Build Technical Resources
Let Salesforce users install your app through the Force.com AppExchange!
Partners and Developers of all experience levels can get started and be productive on the Force.com platform quickly, with only a small investment of time. The tools and information you need to get started are all available for free, and the process is straightforward enough that almost anyone can begin building a simple application in about an hour.
Experienced developers will find that they can quickly create sophisticated business applications using familiar technologies like Java, .Net, PHP, AJAX, Ruby, Perl, and many more in combination with the Force.com platform.
Follow the resources below to complete development!
NOTES:
1. VisualForce pages cannot be packaged in the current release
2. Shift-Click or Ctrl-Click on any of the links below to open up in a New Window or Tab respectively</p>
Develop your Idea
Want to know what to build? Visit our Idea Exchange for the latest Force.com AppExchange App Suggestions!
Explore the AppExchange to see what has been built and what category suits you.
Develop your Skills
In order to ensure that our partners are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful, salesforce.com professionals deliver in-person and web-based courses and workshops. These courses are aimed at developers and partners, and provide in-depth training, best practices, and the opportunity for students to apply what they’ve learned in hands-on exercises.
Books and Web Content
- Salesforce.com Online Training Classes - FREE flash-based training
- Force.com Developer Glossary - Learn the Terminology
- Creating On-Demand Applications: An Introduction to the Force.com Platform - Provides practical, step-by-step coverage of the Force.com platform and how you can use it to build your own on-demand solutions quickly and easily
- Force.com Cookbook - Sample Code and Exercises
Live Classes
- Live Webinars - Regularly scheduled classes for ISV's
- Classes for Developers
- Classes for Partners
Develop your App
App Development begins in your FREE Developer Edition. Develop, Test and Package your app in this org. If you do not have a Developer Edition yet, signup for free here.
Multimedia
- Building a Great Partner App! - Design Considerations
- Beyond Custom Links - Extend and Customize
- Zero to Force.com in 60 minutes - Force.com from app to AppExchange
Types of Applications
As is the case with other systems, not every feature of the Force.com platform is required for every application. Discover the numerous ways you can design a killer app with the Force.com platform.
| Application Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Force.com (Native & Mash-ups) | Applications built entirely on the Force.com Platform. This means all of the application data, logic and user interface code is stored on the Force.com Platform with no external data storage. Development can be done using a combination of Force.com Builder and Force.com Eclispe IDE. |
| Composite (Hosted) | Applications that run in a third-party hosted environment and integrate with Salesforce leveraging the Force.com web-services API. Application data, logic and user interface may be stored outside of the Force.com Platform. |
| Client (On-Premise) | Applications that run outside the Salesforce environment, typically running on a desktop or mobile device. These applications treat the Force.com platform as a data source, using the development model of whatever tool and platform they are designed for. Classic examples of this kind of app include apps designed for mobile devices such as the BlackBerry, desktop app integrations such as Microsoft Outlook connectors. |
The following provide links to various pages to help better explain the three different kinds of Force.com applications—native, composite, and client.
- Native Framework - At the center of the Force.com development model is the Native Framework...
- Composite Framework - Typically used in conjunction with the Force.com API, the Composite framework is a set of features and design patterns...
- Apex Code - Apex Code is a new on demand, multi-tenant programming language that extends the capabilities of the Force.com platform...
- Client Apps run on outside the Force.com platform on Mobile or Desktop environments. They leverage the Force.com Web Services API for integration.
Design
Like every great project, you must first focus on your Design. As you begin designing your great Partner app, be sure to review our requirements and how to build a secure app.
- How to Build a Secure App
- Network and Application Penetration Testing FAQ
- Sample Policy Template
- Identity Confirmation - Learn about our latest Winter '08 Security Enhancements and how this will affect your integration
- Force.com AppExchange for Google Apps - Learn about our alliance with Google and how you can publish to our NEW Google category
Development and Integration
- Force.com API and Various Toolkits - Complete list of various methods of integration and respective sample code
- API Performance Tips - Review these tips to leverage the API in more effective ways to optimize performance and reduce unnecessary calls
- Apex and Visualforce - Apex is the world's first on-demand programming language. You can use Apex to extend the functionality of your applications with extensive logic. Visualforce pages deliver the ability to create custom pages for your Force.com applications.
- Single Sign On and the Force.com API - Single Sign On with Force.com API
- Salesforce Style Sheets and Best Practices
- CTI Toolkit - Tools to integrate Force.com with telephony systems
API Documentation Quick Links
- Force.com Web Services API Developer’s Guide
- AJAX Toolkit Developer’s Guide
- Apex Developer's Guide
- Force.com Metadata API Developer's Guide
- Documentation - This page brings together links to the current official Force.com developer documentation
Previous Releases
- Summer '08 Release Site
- Spring '08 Release Site
- Winter '08 First Look
- Summer '07 Release Site
- Spring '07 Release Site
- Winter '07 Release Site
Develop your Test Plan
Test Edition
No application is complete without adequate testing. To help all AppExchange Partners thoroughly test their application before publishing, we offer Test Edition. Test Edition is perfect for testing and demonstrating your application. Test Edition is:
- A 20-user DE org
- Contains 250 MB of Storage
- Allows 10,000 API calls per day
- Perfect for demonstrations and profile-based testing
Learn More about Test Edition here.
Apex Code
All Apex Code apps require certain Test Coverage for packaging and deployment. To facilitate the development of robust, error-free code, Apex supports the creation and execution of unit tests. Unit tests are class methods that verify whether a particular piece of code is working properly.
Learn More about Apex Code Testing here.
ISV Pre-Release
We release new versions of our Force.com platform every season. As a result, we want to ensure all AppExchange Partners with live apps on the AppExchange can run regression testing before our next release goes live. To help faciliate this, we have created ISV Pre-Release. ISV Pre-Release allows ISV Partners a glimpse of what's to come.
Learn More about ISV Pre-Release here.
Support
