In a previous post we focused on the role of the Business Analyst in Salesforce. Now we turn our sights to the Salesforce Developer and have a look to see where and how they fit into the Salesforce world.
A Salesforce developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining custom applications on the Salesforce platform. They work closely with business stakeholders to understand their requirements and translate them into technical solutions. Salesforce developers are also responsible for integrating Salesforce with other systems and platforms, such as ERP systems, marketing automation tools, and e-commerce platforms.
Programming languages used in Salesforce
Salesforce developers use a variety of programming languages to build custom applications on the Salesforce platform. The main programming languages include:
Apex: A strongly typed, object-oriented programming language used to build custom applications on the Salesforce platform. It is similar to Java and C# in syntax and structure.
Visualforce: A markup language used to build custom user interfaces for Salesforce applications. It is similar to HTML and allows developers to create custom pages, components, and forms.
Lightning Web Components: A modern web standards-based programming model for building custom user interfaces on the Salesforce platform. It uses JavaScript and HTML to create reusable components that can be used across multiple applications.
SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language): A SQL-like language used to query data in the Salesforce platform. It is used to retrieve data from Salesforce objects and related objects.
SOSL (Salesforce Object Search Language): A search language used to search for data in the Salesforce platform. It is used to search across multiple objects and fields in the Salesforce platform.
In addition to these programming languages, Salesforce developers also use declarative tools such as Process Builder and Flow to automate business processes and workflows. These tools allow developers to create custom business logic without writing code (so-called low-code or no-code solutions).
Salesforce Developer Tools
Although there are numerous developer tools that underpin the developer languages mentioned above, there are three recent (post COVID-19) innovations, that come out of the Salesforce stable, for the developer to take special note of:
Salesforce Code Builder: A cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that allows developers to build, test, and deploy custom applications on the Salesforce platform. It provides a modern, web-based interface for developers to write code, collaborate with team members, and manage their development projects.
Salesforce Functions: A serverless computing platform that allows developers to build and deploy custom functions on the Salesforce platform. It provides a scalable and cost-effective way to run code in response to events, such as data changes or user actions.
DevOps Center: A set of tools and services that enable developers to implement DevOps practices on the Salesforce platform. It provides a centralized location for managing development projects, automating build and deployment processes, and monitoring application performance. DevOps Center also integrates with popular DevOps tools, such as Git and Jenkins, to provide a seamless development experience.
There is a rich developer environment awaiting developers who are considering moving to the Salesforce team and a wide variety of developer tools and languages used in this space.
If you missed it here is WiRD’s previous blog on Salesforce and its use in enterprise architecture:
How Enterprise Architects can use Salesforce to accelerate Digital Transformation.
Please share your experiences in using salesforce to further your business analysis with WiRD and each other by commenting or interacting on LinkedIn