generating-lightning-app

Generating Lightning App

Overview

Build a complete, deployable Salesforce Lightning Experience application from a natural language description by defining a Lightning Custom Application and orchestrating its dependent metadata types in correct dependency order. Invoke specialized metadata skills when available; generate metadata directly when no skill exists.

When to Use This Skill

Use when:

• User requests a "Lightning app", or "end-to-end solution"
• User says "build an app", "create an application", "build a [type] app" (project management, tracking, etc.)
• The work produces a custom app (CustomApplication) plus supporting metadata, not a lone object, page, or tab in isolation

Examples that should trigger this skill:

• "Build a project management lightning app with Tasks, Resources, and Supplies objects"
• "Create a LEX app to track vehicles with Lightning pages and permission sets"
• "I need a Space Station management system with multiple objects and relationships"
• "Build an employee onboarding lightning app with custom Lightning Record Pages"

Do NOT use when:

• Creating a single metadata component (use specific metadata skill instead)
• Troubleshooting or debugging existing metadata
• Building Salesforce Classic apps (not Lightning Experience)
• User asks for just one object, or just one page, or just one permission set (without others)
• User only needs to create or configure an app container (grouping existing tabs) without other metadata; use generating-custom-application instead

Metadata Type Registry

This table shows which metadata types are commonly needed for Lightning Experience apps, their skill availability, and API context requirement.

Usage Rules

SKILL RULE: When a skill exists for a metadata type, you MUST load that skill. Do NOT generate metadata directly without loading the skill first.

API CONTEXT RULE: For every metadata type (except Flow), you MUST call salesforce-api-context tools before generating. Do NOT generate metadata without calling API context first. The skill provides structure and rules; API context confirms what is valid for the current API version. Both are essential.

FALLBACK RULE: When no skill exists for a metadata type you need, generate the metadata directly using your knowledge of Salesforce Metadata API and best practices. API context is still required.

RATIONALE: Skills contain validated patterns and constraints. API context provides version-specific accuracy. Together they prevent deployment failures.

Dependency Graph & Build Order

Phase 1: Data Model (Foundation)

Custom Objects (no dependencies)
    ↓
Custom Fields (depends on: Objects exist)
    ↓
Relationships (depends on: Both parent and child objects + fields exist)

Metadata types in this phase:

1. generating-custom-object - once, with all objects
2. generating-custom-field - once, with all fields (including Master-Detail, Lookup, Roll-up Summary)

Phase 2: Business Logic (Optional - only if requested)

Validation Rules (depends on: Fields exist)
    ↓
Flows (depends on: Objects, Fields exist)

Metadata types in this phase (only if user requested):

1. generating-validation-rule - once, if validation requirements mentioned
2. generating-flow - once, if automation/workflow requirements mentioned

Phase 3: User Interface

List Views (depends on: Objects, Fields exist)
    ↓
Custom Tabs (depends on: Objects exist)
    ↓
FlexiPages (depends on: Objects, Tabs exist)

Metadata types in this phase:

1. generating-list-view - once, for filtered record views (if requested)
2. generating-custom-tab - once, with all object tabs
3. generating-flexipage - once, with all record/home/app pages

Phase 4: Application Assembly

Custom Application (depends on: Tabs exist)

Metadata types in this phase:

1. generating-custom-application - once, to create the Lightning App container

Phase 5: Security & Access

Permission Sets (depends on: Objects, Fields, Tabs, App exist)

Metadata types in this phase:

1. generating-permission-set - once, with all permission sets and access to:
   • Objects (Read, Create, Edit, Delete)
   • Fields (Read, Edit)
   • Tabs (Visible)
   • Custom Application (Visible)

Execution Workflow

STEP 1: Requirements Analysis & Planning

Actions:

1. Parse user's natural language request
2. Extract business entities (become Custom Objects)
3. Extract attributes/properties (become Custom Fields)
4. Identify relationships (Master-Detail, Lookup)
5. Detect validation requirements (become Validation Rules)
6. Detect automation requirements (become Flows)
7. Identify user personas (inform Permission Sets)

Output: Build Plan

Generate a structured plan listing:

Lightning App Build Plan: [App Name]

DATA MODEL:
- Custom Objects: [list with object names]
- Custom Fields: [list grouped by object]
- Relationships: [list M-D and Lookup relationships]

BUSINESS LOGIC (if applicable):
- Validation Rules: [list with object and rule name]
- Flows: [list with flow name and type]

USER INTERFACE:
- List Views (if requested): [list with object and view name]
- Custom Tabs: [list with object]
- FlexiPages: [list with page name and type]
- Custom Application: [app name]

