Continuous integration refers to the flexible and fast release and development of code in any software development process. The term also applies to the metadata migration and involves short term development where product needs under Salesforce can be accommodated and adjusted without the developers starting from scratch.
How does the Process Work?
In this process, developers pull out recent code from a central repository to work on the code’s separate sections together. They commit to build the code simultaneously in a group. Developers resort to the autonomous building of codes based on continuous integration to stop the wrong integration later in the software development cycle between all the developers working on the project.
The above automation helps to make continuous integration faster and simpler than regular development cycles. The testing for the process should be continued to avert inconsistencies in the process. In case they do surface, then developers can be alerted instantly. This helps them make minor adjustments to stop code inconsistencies over the loss of time when reworking on the code later.
What are the primary principles of the continuous integration process under Salesforce?
1. There should be a central repository for codes – The concept revolving around continuous integration is all the codes should work together correctly. The goal here is to keep the branching of this code to its minimum. If there are other branches needed, it must be merged back into the code’s primary baseline instantly.
2. The build must be automated and tested – The code should be automatically created and tested. Under Salesforce, the tools of continuous integration regularly check the central repository for any changes. When there is a change, they carry out a build against the org under the Salesforce platform for where it is tested for any error.
3. Developers need to commit to the repository regularly – The developer should not hold on to the code for a long time. If he does not build or test this code, it will soon be inconsistent with the additional changes that have been made already in the repository. The developer must commit to the central repository regularly for making continuous integration successful.
4. Build faster to detect mistakes early – The process should notify all the developers instantly when there is an error with the integration. To accelerate the build, the business should have a designated particular machine for the task to not impact the pace of development. For instance, in the case of Force.com, most of the compiling tasks happen on the cloud. The machine used for building here does not need to be expensive or sophisticated at all.
5. The testing environment must be good – The sandbox or testing environment must be the same as much as possible to the production.org that will finally be used. It should be a direct copy of the same, and the data used must be complete. This will enhance the functionality of the tests and keep all the expectations consistent via the production stages.
6. The process should permit global access to the builds – The developers should test and have simple access to the build to instantly arrest any failure to sync in with the product’s requirements instantly. Early detection will also reduce the hassles of again reworking on everything at a subsequent stage.
7. Automates deployments to ensure transparency – The deployment in the production org or the Salesforce sandbox must be automated. Everyone must have access or be notified automatically of the recent deployment and build results so that they can view the code that has broken the build and its reasons why. This helps them to rework on the broken code accordingly. The history of these builds must be accessible along with its details.
8. The development should be test-driven in nature – One of the most general coding practices that are fundamental to its flexibility and speed is TDD (Test Driven Development). Similar to continuous integration. TDD focuses on short cycles for coding, and it refers back always to the vital goal. It induces developers to concentrate on the precise needs of the project. The aim here is developers should start by writing automated tests that their code fails initially.
Flosum and Continuous integration under the Salesforce Platform
Flosum is an app that has been created to offer end-to-end solutions for continuous integration and release management exclusively for the Salesforce platform. It helps the developer to
1. Automate the dynamic build of the package.xml during its deployment at its run-time – Here, the developer has to choose the correct metadata parts under Salesforce, and Flosum makes this package.xml to include the right structure of the folder.
2. Automates metadata deployment – If the metadata deployment process succeeds, the developers are instantly notified of these new changes in the file. This helps them to extract the recent source control files.
3. Supervises the status of the deployment – In case the deployment does not succeed, Flosum alerts developers. This helps them to fix codes instantly, ensuring early and quick recovery from any inconsistency.
4. Rollbacks automatically – This unique app helps to roll back the code automatically to its previous state in the event of deployment failures.
5. It helps maintain the code’s repository – Flosum helps keep every code copy that developers wish to commit. The most recent copy is transmitted to the build for continuous integration.
6. Get extensive feedback on why a build did not succeed – It gives you detailed feedback as to why developers on the project received the error message. This makes it simple for them to detect the issue and fix it correctly.
Flosum is an app that has been specially created for Salesforce. It deploys the metadata API of Salesforce and ensures everything is managed with transparency for any type of business and works well. This means you no longer need to worry about adjusting this metadata or be concerned about the API tools.
