by Dan | Jan 24, 2017 | Salesforce Development
I am so excited to announce my new Pluralsight course “Getting Started with JavaScript in Salesforce ”
Like many developers, I believe the future of Force.com development is Lightning, with Lightning components giving programmers the ability to create rich user experiences in ways that have not been possible before.
But if you’ve looked at the Lightning training and documentation, it teaches Lightning but either assumes you already know JavaScript, or that you can get away with copying, pasting and minor customization of sample code. But the truth is that if you are serious about understanding and creating Lightning components, you really need to know JavaScript.
So where do you learn JavaScript? Existing courses all show you how to add JavaScript to ordinary web pages, or to use standard frameworks, and they leverage existing knowledge of languages like C# or Java – not Apex.
Salesforce developers need JavaScript training that leverages knowledge of Apex, and focuses on implementation in VisualForce and Lightning.
That’s what this course is about – it’s every Salesforce developer’s introduction to JavaScript. You’ll get a solid foundation of the language from a Salesforce perspective. Next time you look at the Lightning sample code, you won’t be guessing what it’s doing or why commas or curly brackets appear in certain places and not in others. You’ll really understand it, and will have no problem building your own applications and components.
I invite everyone to check it out – you can get a free trial on Pluralsight if you aren’t already a subscriber – you’ll find a growing library of other Salesforce courses there as well.
Watch Getting Started with Javascript in Salesforce
by Dan | Jul 20, 2016 | Salesforce Development
This week at the MVP summit I introduced SearchTheForce.com – a new search engine for all things Salesforce.
Like most developers (and I expect Admins and users), I rely heavily on Google to find answers to questions. And by heavily I mean – heavily. The fact that I can easily search for things means I don’t have to worry about remembering them, and can concentrate instead on the problem at hand. SearchTheForce.com makes my search more efficient, in that I don’t have to be clever with my search terms to try to convince Google that I’m interested in a workflow formula instead of feeding a baby. It is my hope that others find it just as useful.
SearchTheForce.com is still Google – it uses a technology called Google Custom Search. The site also supports a feature called OpenSearch – which means that browsers recognize it as a search engine. On Chrome once you’ve visited the site you can enter a few characters like “sear” then press tab to specify a SearchTheForce.com search, and enter your query directly into the search/URL bar. On Firefox, you can add it as a search engine that is available to the search box. You can even make it your default search engine.
Right now SearchTheForce.com searches all Salesforce domains, popular Salesforce forums such as the StackExchange, and a large number of Salesforce related blogs. If there’s a site that’s missing, there’s a suggestion page where you can send in your site recommendations.
The Back Story
Many years ago, when Google first introduced custom search, I created a search engine for Microsoft .NET technologies called SearchDotNet.com. It was a great learning experience and a useful tool. A couple of months ago I received an Email from someone using that site who had a suggestion. My response was “wait, that site is still up?” I had completely forgotten about it. But it reminded me about this technology and I instantly realized that I desperately needed a custom search for Salesforce. In fact, I rather kicked myself for not having thought of this years ago.
I was also looking for a good excuse to get acquainted and reacquainted with Linux technologies – I hadn’t done any real work in Unix since the 1980’s, and wanted to refresh and update my knowledge of that technology stack. Building out SearchTheForce.com was a great excuse to do that.
The site is built on an Ubuntu server running WordPress on Nginx – based on my research that was the best way to build a high performing WordPress server. It’s running on AWS – another technology stack that I’m familiar with, but by no means an expert. Overall, it was a great learning experience, and it seems to run very efficiently on small EC2 instance.
Integrating Google Custom Search was not difficult – there are several plugins available for this on WordPress, though I confess I ended up heavily modifying the one that I used to migrate it to the current version API and to support OpenSearch. Using WordPress made it easy to implement other features like adaptable layout and the suggestion page, and will make future updates easy if necessary.
Configuring the Google Custom Search itself is easy. In fact, I discovered after the fact that there was another Salesforce custom search out there, but that’s ok – the more the merrier. In fact, if you have a site and you’d like to add SearchTheForce.com’s search to your own blog or site, drop me a line and I’ll be glad to show you how to do it.
Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy it, and next time you have a question and turn to Google for an answer, you’ll search the Force.com instead.
by Dan | Apr 27, 2016 | General
Update – The real TrailheadX agenda is now posted https://developer.salesforce.com/trailheadx/agenda. If you’re attending be sure to stop by the Campfire Tales session being put on by Pluraslight on Wednesday at 12:40!
