Version control is a crucial aspect of Salesforce development, enabling teams to manage code changes efficiently, collaborate seamlessly, and maintain a stable deployment process. With Salesforce moving towards source-driven development, using a Git-based version control system (VCS) like GitHub, Bitbucket, or GitLab is essential for modern DevOps practices.
A well-structured version control strategy helps avoid issues such as overwritten code, deployment conflicts, and inconsistent metadata across environments. In this blog, we’ll explore the best practices for version control in Salesforce to ensure smooth development and deployment processes.
Salesforce has traditionally been org-based, where developers made changes directly in a sandbox or developer org. However, this method often led to inconsistent deployments and lost metadata. Source-driven development means storing all metadata and configuration changes in a version control system (VCS), ensuring that every modification is tracked and auditable.
With Salesforce DX (SFDX), teams can extract metadata into source format, making it easier to manage and deploy through Git. By treating version control as the single source of truth, teams can maintain a structured and reliable development workflow.
2. Use a Git Branching Strategy
A structured Git branching strategy is essential for managing Salesforce changes efficiently. The most commonly used model is Git Flow, which includes different branches for various stages of development:
- Main (Production) Branch: The stable version of the code deployed to production. No direct changes should be made here.
- Develop Branch: A consolidated branch where all feature branches are merged before deployment to a staging environment.
- Feature Branches: Each new feature or enhancement should have its own branch to isolate changes and prevent conflicts.
- Hotfix Branches: Used for urgent bug fixes that need to be applied directly to production.
Following this branching strategy ensures that changes are tested before merging, reducing the risk of breaking functionality in production.
3. Commit Small, Atomic Changes with Clear Messages
Each commit in version control should be small, self-contained, and focused on a single change. Avoid committing multiple unrelated changes in a single commit, as it makes debugging difficult.
When committing changes, follow a clear and consistent message format. A good commit message should:
- Describe what the change does (e.g., “Added validation rule for email field in Lead object”).
- Reference related Jira or work tracking tickets, if applicable (e.g., “Fixes #123 – Updated trigger for Opportunity updates”).
- Indicate whether the change is a bug fix, enhancement, or new feature.
Well-documented commits make it easier for the team to track changes and understand the purpose of each update.
4. Use Pull Requests for Code Reviews
Pull Requests (PRs) are a critical component of a collaborative Salesforce development workflow. Instead of merging changes directly into the main branch, developers should create a pull request (PR) and request a code review from team members.
Code reviews help:
- Identify potential issues, conflicts, or security risks before merging changes.
- Ensure that best practices, naming conventions, and coding standards are followed.
- Improve overall code quality and maintainability.
Additionally, enabling automated tests and validations on PRs (e.g., Apex tests, static code analysis) ensures that changes don’t introduce new bugs into the system.
5. Manage Metadata Carefully
Salesforce metadata is complex, and improper handling can lead to deployment failures and inconsistencies across environments. To avoid issues:
- Exclude Unnecessary Metadata – Use
.gitignoreor.forceignoreto exclude system-generated files like profiles, cache settings, and scratch org-specific data. - Modularize Metadata with Unlocked Packages – Instead of managing a monolithic repository, break metadata into smaller, reusable unlocked packages to improve deployment efficiency.
- Use the Metadata API or SFDX Format – Salesforce DX allows teams to extract metadata in a structured, readable format, making it easier to version and manage.
By keeping metadata clean and structured, teams can ensure smooth version control and deployments.
6. Implement Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
CI/CD automates the process of testing and deploying Salesforce changes, ensuring that only validated updates reach production. A proper CI/CD pipeline should:
- Automatically trigger builds and tests when code is committed to version control.
- Validate Apex tests and metadata changes before deploying to production.
- Deploy only reviewed and approved changes to prevent conflicts and inconsistencies.
Tools like Copado, Gearset, GitHub Actions, Bitbucket Pipelines, and Jenkins help automate Salesforce deployments while ensuring code quality and compliance.
7. Maintain a Well-Defined Release Management Process
A structured release management process ensures that changes are deployed in a controlled and predictable manner. Follow these steps for a smooth release cycle:
- Plan releases in sprints or cycles, grouping related features and bug fixes.
- Tag releases in Git to track deployed versions and rollback points.
- Use sandboxes and staging environments for pre-production testing.
- Communicate release notes and changes with stakeholders to avoid surprises.
By maintaining a clear release cadence, teams can ensure that Salesforce updates are deployed with minimal disruptions.
8. Enforce Security and Access Controls in Version Control
Security should be a top priority when managing Salesforce metadata and code in a version control system. Follow these best practices:
- Restrict direct commits to the main branch – Only allow merges through approved pull requests.
- Use branch protection rules – Prevent force-push and unauthorized changes to production code.
- Encrypt and store sensitive data securely – Avoid committing credentials, API keys, or environment-specific configurations. Use Salesforce Named Credentials or secret management tools to store sensitive data securely.
By enforcing strict access controls, teams can prevent accidental changes and unauthorized access to critical Salesforce code.
Conclusion
Implementing version control best practices in Salesforce is essential for maintaining a structured, secure, and efficient development workflow. By adopting source-driven development, using Git branching strategies, committing atomic changes, and integrating CI/CD, teams can improve collaboration, reduce deployment risks, and ensure faster, more reliable releases.
As Salesforce continues to evolve, leveraging modern DevOps practices and version control strategies will enable organizations to scale development, enhance code quality, and maintain a high level of agility in their Salesforce projects. By following these best practices, teams can ensure that their Salesforce codebase remains well-managed, traceable, and optimized for long-term success.
-Jeet Singh