Salesforce Developer Skill

How to Use This Skill

Read the appropriate reference file(s) AND the corresponding coding ruleset before generating code:

Step 1: Read the Coding Rulesets (MANDATORY for all code generation)

Code Type Ruleset File

Apex (classes, triggers, tests, async, integrations) ../../Blogs/salesforce-apex-coding-rules.md

LWC (components, templates, JS, events, Jest tests) ../../Blogs/salesforce-lwc-coding-rules.md

These rulesets contain comprehensive coding standards, anti-patterns, PMD/ESLint rules, and code examples. Always apply these rules to all generated code.

Step 2: Read the Appropriate Reference File(s)

User's Task Reference File

Apex classes, triggers, testing, DML, async, dynamic Apex, JSON, wrappers, interfaces, debugging references/apex-patterns.md

SOQL/SOSL, query optimization, dynamic SOQL, Big Objects, LDV, cursors references/soql-optimization.md

LWC, Aura, dynamic components, lazy loading references/lwc-guide.md

REST/Bulk/SOAP API, integrations, OAuth, Named Credentials references/api-integration.md

Formulas, validation rules references/formulas-validation.md

Flows, screen flows, record-triggered flows, process automation references/flows-automation.md

Security, sharing, CRUD/FLS, permissions, encryption references/security-sharing.md

Deployment, sf CLI, scratch orgs, CI/CD, packaging references/deployment-devops.md

Agentforce, AI agents, Prompt Builder, platform events, CDC references/agentforce-ai.md

Step 3: Cross-Reference the Architect Skill (for design questions)

For tasks involving architecture, data modeling, integration patterns, or solution design, also read:

• Architect Skill: ../salesforce-architect-skill/SKILL.md — Well-Architected framework, decision guides, integration patterns

• Then read the relevant reference files inside ../salesforce-architect-skill/references/ (e.g., data-model-patterns.md , integration-patterns.md , well-architected-checklist.md )

For complex tasks (e.g., "build an LWC that calls Apex with integration"), read multiple reference files from both skills AND both rulesets.

Mandatory Rules

• Bulkify all Apex — no SOQL/DML inside loops. Handle 200+ records in triggers.

• Governor limits — 100 SOQL (sync), 150 DML, 50k rows, 10s CPU, 6 MB heap.

• One trigger per object — handler class with switch on Trigger.operationType .

• Security — with sharing on classes, WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED in SOQL, Security.stripInaccessible() for DML.

• Testing — 200-record bulk tests, positive/negative/edge, @TestSetup , Test.startTest() /Test.stopTest() .

• Error handling — try-catch on DML, AuraHandledException for LWC, Database.insert(records, false) for partial success.

• Latest GA API version (currently 66.0) on all new metadata. Update when Salesforce releases a new version.

• Always include -meta.xml for classes, triggers, LWC.

• Use sf CLI (not deprecated sfdx ).

• Layered architecture — Trigger → Handler → Service → Selector.

LLM Anti-Patterns — NEVER Generate These

These are the most common AI mistakes in Salesforce code. For full code examples of each rule, see references/apex-patterns.md.

Apex Compilation Errors

• A1: SOQL Field Coverage — Every field referenced in Apex MUST be in the SOQL SELECT clause. This is the #1 AI mistake.

• A2: Relationship Fields — Parent = dot notation (Account.Name ), child = subquery ((SELECT Id FROM Contacts) ). Never mix them.

• A3: Non-Existent Methods — Datetime.addMilliseconds() , String.contains() with regex, List.sort(comparator) , Map.values().sort() do NOT exist.

• A4: Non-Existent Types — StringBuffer , StringBuilder , HashMap , ArrayList , HashSet , char , byte[] do NOT exist in Apex. Use Integer not int (Apex has no true Java-style primitives; while the language is case-insensitive for its own types, int is not a valid Apex type at all).

• A5: Static vs Instance — String.toLowerCase() is wrong (instance method). myString.valueOf() is wrong (static method).

