The Salesforce ecosystem is a powerhouse for business, but its true potential is unlocked by developers who can build robust, scalable, and maintainable applications on the platform.
As the demand for skilled professionals in Salesforce Development continues to surge, moving beyond basic coding to adopt enterprise-level best practices is no longer optional-it's a necessity.
Writing code that simply works is one thing; writing code that works efficiently under load, avoids governor limits, and is easy for your team to enhance in the future is another.
This is the difference between a junior developer and a seasoned professional. Whether you're a CTO managing a complex org or a developer aiming to level up your skills, these 12 tips are your blueprint for excellence in the Salesforce universe.
Key Takeaways
- Master Governor Limits: The single most critical skill is writing 'bulkified' code that respects Salesforce's multi-tenant architecture to prevent hitting transaction limits.
- Adopt Modern DevOps: Integrating Salesforce DX, version control (Git), and a CI/CD pipeline is non-negotiable for professional teams. It dramatically improves collaboration, testing, and deployment speed.
- Separate Your Concerns: Use Apex Enterprise Patterns (Service, Domain, Selector layers) to create a clean, decoupled, and maintainable codebase that's easier to test and scale.
- Prioritize Declarative, Then Code: Always leverage Salesforce's powerful declarative tools like Flow first. Write Apex code only when the complexity truly demands it to reduce maintenance overhead.
⚙️ Section 1: Foundational Best Practices (The Bedrock)
These first three tips are the absolute foundation of high-quality Salesforce development. Mastering them will prevent the most common and critical issues that plague Salesforce orgs.
1. Master Governor Limits & Bulkification (The #1 Rule)
Salesforce runs on a multi-tenant architecture, meaning your code shares resources with other organizations. To ensure fairness, Salesforce enforces governor limits on transactions, such as the number of SOQL queries (100) or DML statements (150) allowed.
The primary cause of hitting these limits is code that isn't 'bulkified'-meaning it can't handle multiple records at once.
Why it matters: Non-bulkified code works fine for a single record but fails spectacularly under load (e.g., data imports, mass actions), leading to frustrated users and failed processes.
Writing bulkified code from day one is the hallmark of a professional Salesforce developer.
Actionable Tip: Never place SOQL queries or DML statements (insert, update, delete) inside a `for` loop.
Instead, use collections (like a `List` or `Set`) to gather IDs and process them in a single, efficient operation outside the loop.
2. Write Comprehensive & Assertive Apex Tests
Salesforce requires 75% code coverage to deploy to production, but this metric is often misleading. Coverage alone doesn't guarantee quality.
Your tests must be comprehensive, covering both positive and negative scenarios, and they must include assertions (`System.assertEquals()`, `System.assertNotEquals()`) to verify that your code produces the correct results.
Why it matters: Without proper assertions, a test might achieve 100% coverage but prove nothing about the code's correctness.
Strong tests are your safety net; they prevent regressions and allow you to refactor and add new features with confidence.
Actionable Tip: For every method, write at least one test method for the expected outcome and another for each potential failure or edge case (e.g., invalid input, user permissions issues).
Use `@TestSetup` to create common test data efficiently.
3. Embrace the 'One Trigger per Object' Pattern
While Salesforce allows multiple triggers on the same object, this is a recipe for disaster. When you have several triggers, you cannot control their order of execution, making debugging a nightmare and leading to unpredictable behavior and recursive loops.
Why it matters: A single trigger per object acts as a controller, delegating logic to handler classes.
This creates a predictable, manageable, and scalable framework for your automation.
Actionable Tip: Create one trigger for each object (e.g., `AccountTrigger`). Within that trigger, use a handler class with methods for each context (`beforeInsert`, `afterUpdate`, etc.).
This pattern keeps your trigger logic-free and your codebase organized.
Is Technical Debt Slowing Down Your Salesforce ROI?
Poorly structured code and inefficient processes can cripple your org's performance and agility. It's time to build on a solid foundation.
Partner with our Salesforce CRM Excellence POD to build scalable, high-performance solutions.
Request a Free Consultation🚀 Section 2: Modern Development & Deployment (The Framework)
Moving beyond individual coding practices, these tips focus on the professional frameworks and tools that enable team collaboration and reliable deployments.
