Package Manager
In Salesforce DX and second-generation packaging (2GP), the tooling and commands used to create, version, and manage packages, including the sf package commands for building and distributing applications.
Definition
In Salesforce DX and second-generation packaging (2GP), the tooling and commands used to create, version, and manage packages, including the sf package commands for building and distributing applications.
In plain English
“Package Manager in Salesforce DX is the tooling and commands you use to create, version, and manage second-generation packages (2GP). It includes the sf package commands for building and distributing applications on the modern Salesforce DX workflow.”
Worked example
A developer at Brookmoor Software ships a managed package update via Package Manager - the Salesforce DX 2GP tooling. She runs sf package version create to compile the new version, sf package version promote to mark it production-ready, and sf package install to deploy it to a test subscriber org. Each command is part of the Package Manager workflow that replaced the older first-generation packaging UI. Package Manager handles versioning, dependency management, and distribution for the modern Salesforce DX-based ISV development model.
Why Package Manager matters
In Salesforce DX and second-generation packaging (2GP), Package Manager is the tooling and commands used to create, version, and manage packages, including the sf package commands for building and distributing applications. The commands let developers create new packages, create new versions, install packages, retrieve package information, and manage the full package lifecycle from a command line interface or CI/CD pipeline.
The sf package commands are part of the Salesforce CLI and represent the modern way to manage package development. They replace older Force.com Migration Tool commands and provide better integration with Git-based workflows, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines. Mature ISV partners and Salesforce development teams use the package commands extensively for daily work, treating package management as a normal software engineering activity rather than an ad hoc process.
How organizations use Package Manager
Uses sf package commands in their CI/CD pipeline for automated package version creation and deployment.
Built their entire packaging workflow around the Salesforce CLI package commands.
Trains developers on sf package commands as part of modern Salesforce development.
Test your knowledge
Q1. What is Package Manager in Salesforce DX?
Q2. What commands are part of Package Manager?
Q3. What does it replace?
Discussion
Loading discussion…