Like everyone else, I await the official agenda for TrailheadX – the first Salesforce developer conference.
However, being as impatient as I am, I did some digging (through my imagination) and came up with a short list of some of the amazing experiences we can look forward to. Here they are:
- Everyone will get loaded onto RVs for learning on the road with Jeff Douglas @jeffdonthemic – learning coding while driving through California’s beautiful state and national parks.
- You’ll then practice your skills on tablets as naturalists guide you on a nature trail as part of the innovative Trailhead on Trailheads program.
- TrailheadX takes place on the same day as the California primary. Donald Trump will lead a hands on training of implementing wall management on Salesforce platform using advanced currency management (since it’s going to be paid for in pesos) assuming he can get currency management to work (See here ).
- A Benjamin Franklin lookalike will demonstrate building a mobile electrical system management app built on Lightning.
- As part of our commitment to community service we’ll be reaching out to the homeless – the thousands of San Francisco tech workers who struggle to afford a bed in a hacker dorm while only making six figures.
- Featured performance by Adele singing her hit song “Hello World”
by Dan | Dec 1, 2015 | Salesforce Development
I can’t believe I forgot to post a blog entry about my latest Pluralsight course “Career Strategies and Opportunities for Salesforce Platform Developers“.
Ok, it was released right before Dreamforce, and the last two months have been considerably crazier than normal. But still…
Anyway, I encourage you to check it out. Those of you just starting out on the platform will find some great resources and information for helping you move your career forward (and understand better what you’ve gotten yourself into). Those of you who are experienced on the platform will finally have something to point your friends to that explains what’s really going on, and why they should seriously consider working on the platform as well.
Ideal for developers and administrators (and developers who wish to become administrators and vice versa), and all those who are curious about career opportunities on the Salesforce platform.
by Dan | Aug 31, 2015 | General
The third edition of Advanced Apex Programming is now available!
And have I got a deal for you!
I’ve often been asked by people, what’s new in this edition and is there any way to get a discount on upgrading? Now there is a lot new in this edition – with numerous changes throughout the book both in content and in recommended best practices. The chapter on asynchronous programming has been almost completely rewritten to address queueable Apex (yes, all of the previous best practices have been rendered obsolete), and there’s a new chapter on maintaining Apex.
But how do you offer upgrades on a book? It’s not like software, where people can register and updates can detect previous versions. Or SAAS applications where the upgrades come with your annual subscription.
Also, in previous years, Salesforce licensed a special printing for distribution at Dreamforce, which was great for Dreamforce attendees, but not so good for everyone else. This year timing and their budget didn’t allow for that.
Still, it’s the Dreamforce time of year, right? Good time to do something special.
So, I decided to do an experiment – and offer “upgrade” pricing to everyone.
For the next 90 days the eBook version will be available on Amazon Kindle through their Select program – at a price of 9.99 (or whatever the Kindle select pricing is where you are). Prime customers will be able to borrow it. Kindle unlimited customers can just download it. After 90 days, it will revert to the normal $34.99 or equivalent price (unless the experiment is so successful that it makes more sense to extend the deal).
Books are a lot more limiting – I don’t have the same flexibility I have with the EBook. But there is one channel where I do have the ability to offer a great discount. So for those of you who want a new printed copy, I can do this – if you go to the book’s store on createspace, you can get a 50% discount by entering this code on checkout CDUK54Z5 – 50% off the regular price of $39.95. Keep in mind, this code ONLY works on that store, and yes, they can ship internationally. This offer, which is sponsored in part by Full Circle Insights (which you should check out for our great marketing analytic tools), is good for 30 days, after which it too can go away at any time.
So that’s the deal. No free books at Dreamforce, but upgrade pricing for everyone for a limited time. Hopefully this approach will be more fair, and still provide a reasonable return (because I have to tell you – it was a lot of work!)
Purchase the print version with upgrade pricing – Use code CDUK54Z5 on checkout for the discount.
Purchase the Kindle version with upgrade pricing:
Amazon.com (US)
Amazon.com.au (Australia)
Amazon.com.br (Brazil)
Amazon.ca(Canada)
Amazon.fr (France)
Amazon.de (Germany)
Amazon.in (India)
Amazon.it (Italy)
Amazon.jp (Japan)
Amazon.com.mx (Mexico)
Amazon.nl (Netherlands)
Amazon.es (Spain)
Amazon.co.uk (UK)
(note, it may take a few days for the printed edition of the book to appear on some international Amazon sites – I’ll update the home page as I see them become available)
