Two Ways to Customize and Create Applications in Salesforce

A.

Salesforce offers two ways to customize and create applications: declaratively and programmatically.

1. Declarative Customization: Declarative customization allows users to create custom applications and processes without writing code. It's a point-and-click approach to application development that requires no coding skills. Salesforce offers a suite of declarative customization tools, such as:

• Process Builder: allows you to create automated processes based on specific criteria and actions.
• Flow Builder: enables users to create custom screens, automate processes, and interact with data in Salesforce.
• App Builder: provides a drag-and-drop interface for building custom applications using pre-built components.

With declarative customization, users can quickly create custom applications, automation, and processes that meet their business needs. It also provides the flexibility to modify and update the applications without writing any code.

2. Programmatic Customization: Programmatic customization involves writing code to build custom applications and processes in Salesforce. It allows developers to build highly customized applications, integrate with external systems, and create complex business processes that can't be achieved with declarative customization.

Salesforce offers various programmatic customization options, including:

• Apex: a proprietary programming language used to build custom business logic, integrations, and database interactions.
• Visualforce: a markup language used to create custom user interfaces and pages within Salesforce.
• Lightning Web Components: a modern framework for building responsive and highly performant web applications using standard web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• APIs: Salesforce offers various APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to integrate with external systems, including REST, SOAP, and Bulk APIs.

In summary, declarative customization is a point-and-click approach to application development, while programmatic customization involves writing code. Both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the right approach depends on the complexity and requirements of the project.