4. Adopt Salesforce DX & Version Control (Git)
The days of developing in sandboxes with change sets are over for serious development teams. Salesforce DX (Developer Experience) is a modern toolset that enables source-driven development.
By treating your org's metadata as source files stored in a version control system like Git, you gain a single source of truth for your codebase.
Why it matters: Version control is essential for team collaboration. It allows developers to work on features in parallel, merge changes, track history, and easily revert mistakes.
It's the foundation of modern DevOps.
Actionable Tip: Start using VS Code with the Salesforce Extension Pack. Store your project in a Git repository (like GitHub or Bitbucket) and use scratch orgs for isolated feature development and testing.
5. Implement a CI/CD Pipeline
Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD) automate the process of testing and deploying your code.
When a developer commits a change to the repository, a CI/CD pipeline can automatically run all tests, check code quality, and deploy the changes to an integration environment.
Why it matters: Automation reduces manual errors, provides rapid feedback to developers, and ensures that only high-quality, tested code is promoted through your environments.
This dramatically increases development velocity and reliability.
Actionable Tip: Explore tools like Salesforce DevOps Center, Gearset, Copado, or set up your own pipeline using Jenkins or GitHub Actions.
Start simple by automating test runs on every commit.
6. Leverage Custom Metadata Types over Custom Settings
For storing application configuration data (like API endpoints, feature flags, or validation rule messages), Custom Metadata Types are almost always superior to Custom Settings.
They are deployable, meaning you can move your configuration from sandbox to production as part of your development lifecycle.
Why it matters: Using Custom Metadata Types eliminates the manual, error-prone post-deployment steps of configuring settings in production.
It treats configuration as part of the application's metadata, which aligns perfectly with a source-driven development model.
🛠️ Section 3: Code Quality & Maintainability (The Craft)
Well-crafted code is not just about functionality; it's about clarity, reusability, and making life easier for the next developer-who might be you in six months.
7. Use Apex Enterprise Patterns (Separation of Concerns)
As applications grow, keeping all your logic in trigger handlers or controller classes becomes unmanageable. The Apex Enterprise Patterns, inspired by standard software engineering principles, promote a 'Separation of Concerns' architecture.
This typically involves:
- Service Layer: For business logic and operations.
- Domain Layer: For object-specific logic (like complex validations).
- Selector Layer: For reusable, complex SOQL queries.
Why it matters: This layered approach makes your code more reusable, easier to test in isolation, and simpler to understand and debug.
It's the key to building large-scale, enterprise-grade applications on Salesforce.
8. Write Meaningful Comments & Adhere to Naming Conventions
Your code should be as self-documenting as possible. Use clear, descriptive names for variables, methods, and classes.
Add comments not to explain what the code is doing (that should be obvious), but why it's doing it, especially for complex or non-obvious business logic.
Why it matters: Clear code reduces the cognitive load on developers, speeding up onboarding and maintenance.
A consistent naming convention makes the codebase predictable and easier to navigate.
9. Prioritize Declarative Tools Before Code
One of the most important skills for a Salesforce developer is knowing when not to write code. Salesforce offers a powerful suite of declarative tools, especially Flow.
For many automation requirements, a well-structured Flow is faster to build, easier to maintain, and more accessible to admins.
Why it matters: Writing unnecessary code introduces 'technical debt'. It requires test classes, is harder to debug, and creates a dependency on developer resources for future changes.
Always ask: "Can this be done effectively with a Flow?"
🛡️ Section 4: Security & Performance (The Shield)
Finally, ensure your code is not only functional but also secure and performant. These aspects are critical for user trust and a positive user experience.
10. Enforce FLS and Sharing Rules with `WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED`
Salesforce data security is paramount. By default, Apex runs in 'system mode', which ignores user permissions like Field-Level Security (FLS) and object sharing rules.
To ensure your code respects the user's permissions, use the `WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED` clause in your SOQL queries.
Why it matters: Failing to enforce security rules in your code can lead to serious data leaks, where users can see or access data they shouldn't.
This is a major security vulnerability.
