What Is Salesforce CLI?

Updated:

December 26, 2023

⏱️ 5 minutes

If you are working with Salesforce, it’s essential to understand how to use Salesforce CLI effectively. This article will walk you through the basics of Salesforce CLI, its features, installation, common and advanced commands, and best practices. So let’s dive right in!

Salesforce CLI (Command Line Interface) is a powerful command-line tool that helps you to seamlessly retrieve, deploy or delete metadata and code. It simplifies the process of creating, deploying, and managing your Salesforce applications, making it easier to automate tasks and streamline your development workflow.

Features of Salesforce CLI

Here are some noteworthy features of Salesforce CLI:

1. Simplified development process
2. Easy project creation and management
3. Support for source-driven development
4. Powerful metadata deployment and retrieval
5. Built-in support for continuous integration and deployment

Installing Salesforce CLI on All Operating Systems

The installation process for Salesforce CLI is quite similar across all major operating systems – Windows, macOS, and Linux. Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing Salesforce CLI on your system:

Download the installer: Visit the Salesforce CLI website and download the installer specific to your operating system.
Install Salesforce CLI:

Windows

Run the downloaded installer (.exe file) and Follow the guided steps displayed on your screen to finish the installation process.

macOS

Launch the downloaded installer (.pkg file) and adhere to the on-screen directions to complete the setup.

Linux

Extract the downloaded archive (.tar.xz file) to a directory of your choice.
Open a terminal, navigate to the extracted directory, and run the install script by executing the following command:

./install

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

3. Verify the installation: Once the installation is complete, open a new terminal or command prompt and run the following command to check if Salesforce CLI has been installed correctly:

sfdx –version

If the installation was successful, you should see the version number of the installed Salesforce CLI.

With Salesforce CLI now installed on your system, you’re ready to start working with Salesforce environments, creating and managing your projects, and streamlining your development workflow.

For additional installation methods, troubleshooting, and updates, refer to the official Salesforce CLI documentation.

Once Salesforce CLI is installed, proceed by logging in to your Salesforce environment. Use the following command:

sfdx auth:web:login -a <alias>

Replace <alias> with a name to identify the environment you’re logging in to.

You can also use the point-and-click commands available in VSCode or any other IDE to perform the same action.

CLI Commands

Here are some common Salesforce CLI commands that you’ll likely use frequently:

Creating and Managing Projects

Create a new project: sfdx force:project:create -n <project_name>
List all projects: sfdx force:project:list

Deploying and Retrieving Metadata

Deploy metadata to an org: sfdx force:source:deploy -p <path>
Retrieve metadata from an org : sfdx force:source:retrieve -p <path>

Managing Orgs

Create a new scratch org: sfdx force:org:create -f <config_file> -a <alias>
List all orgs: sfdx force:org:list
Open an org: sfdx force:org:open -u <username_or_alias>

Some advanced commands provide additional functionality for your Salesforce projects; they are:

Bulk Data Operations

Import data: sfdx force:data:bulk:upsert -s <object_name> -f <csv_file> -i <external_id>
Export data: sfdx force:data:bulk:export -s <object_name> -f <csv_file>

Continuous Integration and Deployment

Run unit tests: sfdx force:apex:test:run
Create a package version: sfdx force:package:version:create -p <package_name>

Best Practices for Using Salesforce CLI

To ensure you are making the most of Salesforce CLI and maintaining an efficient workflow, follow these best practices:

Use a version control system (VCS): Implementing a VCS like Git for your Salesforce projects is crucial. It allows you to track changes, collaborate with your team effectively, and maintain a clear history of your codebase. With Salesforce CLI, you can easily integrate with VCS like Git to manage your project’s source code.
Utilize aliases: Aliases make it simpler to identify and manage different Salesforce orgs. Assigning an alias to an org during the authentication process helps you avoid confusion and minimizes errors when working with multiple orgs. Use descriptive aliases to make it easy to remember which org they represent.
Regularly update Salesforce CLI: Salesforce CLI is updated frequently with new features, improvements, and bug fixes. Remember to update your Salesforce CLI installation periodically to make the most of the latest updates. Run the following command to update Salesforce CLI: sfdx update
Use Continuous Integration (CI) tools: Integrating CI tools like Jenkins or GitHub Actions into your development workflow automates the build, test, and deployment processes. This ensures that your code is tested and validated regularly, reducing the likelihood of introducing bugs and improving the overall quality of your applications.
Follow a source-driven development approach: Source-driven development promotes the use of version control systems, making it easier to track changes and collaborate with your team. By adopting this approach, you can maintain a clear history of your codebase and streamline the development process.

Summing Up

Salesforce CLI is a powerful and versatile tool that simplifies working with Salesforce environments. The development process becomes more efficient as it simplifies the creation, management, and deployment of Salesforce applications. By mastering Salesforce CLI commands and best practices, you’ll be able to work more efficiently and effectively with your Salesforce projects.

Now that you have a better understanding of Salesforce CLI, we encourage you to sign up and join the saasguru community on Slack. By doing so, you’ll gain access to a wealth of knowledge, resources, and like-minded professionals who can help you further enhance your Salesforce CLI skills.

Become a Salesforce Developer by enrolling in our Salesforce Platform Developer 1 Online Course – get personalized study plans, free mock exams, quizzes, flashcards and much more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Salesforce CLI used for?

Salesforce CLI is a powerful command-line tool that facilitates various tasks for Salesforce developers and administrators. It’s used for efficiently managing and manipulating Salesforce environments, including tasks like retrieving, deploying, and deleting metadata and code. Salesforce CLI streamlines the development process by allowing you to create, manage, and deploy Salesforce applications directly from the command line, making it an essential tool for automating tasks and enhancing productivity in Salesforce development workflows.

2. Is Salesforce CLI open source?

The Salesforce Command Line Interface (CLI) is an open-source tool by Salesforce. It’s designed to streamline and potentially automate a wide array of tasks on the Salesforce platform. This tool significantly enhances efficiency, catering to both developers and administrators by facilitating a faster and more streamlined development process.

3. Does Salesforce CLI need Java?

Yes, the Salesforce CLI needs Java because it’s a key building block for core functionality, the Apex Language Server, and certain VS Code extensions. Ensure you have JDK version 17 or 11 installed and your environment variables set up correctly for smooth operation.

4. How to check Salesforce CLI version in cmd?

To check the version of Salesforce CLI installed on your system using the command prompt (cmd), simply open cmd and type the following command: sfdx –version. This command will display the current version of Salesforce CLI that you have installed. It’s a quick and easy way to verify that you are running the latest version or to check if you need to update your Salesforce CLI installation.