In this eye-opening blog post, we explore the challenges of implementing true source-driven development (SDD) in the Salesforce ecosystem.
Source-driven development (SDD) has become a gold standard in modern software engineering, promising enhanced collaboration, version control, and deployment consistency. However, in the Salesforce ecosystem, achieving true SDD remains an elusive goal. This blog post delves into the reasons behind this challenge, exploring the unique aspects of Salesforce's architecture and development model that make implementing SDD a complex endeavor.Key Takeaways:
Salesforce's metadata-driven nature creates obstacles for traditional SDD practices. The platform's blend of declarative and programmatic development complicates version control efforts. Metadata inconsistencies and lack of transactional integrity in changes hinder seamless SDD implementation. Tools like Salesforce DX, while helpful, don't fully bridge the gap to true SDD for all users. Workarounds exist, including partial SDD implementation and third-party tools like Blue Canvas, Gearset, and Copado. The future of SDD in Salesforce remains uncertain, with ongoing platform improvements balanced against the need to maintain its low-code appeal. Organizations can adopt a gradual approach to SDD, focusing on code-based components while exploring solutions for declarative elements. These key points provide a roadmap for understanding the challenges and potential solutions in pursuing source-driven development within the Salesforce ecosystem.
The allure of source-driven development (SDD) has captivated the software industry, promising streamlined collaboration, version control, and deployment consistency. However, despite Salesforce's efforts to encourage SDD through initiatives like Salesforce DX, true source-driven development remains elusive on this platform for several reasons.
What is Source-Driven Development? Source-driven development refers to the practice of managing and tracking code and configuration changes through version control systems like Git. In traditional software platforms, SDD works seamlessly, as the entire application is typically code-first. Developers can easily track changes, collaborate, and maintain a single source of truth in their repositories.
The Salesforce Ecosystem Salesforce's unique architecture presents challenges for implementing true SDD. The platform's metadata-driven nature and blend of declarative (point-and-click) and programmatic (code) development create a complex environment. While Salesforce DX aims to make SDD easier, it requires users to be comfortable with the command-line interface and Visual Studio Code - tools that many admins and declarative developers find challenging.
Challenges to True Source-Driven Development on Salesforce Metadata Inconsistencies
Salesforce's metadata API doesn't always fully represent the platform's state, leading to inconsistencies between different environments. Every pull operation can yield different results due to changing XML element orders or encrypted SiteDotCom packages.
Lack of Transactional Integrity
Changes in Salesforce are often not atomic, causing misalignment between source control and deployed changes.
Configuration vs. Code
A significant portion of Salesforce customization is done through configuration rather than code, making it difficult to track via source control. Some configurations cannot be fully exported or imported via metadata.
Multi-persona Development Challenge Involving both admins and developers in a single SDD workflow can be complex due to their different approaches and tool preferences.
Change Sets and DX Limitations
Despite the introduction of Salesforce DX, many teams still rely on change sets, which do not integrate well with source control systems. The gap between traditional methods and full SDD adoption is often too wide for teams to bridge quickly.
Workarounds and Alternatives Many Salesforce teams manage source-driven development only for code (Apex, LWC, etc.) while using manual processes for configuration. CI/CD pipelines and tools like Gearset, Copado, or Jenkins serve as band-aids for the platform's limitations.
One promising alternative is the Blue Canvas workflow, which offers a more admin and developer-friendly approach:
GIT ↔ ADMIN & DEV FRIENDLY BlueCanvas ↔ Org ↔ !!OPTIONAL!!! Dev Friendly VSCode
This workflow aims to bridge the gap between traditional Salesforce development and true SDD.
Future Outlook Salesforce continues to improve metadata coverage and evolve Salesforce DX. However, caution is warranted, as drastic changes could potentially disrupt the ecosystem, particularly for the many admins who rely on declarative development.
Conclusion While true source-driven development remains a myth on Salesforce, progress is being made. Teams should explore workarounds like Blue Canvas, Gearset, or Copado to improve their development processes. As the Salesforce ecosystem evolves, staying informed about new releases and tools will be crucial for organizations seeking to optimize their development workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions Q1: Is source-driven development completely impossible on Salesforce?
While true source-driven development is challenging on Salesforce, it's not entirely impossible. Many teams implement partial SDD practices, focusing on code-based components and using workarounds for declarative elements. Tools like Blue Canvas, Gearset, and Copado help bridge the gap between traditional Salesforce development and SDD.
Q2: Can I use Git with Salesforce without Salesforce DX?
Yes, you can use Git to version control your Salesforce code (like Apex classes, Visualforce pages, and Lightning components) without Salesforce DX. However, managing declarative changes and deployments would still require additional tools or manual processes.
Q3: How does Blue Canvas differ from Salesforce DX?
Blue Canvas offers a more user-friendly approach to source-driven development on Salesforce. Unlike Salesforce DX, which requires CLI and VS Code proficiency, Blue Canvas provides a GUI that's accessible to both admins and developers. It also attempts to capture and version declarative changes, which DX doesn't fully support.
Q4: Are there any Salesforce-native solutions for version control?
Salesforce provides some native versioning capabilities, such as version history for some components like Flows. However, these are limited and don't offer the full benefits of a dedicated version control system like Git.
Q5: How can I convince my team to adopt more source-driven practices?
Start by educating your team on the benefits of SDD, such as improved collaboration, easier rollbacks, and better deployment consistency. Implement SDD gradually, beginning with code-based components. Consider using tools like Blue Canvas that offer a gentler learning curve for those unfamiliar with traditional SDD workflows.
Q6: Will Salesforce ever fully support true source-driven development?
While Salesforce continues to improve its support for SDD through initiatives like Salesforce DX, achieving full SDD support would require significant changes to the platform's core architecture. It's unlikely that Salesforce will completely abandon its declarative, low-code approach, as this is a key differentiator for the platform.
Q7: How do CI/CD tools fit into Salesforce development?
CI/CD tools can help automate many aspects of the Salesforce development lifecycle, including deployments and testing. While they don't solve all SDD challenges, they can significantly improve development workflows and help teams move closer to SDD best practices.
