How To Setup Visual Studio Code For Salesforce Development

In the recent past we have observed that Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is picking up popularity among open source IDEs for code development across multiple programming languages. JavaScript based frameworks, Python based application development, Salesforce Apex Code development, HTML, CSS based Front End development and so on are the most popular choices working with VS Code. This powerful behavior of supporting multiple platforms resides in the ability to adopt Plugins & Extension Packs that supports most popular programming languages & frameworks, and I believe VS Code has does a brilliant job so far.

In this article we will look into detailed steps to setup Visual Studio Code as IDE for Salesforce code development. Here are the quick list of the components that we would working with in the steps below,

Install & Configure Visual Studio Code
Install & Configure Salesforce CLI
Install & Configure Salesforce Extension Pack
Create Test Salesforce Project
Authorize Salesforce Org

We will discuss the individual configuration for each of the moving parts contributing to this setup in the upcoming steps,

Install & Configure Visual Studio Code

We can download the latest VS Code Setup from the following Url: https://code.visualstudio.com
Click on “Download for Windows”
Save the setup file
Open the setup file by right click > Open. Please make sure you don’t use “Run as Administrator” option since VS Code cannot be installed with Admin privileges as suggested by following alert message.
Accept the License Terms and Click Next
Click Next
Click Next
Make sure “Add To Path” is checked and Click Next
Click Install

Wait till the setup completes the installation, which should be really a quick install
Click Finish & Launch VS Code to make sure installation works just fine

Install & Configure Salesforce CLI

You can download the Salesforce CLI from the following Url: https://developer.salesforce.com/tools/sfdxcli
Click “Download for Windows” depending on windows version you are running on
Save the CLI setup file
Open the setup file by right click > Open
Keep the defaults and Click Next
Keep the defaults and Click Install

Wait till setup completes the installation, which should be really a quick install
Click Close to complete the installation

Install & Configure Salesforce Extension Pack

Launch VS Code
On the left most menu panel, Click Extensions Icon of press “Ctrl + Shift + X” & Search for “Salesforce Extension Pack”. Install Salesforce Extension Pack by clicking “Install” and wait till installation completes
Launch a new terminal by going to Terminal Menu > New Terminal or press “Ctrl + Shift + `”, we have to validate the installation of Salesforce CLI by typing “SFDX” in the new terminal. If we get the following similar outcome then we can ensure a successful installation.

Create Test Salesforce Project

Launch VS Code

Press “Ctrl + Shift + P” to see all available commands from all installed plugins & extensions
Search for “SFDX: Create Project with Manifest” and select it
Select project template as “Standard” or whatever suits you the best
Enter the desired name of the Project, whatever suits you
Select the folder location to save this project on the disk

And sure enough we will get our new Salesforce project created with the manifest file

How To Setup Visual Studio Code For Salesforce Development

Authorize Salesforce Org

Launch VS Code

Press “Ctrl + Shift + P” to see all available commands from all installed plugins & extensions

Search for “SFDX: Authorize an Org” and select it
Select for “Org Url” Template, I will go by project default for this demo
Enter the Org Alias to recognize your Org by alias, I have specified “SFOrg” as alias for this demo

This process with direct you to the Salesforce Login Page, where you can specified the login credential for your Org (no matter Prod or Sandbox). Enter your credentials

Once successfully login to the Salesforce Org. visit the VS Code again and sure enough we get the notifications to successfully authorize the Org.

How To Setup Visual Studio Code For Salesforce Development

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