• A6: String Utilities — Use String.isBlank() for user input (handles null, empty, whitespace). isEmpty() misses whitespace.

LWC Template Errors

• L1: No Inline Expressions — LWC templates do NOT support {a + b} , ternary, negation, or object literals. Use JavaScript getters.

• L2: Import Decorators — Always import api , track , wire from 'lwc' before using them.

• L3: Event Naming — Custom events must be all lowercase, no hyphens. Parent uses on prefix: onmyevent .

Runtime Errors

• R1: Null Checks — Always query into a List , then check !isEmpty() before accessing [0] .

• R2: Map.containsKey() — Check before Map.get() to avoid NPE.

• R3: Recursive Trigger Prevention — Use static Set<Id> , NOT static Boolean . Boolean blocks all subsequent records.

• R4: Guard DML — Check !list.isEmpty() before DML. Saves CPU even though empty DML doesn't consume limits.

• R5: MIXED_DML — Cannot DML setup objects (User, Profile) and non-setup objects in same transaction. Use @future or Queueable.

Deployment Errors

• D1: Permission Set Fields — Only include FLS for fields on the correct object. Skip standard non-FLS fields (Name , Id , CreatedDate ).

• D2: Permission Set Apex Access — Include classAccesses for Apex classes used by LWC via @AuraEnabled .

• D3: package.xml Order — CustomObject → CustomField → ApexClass → ApexTrigger → Layout → PermissionSet → Profile.

Integration Errors

• I1: Same-Org Endpoints — Use org's instance URL, not api.salesforce.com .

• I2: Callout After DML — Cannot make HTTP callout after DML in same transaction. Callout first, or use @future(callout=true) .

Agentforce & Flow Errors

• AF1: @AuraEnabled — Must be public static . With @wire , must have cacheable=true . Class must be with sharing .

• AF2: @InvocableVariable Types — Primitives, List<String> , List<Id> , SObject , List<SObject> , Apex-defined types. NO Maps.

• AF3: @JsonAccess — Custom return types for Agentforce actions need @JsonAccess(serializable='always') .

Naming Conventions

Element Convention Example

Classes PascalCase + suffix AccountTriggerHandler , OrderService , ContactSelector

Test Classes PascalCase + Test

AccountServiceTest

Methods camelCase, verb-first getAccountsByIds() , calculateTotal()

Variables camelCase accountList , totalRevenue

Constants UPPER_SNAKE_CASE MAX_RETRY_COUNT , DEFAULT_PAGE_SIZE

Triggers {Object}Trigger

AccountTrigger

LWC camelCase folder, kebab-case markup accountList → <c-account-list>

Custom Objects PascalCase + __c

Invoice_Line_Item__c

Custom Fields PascalCase + __c

Total_Amount__c

Platform Events PascalCase + __e

Order_Placed__e

Custom Metadata PascalCase + __mdt

Integration_Config__mdt

Governor Limits Quick Reference

Resource Sync Limit Async Limit

SOQL queries 100 200

SOQL rows 50,000 50,000

DML statements 150 150

DML rows 10,000 10,000

CPU time 10,000 ms 60,000 ms

Heap size 6 MB 12 MB

Callouts 100 100

Future calls 50 0 (in future)

Queueable jobs 50 1

Async Apex Decision Guide

Pattern Use When Key Notes

@future

Fire-and-forget, callouts Primitives only, max 50/txn, can't chain

Queueable

Chaining, complex types, job ID 50/txn sync, 1 child async, Transaction Finalizers

Batch Apex

50k+ records 200/execute, QueryLocator up to 50M rows

Schedulable

Recurring CRON jobs 100 scheduled jobs/org

Platform Events Event-driven, decoupled EventBus.publish() , RetryableException for retry

For full async patterns, see references/apex-patterns.md.

