architect Volodymyr Radko.
Let’s take a closer look at how development with Salesforce DX differs from the traditional approach.
Sandbox environments
Developers often rely on shared sandbox environments that can become cluttered with multiple projects. This approach can lead to conflicts between teams and slow down development.
With Salesforce DX, you get Scratch Orgs—temporary, fully configurable environments. Developers can create Scratch Orgs for specific projects or tasks and quickly remove them when they are done to keep the environment clean and focused.
Deployments
Deployments are frequently done manually, requiring several steps to move code from one environment to another. The manual approach is time-consuming and requires careful coordination, increasing the risk of errors and inconsistencies.
Salesforce DX deployment automates the process using the Salesforce CLI command line interface and change sets, minimizing errors and speeding up the release cycle.
Testing
In a traditional environment, testing is often limited and fragmented, making ensuring comprehensive coverage and quality challenging. Developers would run tests in sandboxes, but results weren’t always predictable, leading to bugs in production.
With scratch orgs and automated pipelines, testing becomes much more reliable. Developers can run automated tests in isolated environments to ensure their code works before it reaches production, making sharing reusable components and packages across teams more efficient.
Code sharing and version control
Sharing code between developers can be inconvenient, often involving manual code transfers. Version control is typically handled outside the Salesforce environment, raising synchronization issues.
To address these challenges, Salesforce DX provides built-in support for version control systems like Git. Each team member can work in their separate branch, isolating the changes and minimizing code conflicts. Teams can also track every change made, making it easier to roll back if needed.
Metadata management
Managing metadata in sandbox environments can lead to inconsistencies and difficulty tracking changes across different environments. Moving metadata between environments often involves exporting and importing files, which could easily lead to mistakes or missing components.
Salesforce DX offers a more structured approach to metadata management, allowing developers to store metadata in version control and deploy specific components as needed. For instance, Metadata API enables you to retrieve, deploy, and manipulate metadata to automate deployment processes and manage metadata changes programmatically.
Development process
Traditional development often follows a less structured approach, leading to inefficiencies and scaling difficulties. Salesforce DX embraces a more organized development lifecycle with features like source-driven development and continuous integration, improving productivity and scalability.
Take a look at the main differences between traditional and Salesforce DX development:
Salesforce DX essential components
Salesforce DX consists of several essential components that facilitate the development process on the Salesforce platform. Here is what our leading Salesforce architect, Volodymyr Radko, says about it: Salesforce DX is all about making development smoother and more organized. Instead of working directly in a production environment or a sandbox, you create something called a scratch org. Think of it as a clean slate where you can push the specific parts of your project that you want to work on. You pull the metadata from your repository into this scratch org, make your changes, and then test everything out. Once you're satisfied with your updates, you extract the modified metadata and commit those changes back to your version control system, usually creating a new feature branch. After testing your changes in another scratch org to ensure everything works as expected, you can merge those changes into the main branch”.
Scratch orgs:
- Temporary, customizable Salesforce environments used for development and testing.
- Can be quickly created and discarded, allowing for isolated and specific configurations.
- Ideal for developing new features, running tests, and experimenting without affecting production data.
Dev Hub:
- The central Salesforce org that manages scratch orgs and packaging.
- Provides access to Salesforce DX features and tools.
- Enables users to create and manage scratch orgs, as well as track and deploy metadata changes.
Salesforce CLI:
- A command-line tool used to interact with Salesforce and perform various tasks.
- Supports operations like retrieving and deploying metadata, running tests, and managing environments.
- Enhances automation and integration with other tools and processes.
Unlocked packages:
- A packaging format that allows for modular, version-controlled deployment of Salesforce metadata.
- Enables developers to package and distribute components like Apex classes, Lightning components, and more.
- Supports continuous integration with Salesforce DX and delivery by allowing incremental updates.
Org API:
- Provides programmatic access to Salesforce data and metadata in a Salesforce org.
- Allows for querying, updating, and manipulating data and metadata through API calls.
- Supports integrations and custom applications that interact with Salesforce.
Metadata API:
- Allows for retrieving, deploying, and managing Salesforce metadata programmatically.
- Facilitates automation of deployment processes and synchronization of metadata between environments.
- Supports a wide range of metadata types, including custom objects, fields, and configuration settings.
Benefits of Salesforce DX for apps development
Salesforce DX brings significant advantages to app development, driving efficiency and quality across the board. Here’s how:
Accelerating development cycles
Salesforce DX enhances development speed by offering scratch orgs, which provide isolated environments for testing and development. This setup, combined with improved version control and automation of testing and deployment, helps developers work more efficiently and focus on writing high-quality code. Here is what our developers say: “On projects where we used Salesforce DX, we saw development time drop by 30-50% on average, with releases happening as often as every two weeks. This meant we could meet user needs more quickly and significantly improve their overall experience with the product.”
