Version Control
In Salesforce development, the practice of tracking metadata changes in a version control system (like Git) using Salesforce DX source format, enabling collaboration, change history, branching, and CI/CD workflows.
Definition
In Salesforce development, the practice of tracking metadata changes in a version control system (like Git) using Salesforce DX source format, enabling collaboration, change history, branching, and CI/CD workflows.
In plain English
“Version Control in Salesforce development means tracking metadata changes in a system like Git using Salesforce DX source format. It enables collaboration, change history, branching, and CI/CD - the same development practices used in modern software engineering.”
Worked example
Quatrefoil Books' Salesforce dev team uses Git as their Version Control system, with all metadata stored in Salesforce DX source format. Every change to an Apex class, a Lightning Web Component, or a Flow lands as a commit on a feature branch; pull requests get reviewed, CI runs Apex tests automatically, and merges trigger CI/CD deploys via the Salesforce CLI. The benefit: history of who changed what, when, and why; safe collaboration with merge conflicts when two devs touch the same metadata; easy rollbacks via git revert. Version Control turns Salesforce metadata from a free-for-all "whoever last clicked Save wins" into a disciplined engineering practice.
Why Version Control matters
In Salesforce development, Version Control is the practice of tracking metadata changes in a version control system (like Git) using Salesforce DX source format, enabling collaborative development, change history, branching, and CI/CD. It's foundational to source-driven development.
Version control transformed Salesforce development from ad hoc org-based work into proper software engineering. With Git, teams can branch for features, review changes before merging, maintain complete history, and build CI/CD pipelines. Mature Salesforce teams treat version control as non-negotiable infrastructure.
How organizations use Version Control
Uses Git for all Salesforce metadata with branching and CI/CD.
Treats version control as non-negotiable development infrastructure.
Trains all developers on Git-based Salesforce development workflows.
Trust & references
Straight from the source - Salesforce's reference material on Version Control.
- Salesforce DX Developer GuideSalesforce Developers
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