The Salesforce Customization Spectrum
Salesforce customization ranges from clicks (declarative) to code (programmatic). The golden rule: use clicks before code. But enterprises inevitably need custom Apex, Lightning Web Components, and integrations.
Apex Best Practices
- Bulkify everything — Apex triggers must handle 200+ records per transaction. Never write SOQL inside loops.
- Governor limit awareness — Design with limits in mind from the start. Track SOQL queries, DML statements, and CPU time.
- Test coverage — Salesforce requires 75% test coverage, but aim for 90%+. Test bulk scenarios, not just single records.
- Separation of concerns — Keep trigger handlers, service classes, and selectors separate.
Lightning Web Components
LWC is the modern way to build Salesforce UIs. Key practices:
- Use wire service for reactive data fetching
- Implement proper error handling with toast notifications
- Follow the component composition pattern for reusability
- Use Lightning Data Service for standard CRUD operations
Integration Patterns
Outbound REST — Salesforce calling external APIs. Use Named Credentials for secure authentication. Inbound REST — External systems calling Salesforce APIs. Use Connected Apps with OAuth 2.0. Platform Events — Event-driven integration for real-time data synchronization. Change Data Capture — Subscribe to record changes for near-real-time external system updates.
Deployment and DevOps
Use Salesforce DX with source-driven development:
- Version control all metadata in Git
- Use scratch orgs for development
- Automate deployments with CI/CD pipelines
- Implement proper sandbox management strategy
Conclusion
Custom Salesforce development requires understanding both the platform's strengths and its constraints. Build with the platform, not against it, and invest in proper DevOps practices from the start.
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