Salesforce Apex

A Salesforce Apex specialist possesses a unique skill set focused on developing and optimizing solutions within the Salesforce platform using the Apex programming language. Apex is a proprietary programming language used for building custom functionality, triggers, and business logic in Salesforce. Here are the competencies specific to a Salesforce Apex specialist:

1. Apex Syntax and Concepts:

   • Proficiency in Apex syntax, including data types, variables, operators, and control structures.
   • Understanding of Apex classes, objects, and methods, and the ability to define and call them effectively.

2. Trigger Development:

   • Expertise in creating triggers, which are event-driven pieces of code that automate actions when records are inserted, updated, or deleted.
   • Ability to write trigger logic that responds to specific data changes and enforces business rules.

3. Governor Limits Awareness:

   • In-depth understanding of Salesforce's governor limits, which are resource usage limits placed on Apex code execution.
   • Skill in optimizing code to work efficiently within these limits to avoid performance issues and exceptions.

4. Batch and Asynchronous Processing:

   • Proficiency in writing batch Apex classes for processing large sets of records asynchronously.
   • Ability to handle asynchronous processing, such as future methods and queueable Apex, to perform tasks outside the scope of immediate transactions.

5. Integration and Web Services:

   • Experience with integrating external systems using Apex web services and REST APIs.
   • Skill in making HTTP requests, processing responses, and handling authentication within Apex.

6. Apex Testing and Debugging:

   • Expertise in writing unit tests for Apex code to ensure functionality and maintainability.
   • Proficiency in using system assertions and Apex debugging techniques to troubleshoot and identify issues.

7. Security and Sharing:

   • Knowledge of how to implement data security through Apex sharing rules, record-level security, and field-level security.
   • Understanding of best practices to prevent security vulnerabilities in custom Apex code.

8. Customization and Extensions:

   • Ability to create custom objects, fields, and relationships to extend Salesforce's standard functionality.
   • Proficiency in designing and implementing custom UI components using Visualforce, Apex, and Lightning Web Components.

9. Exception Handling and Error Logging:

   • Skill in implementing robust exception handling mechanisms to gracefully manage errors and unexpected scenarios.
   • Knowledge of effective error logging practices to aid in troubleshooting and monitoring.

10. Apex Design Patterns:

    • Familiarity with common Apex design patterns, such as Singleton, Factory, and Trigger Handler patterns, to promote maintainable and scalable code architecture.

11. Performance Optimization:

    • Ability to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks in Apex code, including SOQL and DML operations.
    • Proficiency in using query optimization techniques and bulk processing to enhance performance.

12. Version Control and Deployment:

    • Understanding of version control systems like Git and best practices for versioning Salesforce metadata and Apex code.
    • Skill in deploying code between Salesforce environments using tools like Salesforce DX or change sets.