Home /Blog/ Salesforce CI/CD Tools for Static Code Analysis – How Do They Work?

Salesforce CI/CD Tools for Static Code Analysis – How Do They Work?

Josh Rank
May 25, 2022

DevOps tools are available to assist team members better address the various stages of the development pipeline. Stronger data security, better code, reduced errors—all of it combines to offer stronger applications and updates.

But how does a Salesforce code analysis tool work alongside continuous integration and continuous delivery/deployment?

These tools are essential aspects of a well-rounded approach to Salesforce DevOps. They address similar aspects such as proper coding structures, but their individual roles go much deeper into their own specific focus.

So why use both a Salesforce code analysis tool and CI/CD? What do you stand to gain from combining both of these automated considerations into your dev pipeline?

Here are 7 ways a static code analysis tool works with Salesforce CI/CD:

Stronger Code Expedites CI/CD
More Quality Checks Eliminate Errors
Working Within Plugins Creates a Familiar Environment
Automation Saves Team Member Time
Increase Delivery Velocity
Data Security + Compliance are Strengthened
Static Code Analysis Integrates Within Release Management Tools

1. Stronger Code Expedites CI/CD

CI/CD often involves the verification of thousands of lines of code. The development team is building and testing in their own sandboxes so the main code repository needs to be tested to weed out overwrites, conflicts, and other errors that can negatively impact the update or application.

A Salesforce code analysis tool lightens the load on CI/CD leading to projects moving through this stage and into production at a faster rate.

An increased speed to market is only helpful if we can be sure we aren’t sacrificing quality. Combining the power of static code analysis with CI/CD supports higher speeds while simultaneously catching and flagging bugs and errors.

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2. More Quality Checks Eliminate Errors

Errors are going to occur. Even the best developers are liable to make mistakes. This becomes exacerbated when working on a multiple developer team. Overwrites and conflicts are often seen in these types of situations when everyone’s work is combined into the main repository.

Multiple checks for errors will give your team numerous opportunities to find every bug, even if it slips through the first quality check.

Think of Salesforce DevOps tools like static code analysis and CI/CD as barriers keeping these errors from moving forward through the pipeline along with the product. And the more barriers you have, the more likely you are to catch them all.

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3. Working Within Plugins Creates a Familiar Environment

The environment in which your team is working will have an impact on the eventual product. How comfortable are they? Do they have to learn a new interface? Working within a familiar environment removes the learning stage and allows them to get to work.

Using a Salesforce code scanner that integrates within IDE plugins to fit your environment seamlessly merges benefits with CI/CD.

Finding and fixing errors as they are written not only saves time and money, but it also sets up your CI/CD tool for smooth processing of code.

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4. Automation Saves Team Member Time

An update or application is liable to have thousands of lines of code. Manually sorting through this code to verify proper structures as well as finding bugs and errors is incredibly time consuming. Expecting a team member to check through this code is tedious, which will likely result in errors.

Automating both the code review process as well as the integration of code from multiple sources greatly reduces the burden on team members, allowing them to focus on more pressing issues.

Implementing automated processes allows your developers to focus on what they do best—developing new applications.

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5. Increase Delivery Velocity

The ability to quickly develop and release new updates or applications is a great asset. It allows you to quickly address emerging issues, be the first to introduce new capabilities, and positions your company as a leader in your industry.

Static code analysis and CI/CD enable increased delivery velocity without sacrificing quality.

Speeding code review processes with the help of automation and integrating the work of multiple developers expedites the process of pushing a project through deployment. The benefits of a Salesforce code analysis tool and CI/CD magnify each other.

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6. Data Security + Compliance are Strengthened

There is an almost endless stream of threats to your Salesforce data security. Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated every day. Outages can knock out servers. Natural disasters can eliminate connectivity. And bugs within your updates and applications can create opportunities for these data loss events to occur.

The quality checks of a Salesforce code analysis tool and CI/CD support quality standards that contribute to data security.

Static code analysis can check your system for existing technical debt. These are bugs and errors that made it through production and can create data security vulnerabilities. This is an important function to help secure your Salesforce environment and prevent costly data exposures and loss.

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7. Static Code Analysis Integrates Within Release Management Tools

Salesforce code analysis tool work great alongside CI/CD. However, this isn’t the only way you get can get more from your DevSecOps efforts. There are a series of automated release management tools that support stronger releases, higher release velocity, and heighted data security.

Static code analysis fits perfectly within a full automated release management suite and strengthens other DevOps tools just like it does CI/CD.

A Salesforce code analysis tool works great alongside CI/CD. The benefits seen with just one of these tools will greatly help a DevOps team achieve their goals. However, utilizing both of these tools makes these benefits even more apparent.

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FAQs

What is CI/CD?

Continuous integration (CI) is the development process where cod is automatically integrated from multiple developers into a single software release. Continuous delivery/deployment (CD) is the process to get all types of changes such as features, configurations, and bug fixes into production.

Doesn’t adding new tools reduce ROI?

Reducing errors and bugs reduces the amount of redundant work for your team members. This saves in labor costs while also expediting time to market. These and other benefits end up saving money in the long run.

Why use more than one DevOps tool?

Combining the benefits of multiple tools offers even greater benefits. Code quality and data security are factors that can use all they help they can get. Combining the power of Salesforce static code analysis and CI/CD gives you the best chance at maintaining error-free products.

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Salesforce CI/CD Tools for Static Code Analysis – How Do They Work?

Here are 7 ways a static code analysis tool works with Salesforce CI/CD:

1. Stronger Code Expedites CI/CD

2. More Quality Checks Eliminate Errors

3. Working Within Plugins Creates a Familiar Environment

4. Automation Saves Team Member Time

5. Increase Delivery Velocity

6. Data Security + Compliance are Strengthened

7. Static Code Analysis Integrates Within Release Management Tools

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