11. Optimize SOQL Queries for Performance
Slow queries are a primary cause of poor performance in Salesforce applications. A non-selective query, which scans a large number of records, can time out and cause errors.
Why it matters: Performant queries lead to a fast, responsive user interface. Slow queries degrade the user experience and can hit governor limits.
Actionable Tip: Always use a `WHERE` clause on an indexed field (like an ID, a standard indexed field, or a custom field marked as an External ID).
Use the Query Plan Tool in the Developer Console to analyze the cost of your queries.
12. Understand the Lightning Component Framework Lifecycle
For front-end development with Lightning Web Components (LWC), understanding the component lifecycle is crucial.
Knowing when `constructor`, `connectedCallback`, `renderedCallback`, and `disconnectedCallback` are called allows you to fetch data, perform DML, and interact with the DOM at the right time.
Why it matters: Mishandling the lifecycle can lead to inefficient data loading, memory leaks, and unpredictable UI behavior.
A solid grasp of these concepts is essential for building performant and reliable user interfaces.
2025 Update: The AI and Low-Code Evolution
As we look ahead, the Salesforce development landscape continues to evolve. The rise of AI tools like Einstein for Developers is changing how code is written, offering intelligent suggestions and automating boilerplate tasks.
Simultaneously, the capabilities of declarative tools like Flow are expanding rapidly, further blurring the line between admin and developer tasks. The core principles in this article-structured code, DevOps, and a security-first mindset-are more critical than ever.
They provide the solid foundation needed to effectively leverage these new technologies and build the next generation of intelligent applications. The question is no longer just "Can you code?" but "Can you architect a solution intelligently, using the best tool for the job?"
Conclusion: From Coder to Architect
Becoming a top-tier Salesforce developer is a journey of continuous learning. It's about evolving from someone who simply writes code to an architect who designs elegant, efficient, and future-proof solutions.
By internalizing these 12 tips-from the foundational principles of bulkification to the modern frameworks of DevOps and the craftsmanship of clean code-you build more than just features; you build trust, reliability, and long-term value for your organization.
These practices are not just theoretical; they are the daily habits of high-performing development teams. They are the standards we uphold at Developers.dev, where our Salesforce CRM Excellence PODs deliver solutions built on a foundation of quality, security, and scalability.
This article has been reviewed by the Developers.dev Expert Team, comprised of certified Salesforce architects and senior developers with decades of combined experience in enterprise-level application development.
Our commitment is to provide actionable insights that empower the Salesforce community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common mistake Salesforce developers make?
The most common and impactful mistake is failing to properly bulkify code. Placing SOQL queries or DML statements inside loops is a classic error that works during single-record testing but causes major failures under real-world data loads, leading to governor limit exceptions.
Why is 'One Trigger Per Object' so important?
It ensures a predictable order of execution for your automation. With multiple triggers on an object, you cannot guarantee which one runs first, making it extremely difficult to debug issues or understand the flow of logic.
A single trigger acts as a controller, providing one entry point and allowing you to manage the execution order explicitly in a handler class.
When should I use Apex instead of Flow?
Use Apex when you need to perform highly complex logic that is difficult or impossible to express in Flow, require custom integrations with external systems that go beyond Flow's capabilities, need to process very large data volumes with sophisticated batch jobs, or require custom user interfaces with Lightning Web Components that have complex client-side logic.
What is Salesforce DX and why should I use it?
Salesforce DX (Developer Experience) is a modern set of tools that shifts the development model from being org-centric to source-centric.
You should use it because it allows you to manage your application's metadata in a version control system (like Git), which is the foundation for team collaboration, automated testing (CI/CD), and reliable, repeatable deployments.
How can I start learning Apex Enterprise Patterns?
A great place to start is the official Salesforce Trailhead module on Apex Enterprise Patterns.
It breaks down the concepts of Service, Domain, and Selector layers with clear explanations and hands-on challenges. From there, you can explore the open-source fflib Apex Commons library, which provides a robust framework for implementing these patterns in your projects.
Ready to Elevate Your Salesforce Team's Capabilities?
Accessing elite Salesforce talent shouldn't be a bottleneck. Our ecosystem of vetted, in-house developers is ready to integrate with your team and accelerate your roadmap.
