Lightning Flow Scanner: Streamline Your Salesforce Flows with VS Code Extension

Salesforce Flows are powerful tools that enable developers and admins to create custom, automated processes in their Salesforce orgs. However, as flows grow in complexity and scale, it becomes crucial to ensure their efficiency and maintainability. That's where the Lightning Flow Scanner, a remarkable extension available in Visual Studio Code (VS Code), comes to the rescue. This tool provides invaluable assistance in scanning, analyzing, and optimizing flows, making flow development more efficient and error-free.

Scan Flow: Identifying Potential Issues and Optimizations

The Lightning Flow Scanner extension offers a "Scan Flow" command that thoroughly examines all the flows in your Salesforce org. This scan enables the identification of potential issues and optimization opportunities. By analyzing various aspects of your flows, the Lightning Flow Scanner helps streamline your development process and improve overall performance.

Fix Flows: This command helps to apply the available fixes automatically

"Fix Flows" command of the Lightning Flow Scanner extension provides a convenient and automated way to apply the available fixes to your flows. It helps streamline the optimization and refactoring process, ensuring that your flows adhere to best practices and perform at their best.

Flow Rules: Comprehensive Overview and Documentation

In addition to its scanning capabilities, the Lightning Flow Scanner provides a "Flow Rules" command. This command offers an overview of all the available rules, their relevant documentation, and even the source

We can configure this extension to look for these items:

1. DML Statements in a Loop:

The Lightning Flow Scanner scrutinizes your flows to identify any DML (Data Manipulation Language) statements executed within loops. Executing DML statements, such as inserts or updates, inside loops can lead to performance issues, inefficient resource usage, and potential governor limit exceptions. The tool flags such instances, allowing you to refactor your flows for optimal execution.

2. Duplicate DML Operations:

Another important aspect the Lightning Flow Scanner evaluates is the presence of duplicate DML operations within your flows. Duplicate DML operations can lead to unnecessary database calls and result in inefficient data processing. By identifying these duplications, the tool helps you eliminate redundant operations, improving the efficiency and performance of your flows.

3. Hardcoded IDs:

Hardcoding IDs in flows can make them less flexible and harder to maintain. The Lightning Flow Scanner searches for instances where IDs are hardcoded and provides suggestions to replace them with dynamic variables or merge fields. This approach makes your flows more adaptable and future-proof, ensuring that they can be easily deployed across different environments without requiring manual modifications.

4. Missing Flow Description:

Maintaining proper documentation is essential for any development project. The Lightning Flow Scanner examines your flows to identify any missing or incomplete flow descriptions. It reminds you to provide comprehensive descriptions for your flows, improving the overall clarity and maintainability of your Salesforce processes.

5. Missing Error Handlers:

Error handling is crucial in any application, and flows are no exception. The Lightning Flow Scanner scans your flows for missing error handlers. It points out any areas where error handling mechanisms, such as fault connectors or subflows, are absent. By addressing these gaps, you ensure that your flows gracefully handle exceptions and provide a better user experience.

6. Missing Null Handlers:

Null values can cause unexpected behavior and errors within flows. The Lightning Flow Scanner detects instances where null handling mechanisms are missing. It helps you identify areas where null checks or default value assignments should be included, enabling you to handle null values effectively and prevent potential flow failures.

7. Unconnected Elements:

Unused or unconnected elements within flows can clutter your design and make them harder to understand. The Lightning Flow Scanner identifies any unconnected elements, such as screens, decisions, or assignments, that are not part of the flow's execution path. This feature assists in decluttering and simplifying your flows, enhancing their readability and maintainability.

8. Unused Variables:

Over time, flows may accumulate unused variables, impacting their performance and clarity. The Lightning Flow Scanner scans your flows to detect any variables that are declared but remain unused. By highlighting these variables, the tool helps you clean up your flow's workspace, removing unnecessary clutter and ensuring optimal execution.

The developer of this remarkable extension is Ruben Halman.. If you have any suggestions or questions, please feel free to reach out to him.