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Vinay Vernekar
Vinay Vernekar

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I Built 6 Free Browser-Based Tools for Salesforce Developers

#salesforce #webdev #tools #opensource

I've been a Salesforce developer for 10+ years, and the tooling has always frustrated me. The Developer Console hasn't changed in a decade. Schema Builder can't export. Debug logs are walls of text. CRON syntax is a guessing game.

So I built the tools I wished existed. They're all free, run 100% in your browser, and never store your data. Here's what's available at sfdcdevelopers.com/tools.

1. SOQL Query Builder

Problem: Writing SOQL by hand in the Developer Console's tiny text box with no autocomplete.

Solution: Connect your org, select objects and fields from a visual picker, build WHERE clauses from dropdowns, and copy the generated query.

  • Relationship queries, aggregate functions, date literals
  • Field type-aware operators (no more guessing if it's a picklist or text)
  • Query history saved in your browser

SOQL Query Builder

👉 Try SOQL Query Builder

2. Apex Debug Log Analyzer

Problem: Scrolling through 10,000+ lines of raw log text trying to find why your trigger is hitting governor limits.

Solution: Paste or upload a log and instantly see:

  • Governor limit gauges with warning (70%) and critical (90%) thresholds
  • Flame graph timeline showing execution flow
  • Method-level call tree with SOQL and DML operations inline
  • SOQL breakdown with row counts and durations

You can also connect your org to fetch logs directly.

Apex Debug Log Analyzer

👉 Try Apex Log Analyzer

3. Schema ERD Viewer

Problem: Salesforce Schema Builder loads every object (slow), can't export diagrams, and can't share them.

Solution: Pick 2-20 objects, get an interactive ERD with Lookup and Master-Detail relationships. Drag to arrange, filter fields, switch between 6 color themes.

  • Export as PNG, SVG, or PDF
  • Share diagrams via URL — recipients can view without org access
  • Auto-layout engine arranges objects hierarchically

Schema ERD Viewer

👉 Try Schema ERD Viewer

4. JSON to Apex Class Generator

Problem: Every REST integration starts with manually writing wrapper classes for JSON payloads.

Solution: Paste any JSON and get Apex wrapper classes with:

  • Smart type detection (Date, Datetime, Integer, Long, Decimal, Boolean)
  • Nested objects → inner classes or separate classes (your choice)
  • Auto-generated parse() method using JSON.deserialize()
  • Matching @IsTest test class with sample data
  • Apex reserved word collision handling

No org connection needed — works entirely offline.

JSON to Apex Class Generator

👉 Try JSON to Apex Generator

5. Permission Comparator

Problem: "Why does this user have access to that object?" — then manually clicking through two profiles comparing checkboxes.

Solution: Connect your org, select any two Profiles or Permission Sets, and get a side-by-side diff:

  • Object CRUD (Create, Read, Edit, Delete, ViewAll, ModifyAll)
  • Field-level security (Read/Edit per field)
  • System permissions (API Enabled, Modify All Data, etc.)
  • Apex Class, Visualforce Page, and Custom Permission access
  • Filter to show differences only
  • Export to CSV for audits

Permission Comparator

👉 Try Permission Comparator

6. CRON Expression Builder

Problem: Salesforce uses a 7-field CRON format that's different from UNIX cron. Every time you need to schedule a job, you're Googling the syntax.

Solution: Visual builder with clickable day/hour/minute selectors:

  • 10 common presets (weekdays at 6 AM, first Monday, quarterly, etc.)
  • Live preview of the next 5 run times
  • Copy-ready System.schedule() Apex snippet
  • Paste an existing expression to decode and validate it
  • Full reference for L, W, # notation

No org connection needed.

CRON Expression Builder

👉 Try CRON Expression Builder

Tech Stack

For those curious about how these are built:

  • Astro 6 with SSR for SEO-friendly pages
  • Preact islands for interactive tool UIs
  • Tailwind CSS 4 for styling
  • Salesforce OAuth 2.0 for org connections (API scope only)
  • Everything runs client-side — your data never touches our servers

What Should I Build Next?

I'm actively adding new tools. Some ideas I'm considering:

  • Salesforce Formula Builder — visual formula field editor with syntax validation
  • Flow Documentation Generator — upload flow metadata, get readable docs
  • Apex Test Class Generator — paste a class, get boilerplate tests
  • Object Field Explorer — browse all fields with full metadata

What Salesforce tooling pain point would you want solved? Drop a comment — the most requested tool gets built next.

All tools are free at sfdcdevelopers.com/tools. If you find them useful, share with your team — that's the best way to support the project.

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