Order of Execution

• Load original record / initialize for insert

• Overwrite with new field values

• System validation (required fields, formats)

• Before-save record-triggered flows

• Before triggers

• System validation + custom validation rules

• Duplicate rules

• Record saved to DB (not yet committed)

• After triggers

• Assignment/auto-response rules

• Workflow rules (field updates re-fire triggers ONCE)

• Process Builder / flow trigger workflow actions

• After-save record-triggered flows

• Roll-up summary calculations

• Criteria-based sharing evaluation

• DML committed

• Post-commit: email, async Apex, async flow paths

Key: Before triggers can modify Trigger.new without DML. After triggers CANNOT.

Code Generation Checklist

• Every field referenced in code MUST be in the SOQL SELECT clause (Rule A1)

• Include -meta.xml for all new classes, triggers, LWC

• Latest GA API version (currently 66.0) on all metadata

• Include JSDoc in LWC JavaScript and ApexDoc in Apex

• Wrap DML in try-catch, use AuraHandledException for LWC

• Use WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED in SOQL

• Use Database.insert(records, false) for partial success

• Null-check query results, Map.get() returns, parent relationship fields

• Guard DML with !list.isEmpty()

• Use with sharing on user-facing classes, inherited sharing on utilities

• Use switch on Trigger.operationType in handlers

• Never hardcode IDs — use Schema.describe , Custom Metadata, or Custom Labels

• Prefer Assert.areEqual() (modern Assert class) over System.assertEquals() for new code

• Test methods use Arrange-Act-Assert with descriptive names

Common Error Solutions

Error Fix

Too many SOQL queries: 101

Move query outside loop, use Maps

MIXED_DML_OPERATION

Use @future or Queueable for setup object DML

Non-selective query

Add indexed filter, request custom index

You have uncommitted work

Move callout before DML or use @future(callout=true)

NullPointerException

Add null checks; query into List + isEmpty()

SObject row was retrieved via SOQL without querying the requested field

Add field to SOQL SELECT (Rule A1)

Too many DML statements: 151

Collect records in lists, single DML outside loop

UNABLE_TO_LOCK_ROW

Use FOR UPDATE or implement retry

Apex CPU time limit exceeded

Optimize loops, use async Apex

For full error patterns and JSON/debugging details, see references/apex-patterns.md.

Metadata XML Templates

Apex Class

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <ApexClass xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata"> <apiVersion>66.0</apiVersion> <status>Active</status> </ApexClass>

Apex Trigger

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <ApexTrigger xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata"> <apiVersion>66.0</apiVersion> <status>Active</status> </ApexTrigger>

LWC Component

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <LightningComponentBundle xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata"> <apiVersion>66.0</apiVersion> <isExposed>true</isExposed> <targets> <target>lightning__RecordPage</target> <target>lightning__AppPage</target> <target>lightning__HomePage</target> </targets> </LightningComponentBundle>

Project Structure

force-app/main/default/ ├── classes/ # Handler, Service, Selector, Controller, Test classes + -meta.xml ├── triggers/ # One trigger per object + -meta.xml ├── lwc/ # camelCase folders with html/js/css/js-meta.xml + tests/ ├── objects/ # fields/, validationRules/, listViews/ ├── permissionsets/ ├── customMetadata/ └── labels/

Architecture: Trigger (thin) → Handler (routing, recursion guard) → Service (business logic, DML) → Selector (SOQL, with sharing )

Quick Reference Pointers

• Apex coding rules (full ruleset) → ../../Blogs/salesforce-apex-coding-rules.md

• LWC coding rules (full ruleset) → ../../Blogs/salesforce-lwc-coding-rules.md

• Architecture & solution design → ../salesforce-architect-skill/SKILL.md

• Security & sharing rules → references/security-sharing.md

• Agentforce, platform events, CDC → references/agentforce-ai.md

• OAuth, Named Credentials, Connected Apps → references/api-integration.md

• LDV, custom indexes, data skew, Big Objects → references/soql-optimization.md

• Dynamic LWC, lazy loading → references/lwc-guide.md

• sf CLI commands, CI/CD pipelines → references/deployment-devops.md

• Flow decision guide, invocable Apex → references/flows-automation.md