Better deployment and release management
With Salesforce DX, continuous integration and delivery processes have become more organized, along with effective package management, ensuring smooth and more reliable deployments. Automated pipelines and version control help manage and track changes, leading to fewer deployment issues.
Enhancing QA
Salesforce DX improves quality assurance through isolated testing environments and test automation. These features enable comprehensive testing without affecting the main development work. Enhanced code coverage ensures that most of the code is tested, leading to fewer bugs and higher-quality apps.
Facilitated collaboration
Salesforce DX supports multiple developers working on the same codebase simultaneously. This collaborative approach helps teams coordinate better, reduces conflicts, and speeds up the development process, as developers can share and integrate their work more effectively.
Reduced time-to-market
The combined benefits of faster development cycles, efficient deployment management, better quality assurance, and improved collaboration result in a shorter time to market. Salesforce DX enables rapid development and deployment while maintaining high code quality, helping businesses quickly get their apps to market.
The AppExchange development lifecycle with Salesforce DX
Here’s a detailed look at each step of the approach to building, testing, and deploying applications with Salesforce DX:
1. Project initiation
The first step in the AppExchange development lifecycle is project initiation. Our team usually starts by defining the project structure, which includes setting up a clear directory and naming conventions. We integrate a version control system, such as Git, to manage code changes and collaborate with other developers effectively. We set up default scratch org settings to ensure your development environment aligns with your project requirements. We configure the necessary settings, permissions, and dependencies to support development. This foundation helps maintain a well-organized and manageable development workflow.
2. Development
During the development phase, you can use scratch orgs to create isolated environments for coding and testing new features. These temporary orgs allow you to experiment without affecting the main project. Utilize source control to track changes and collaborate with team members. Build reusable components to promote modularity and efficiency, enabling you to accelerate the development process and reduce redundancy.
3. Testing
Testing and quality assurance are crucial to ensure the quality of your AppExchange product. Leverage Scratch Orgs for testing purposes to verify functionality and catch issues early in an isolated environment. Integrate automated testing frameworks, such as Salesforce’s Apex testing capabilities, to perform unit tests and validate code changes continuously. Automated tests help maintain high code quality and provide quick feedback during development.
4. Packaging
Once development and testing are complete, the next step is packaging. For distribution on AppExchange, use managed packages. These packages offer version control and upgrade support, making them ideal for releasing applications to customers. If the product is intended for internal use or sharing within the organization, use unmanaged packages. These packages are helpful for quick deployments and do not support versioning but are suitable for development and testing environments.
5. Deployment
The final step is deployment. Deploy your packages to sandboxes for final testing or production orgs for live use. Implementing continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) is crucial for automating and managing the deployment process. CI/CD pipelines help ensure that code changes are tested, integrated, and deployed consistently and reliably, reducing the risk of deployment issues and accelerating time-to-market.
Best practices for Salesforce DX development
At Noltic, we've faced the same challenges many teams encounter when developing for Salesforce AppExchange—working with complex environments, managing code dependencies, and ensuring smooth deployments. Through trial and error, our team has developed a set of best practices that help us make the most out of Salesforce DX. These practices ensure a more efficient, collaborative, and reliable development process.
Use scratch orgs effectively
- Create and destroy scratch orgs quickly to experiment with new ideas.
One of Salesforce DX's best features is the ability to spin up scratch orgs almost instantly. At Noltic, we use these temporary environments to quickly test new features, prototypes, or ideas without affecting the main codebase. This allows our developers to experiment freely, fail fast, and refine solutions before implementing them in a more permanent environment.
- Maintain isolated development environments to prevent conflicts and dependencies.
Scratch orgs help us avoid conflicts that typically arise using traditional shared sandboxes. By isolating each developer's environment, we keep our work separate, ensuring that different project parts can move forward smoothly in parallel.
- Manage scratch org configurations efficiently using configuration files.
Consistency is key when setting up development environments. At Noltic, we use configuration files to standardize how our scratch orgs are set up. It helps our teams ensure that every developer works in the same environment, eliminating the potential for configuration errors. We store these configuration files in our version control system so they can easily be updated and shared with the entire team.
Leverage unlocked packages for collaboration
- Share reusable components among team members.
One of the major benefits of Salesforce DX is the ability to create unlocked packages. At Noltic, we break down our projects into reusable components that can be for multiple teams and projects. This improves collaboration, as team members can easily share and integrate these reusable components, reducing duplication of effort and ensuring consistency.
- Manage dependencies between components.
When working with multiple packages, managing dependencies is crucial. Our team uses Salesforce DX to define clear relationships between components. This allows us to track dependencies and ensure that updates to one package don’t inadvertently break another. By keeping our components well-organized, we can maintain a clean and functional codebase.
