Salesforce DX Project: Next Steps

Now that you've created a Salesforce DX project, what's next? Here are some documentation resources to get you started.

How Do You Plan to Deploy Your Changes?

Do you want to deploy a set of changes, or create a self-contained application? Choose a development model.

Configure Your Salesforce DX Project

The sfdx-project.json file contains useful configuration information for your project. See Salesforce DX Project Configuration in the Salesforce DX Developer Guide for details about this file.

Read All About It

• Salesforce Extensions Documentation
• Salesforce CLI Setup Guide
• Salesforce DX Developer Guide
• Salesforce CLI Command Reference

Essential Salesforce CLI Commands for Beginners

Welcome to Salesforce development! This guide covers the most important CLI commands you'll need to get started with Salesforce development and deployment.

🔄 CLI Version Update (Important!)

Note: Salesforce transitioned from sfdx to sf commands in July 2023. The new sf CLI is faster and more intuitive. Both command styles work, but sf is the future.

• New style: sf org login web
• Old style: sfdx force:auth:web:login (still works but deprecated)

🔧 Getting Started Commands

Check CLI Version

sf --version

Get Help

sf --help
sf org --help
sf project --help

🔐 Authentication & Org Management

1. Authenticate with Your Org

# Login to a Salesforce org (opens browser)
sf org login web

# Login to a sandbox
sf org login web --instance-url https://test.salesforce.com

# Login with an alias (recommended for multiple orgs)
sf org login web --alias myorg

2. List Connected Orgs

# See all connected orgs
sf org list

# See more details
sf org list --all

3. Set Default Org

# Set default org for commands
sf config set target-org your-org-alias-or-username

4. Open Org in Browser

# Open default org
sf org open

# Open specific org
sf org open --target-org myorg

🏗️ Scratch Orgs (Development Environments)

1. Create a Scratch Org

# Create scratch org with default settings
sf org create scratch --definition-file config/project-scratch-def.json --alias myscratch

# Create with specific duration (1-30 days)
sf org create scratch --definition-file config/project-scratch-def.json --alias myscratch --duration-days 7 --set-default

2. Delete a Scratch Org

sf org delete scratch --target-org myscratch

📦 Code Deployment & Retrieval

1. Deploy Your Code to Org

# Deploy all source to default org
sf project deploy start

# Deploy specific file or folder
sf project deploy start --source-dir force-app/main/default/classes/MyClass.cls

# Deploy with test run
sf project deploy start --test-level RunLocalTests

2. Retrieve Code from Org

# Get all changes from org
sf project retrieve start

# Retrieve specific metadata
sf project retrieve start --metadata ApexClass:MyClass

3. Quick Deploy (for Development)

# Push changes to scratch org (development only)
sf project deploy start --ignore-conflicts

# Pull changes from scratch org
sf project retrieve start --ignore-conflicts

🧪 Testing

1. Run Apex Tests

# Run all tests
sf apex run test

# Run specific test class
sf apex run test --class-names MyTestClass

# Run tests with code coverage
sf apex run test --code-coverage --result-format human

2. View Test Results

# Get detailed test results with coverage
sf apex get test --test-run-id YOUR_TEST_RUN_ID --code-coverage --detailed-coverage

📊 Data Management

1. Export/Import Data

# Export data using SOQL
sf data query --query "SELECT Id, Name FROM Account LIMIT 10"

# Import data from CSV
sf data import tree --plan data/sample-data-plan.json

2. Create Records

# Create a single record
sf data create record --sobject Account --values "Name='Test Account' Type='Customer'"

🔍 Debugging & Logs

1. View Logs

# List recent logs
sf apex list log

# Get specific log
sf apex get log --log-id YOUR_LOG_ID

# Tail logs in real-time
sf apex tail log

📋 Common Workflow Examples

Starting a New Feature

# 1. Create a new scratch org
sf org create scratch --definition-file config/project-scratch-def.json --alias feature-branch --duration-days 7 --set-default

# 2. Push your code
sf project deploy start

# 3. Work on your feature...

# 4. Run tests
sf apex run test --code-coverage

# 5. When done, delete scratch org
sf org delete scratch --target-org feature-branch

Deploying to Production

# 1. Validate deployment (doesn't actually deploy)
sf project deploy start --dry-run --test-level RunLocalTests --target-org production

# 2. If validation passes, deploy for real
sf project deploy start --test-level RunLocalTests --target-org production

🆘 Troubleshooting Tips

1. Authentication Issues: Run sf org login web to re-authenticate
2. Permission Errors: Make sure you have the right permissions in your org
3. Deployment Conflicts: Use --ignore-conflicts flag for development orgs
4. Get Help: Use --help flag with any command for detailed information

📚 Quick Reference

Task	New Command (sf)	Old Command (sfdx)
Login	sf org login web	sfdx force:auth:web:login
Create Scratch Org	sf org create scratch	sfdx force:org:create
Deploy Code	sf project deploy start	sfdx force:source:push
Retrieve Code	sf project retrieve start	sfdx force:source:pull
Run Tests	sf apex run test	sfdx force:apex:test:run
Open Org	sf org open	sfdx force:org:open

🔗 Helpful Resources

• Salesforce CLI Command Reference
• Trailhead: Salesforce DX
• VS Code Salesforce Extensions

pyx-http-callout-sfdx