- Use version control for unlocked packages to track changes
Version control is essential for any development process, and with unlocked packages, we use Git to track changes across all components. This approach helps us maintain a history of every change made, making it easier to roll back or troubleshoot issues. It also ensures that everyone is working with the latest version of the code.
- Organize components logically
Proper package organization is crucial for long-term maintainability. At Noltic, we logically organize components based on functionality and project scope. This makes it easier for teams to navigate the codebase, collaborate, and make updates without confusion.
Implement a robust CI/CD pipeline
- Deploy code to different environments automatically
Manual deployments are prone to errors and delays, so we implemented an automated CI/CD pipeline with Salesforce DX that pushes code changes to various environments like sandboxes and production without manual intervention. This ensures faster and more reliable deployments, reducing downtime and the potential for human error.
- Utilize deployment strategies like blue-green or canary releases
For deploying new features or updates, we use strategies like blue-green or canary releases to minimize the risk of downtime. This allows us to test updates in a smaller environment before rolling them out to the entire user base, ensuring a smoother transition and a more reliable user experience.
- Automate code build and testing processes
Continuous testing is a cornerstone of our development process. We’ve automated our code build and testing processes to ensure that every change is thoroughly tested before deployment. This helps us catch bugs early and maintain a high standard of code quality.
Use Salesforce DX CLI commands for automation
- Automate repetitive tasks like org creation, deployment, and testing using scripting.
Repetitive tasks like creating orgs or deploying code can be time-consuming. At Noltic, we leverage Salesforce DX’s CLI to automate these processes through scripting. This saves time and reduces the chance of human error in these routine tasks.
- Use the CLI with build tools like Jenkins or CircleCI.
We integrate Salesforce DX with tools like Jenkins and CircleCI to automate the entire development lifecycle—from code commits to deployment. This integration allows us to maintain a steady flow of updates while ensuring consistency and quality.
- Create custom scripts and tools for specific needs.
Salesforce DX’s flexibility allows us to create custom scripts to automate specific tasks unique to our development process. These custom tools help accelerate the workflow, reducing bottlenecks and enabling our developers to focus on more complex problems.
Adhere to AppExchange packaging guidelines
- Organize components according to AppExchange packaging requirements.
Salesforce has specific requirements for AppExchange packaging, and we adhere to these closely. We organize components according to Salesforce’s guidelines, ensuring our packages are well-structured and ready for submission.
- Address security vulnerabilities before submission.
Security is a top priority for us, especially when submitting packages to AppExchange. We rigorously test for vulnerabilities before submitting our products. Check out our detailed guide on how to pass the Salesforce AppExchange security review.
- Create compelling app listings to attract customers.
A well-designed app listing is crucial for attracting customers on AppExchange. We ensure that our listings clearly communicate the value and functionality of our products, helping them stand out in a competitive marketplace.
Case study: how we accelerated development for Ukrainian Catholic University with Salesforce DX
One of our remarkable case studies is our collaboration with Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU).
UCU approached us with a need to improve the university’s operations and data management. As one of Ukraine's leading educational institutions, UCU faced growing challenges with scattered data across departments, making processes like fundraising, student recruitment, and administration inefficient.
Specifically, UCU struggled with:
- Information spread across different departments and systems.
- Management of multiple stakeholders, including students, donors, faculty, and partners.
- Improving fundraising efforts and student recruitment while reducing data entry errors.
Given our long-standing relationship with UCU and our expertise in Salesforce, we were selected to implement a solution to address these challenges.
Our solutions:
Salesforce DX enabled the efficient development and deployment of custom solutions our team developed for UCU. With Developing tools, we created custom applications and integrations, accelerating processes and enhancing overall system efficiency.
- Using Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, we unified data across departments to organize the management of donors, students, and staff;
- We set up tracking and managing donations, growing personalized engagement, and improved communication with donors.
- We integrated third-party applications for student recruitment, fundraising, and administration and connected with tools like Google Drive and ASANA for smoother collaboration.
- Enhanced user engagement with live chat and automated responses.
Conclusion
Suppose your team is stuck with traditional development—managing multiple sandboxes, dealing with manual deployments, and spending time fixing conflicting code changes. In that case, Salesforce DX is a great solution to transform your development process.
Picture a different approach: one where scratch orgs give your team the flexibility to experiment without risk, automated pipelines deploy your code with ease, and unlocked packages allow you to build reusable, modular components that are easy to manage.
That’s the power of Salesforce DX.
For our team, Salesforce DX is more than just a set of tools—it’s a smarter way to develop. Our team has embraced the efficiency and control that Salesforce DX brings, and it has allowed us to deliver high-quality solutions faster without the headaches of traditional development processes. Whether you’re developing for the AppExchange or building custom apps for your business, Salesforce DX can help you accelerate development, improve collaboration, and ensure smooth deployments.
FAQs
What is Salesforce DX?
Salesforce DX means a comprehensive suite of development tools and practices designed to streamline and enhance the Salesforce application development process. It provides developers with a modern, collaborative environment that includes features for version control, automated testing, and continuous integration and deployment. DX in Salesforce facilitates better management of your Salesforce code, improves team collaboration, and helps ensure high-quality, efficient development practices.
Can I use Salesforce DX for both managed and unmanaged packages?
Yes, you can use Salesforce DX for both managed and unmanaged packages, but in different ways:
- Unmanaged Packages: Salesforce DX supports the development and deployment of unmanaged packages, which are typically used for internal development, experimentation, and sharing code within a team. These packages do not include version control or namespace support.
- Managed Packages: Salesforce DX also supports the development of managed packages, which are intended for distribution on the AppExchange. Managed packages include features such as versioning, namespace management, and the ability to lock components to prevent modification. Salesforce DX helps create, test, and deploy managed packages, providing a streamlined approach to handling package metadata and dependencies.
How long do scratch orgs last?
Scratch orgs are temporary Salesforce environments used for development and testing. They typically last seven days by default but can be configured to last up to 30 days. Scratch orgs are designed to be disposable and automatically deleted after expiration. Their short lifespan allows developers to experiment with new features and configurations without affecting the long-term stability of production environments.
Can I use scratch orgs for production?
No, scratch orgs are not suitable for production use. They are specifically designed for development, testing, and continuous integration purposes. Production environments should use Salesforce production orgs or long-term sandboxes, which provide stable and persistent environments for end-user operations. Scratch orgs are ideal for testing new features and configurations but lack the permanence and reliability required for live, customer-facing applications.
How does Salesforce DX support CI/CD?
Salesforce DX supports continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) through several key features:
- Version control integration: Salesforce DX integrates with version control systems like Git, enabling you to track changes and manage code collaboratively.
- Automated builds and deployments: Salesforce DX allows for automated builds and deployments through CI/CD tools like Jenkins or CircleCI. You can set up pipelines to automate moving code from development to production environments.
- Scratch orgs and unlocked packages: These Salesforce DX tools help manage different development and deployment stages, ensuring that changes are tested in isolated environments before going live.
Can I distribute an unlocked package on the AppExchange?
No, unlocked packages cannot be distributed on the AppExchange. The AppExchange only supports managed packages designed for broader distribution and includes features like version control, namespace management, and component locking. Unlocked packages are intended for internal use, testing, and sharing within a specific organization or with select users. For distribution on the AppExchange, you must use managed packages that meet the platform's standards and requirements.
How do unlocked packages differ from managed packages?
Unlocked packages are used for development and internal distribution. They allow for easier code sharing and collaboration but do not include advanced features like versioning or namespace management. They are ideal for internal use and testing.
Managed packages can be distributed and published on the AppExchange. They include versioning, namespace support, and the ability to lock components to prevent customer changes. Managed packages are suitable for delivering finished, stable solutions to a broader audience.
What is the best way to structure a Salesforce DX project?
Follow these best practices to organize your Salesforce DX setup:
- Organize components: A clear directory structure separates code, configuration, and metadata. For example, keep Apex classes, Visualforce pages, and Lightning components in separate folders.
- Use unlocked packages: If your project is large or complex, break it down into multiple unlocked packages. This modular approach helps manage dependencies and allows for easier updates.
- Leverage scratch orgs: Set up scratch orgs for different stages of development to test features in isolated environments. Define and manage these environments using configuration files.
- Integrate version control: Use Git to track changes and collaborate with your team. Ensure that all code changes are committed and reviewed regularly.
- Set up CI/CD pipelines: Implement CI/CD pipelines to automate the build, test, and deployment processes. This setup helps in maintaining consistent and reliable releases.
What is Salesforce DevOps with Salesforce DX?
Salesforce DevOps with Salesforce DX involves using Salesforce DX tools and practices to implement effective DevOps strategies for Salesforce development. Salesforce DX enhances the DevOps process by providing features such as:
- Version Control Integration: Salesforce DX integrates with version control systems like Git, allowing teams to track changes, manage code branches, and collaborate more effectively.
- Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD): Salesforce DX supports automated build, test, and deployment processes through CI/CD pipelines, ensuring that code changes are tested and deployed smoothly across different environments.
- Scratch Orgs: Salesforce DX uses scratch orgs for isolated development and testing, enabling teams to validate changes in a controlled environment before moving to production.
- Unlocked Packages: Salesforce DX utilizes unlocked packages for modular code management, allowing teams to manage dependencies and maintain cleaner codebases.
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