SECURITY:
- Permission Sets: [list with purpose]

PER-TYPE EXECUTION (skill + API context for each):
- CustomObject: load generating-custom-object + call salesforce-api-context
- CustomField: load generating-custom-field + call salesforce-api-context
- ValidationRule: load generating-validation-rule + call salesforce-api-context (if requested)
- Flow: load generating-flow + run metadata-experts pipeline (if requested)
- ListView: load generating-list-view + call salesforce-api-context (if requested)
- CustomTab: load generating-custom-tab + call salesforce-api-context
- FlexiPage: load generating-flexipage + call salesforce-api-context
- CustomApplication: load generating-custom-application + call salesforce-api-context
- PermissionSet: load generating-permission-set + call salesforce-api-context

STATUS LINES TO EMIT BEFORE FILE WRITES:
- `type=<Type> skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>`
- Flow exception: `type=Flow skill=complete pipeline=complete`

DEPENDENCY ORDER:
1. Phase 1: Data Model (Objects -> Fields)
2. Phase 2: Business Logic (Validation Rules -> Flows)
3. Phase 3: User Interface (List Views -> Tabs -> Pages)
4. Phase 4: App Assembly (Application)
5. Phase 5: Security (Permission Sets)

STEP 2: Per-Type Execution

Execute these four steps for each metadata type, one type at a time. Complete all four steps for the current type before moving to the next type. Do NOT skip any step.

Do NOT combine ① and ② into a single action or skip ② after completing ①. They are separate steps that serve different purposes. After loading the skill you may feel ready to generate — stop and do ② first.

If salesforce-api-context is unavailable after a real attempt, record mcp=unavailable and generate using skill knowledge alone. Not attempting ② at all is a bug.

1. Custom Objects

• ① Load skill: Read generating-custom-object SKILL.md
• ② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for CustomObject
• ③ Status: type=CustomObject skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>
• ④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all Custom Object files, then proceed to #2

2. Custom Fields

• ① Load skill: Read generating-custom-field SKILL.md
• ② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for CustomField
• ③ Status: type=CustomField skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>
• ④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all Custom Field files, then proceed to #3

3. Validation Rules (only if requested)

• ① Load skill: Read generating-validation-rule SKILL.md
• ② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for ValidationRule
• ③ Status: type=ValidationRule skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>
• ④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all Validation Rule files, then proceed to #4

4. Flows (only if requested)

• ① Load skill: Read generating-flow SKILL.md
• ② Pipeline: Run metadata-experts/execute_metadata_action 3-step pipeline (exempt from salesforce-api-context)
• ③ Status: type=Flow skill=complete pipeline=complete
• ④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all Flow files via the pipeline, then proceed to #5

5. List Views (only if requested)

• ① Load skill: Read generating-list-view SKILL.md
• ② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for ListView
• ③ Status: type=ListView skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>
• ④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all List View files, then proceed to #6

6. Custom Tabs

• ① Load skill: Read generating-custom-tab SKILL.md
• ② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for CustomTab
• ③ Status: type=CustomTab skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>
• ④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all Custom Tab files, then proceed to #7

7. FlexiPages

• ① Load skill: Read generating-flexipage SKILL.md
• ② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for FlexiPage
• ③ Status: type=FlexiPage skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>
• ④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all FlexiPage files, then proceed to #8

8. Custom Application

• ① Load skill: Read generating-custom-application SKILL.md
• ② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for CustomApplication
• ③ Status: type=CustomApplication skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>
• ④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate the Custom Application file, then proceed to #9

9. Permission Sets

• ① Load skill: Read generating-permission-set SKILL.md
• ② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for PermissionSet
• ③ Status: type=PermissionSet skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>
• ④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all Permission Set files — all types complete

STEP 3: Final Artifact Assembly

After all phases complete, consolidate outputs into deployment-ready structure.

Output

The completed build produces:

1. Salesforce DX Project Directory containing all generated metadata

   • Organized by standard SFDX structure: force-app/main/default/

2. Metadata Files - One file per component, organized by type:

   force-app/main/default/
   ├── objects/              # Custom Objects (.object-meta.xml)
   ├── fields/               # Custom Fields (.field-meta.xml)
   ├── tabs/                 # Custom Tabs (.tab-meta.xml)
   ├── flexipages/           # Lightning Pages (.flexipage-meta.xml)
   ├── applications/         # Custom Applications (.app-meta.xml)
   ├── permissionsets/       # Permission Sets (.permissionset-meta.xml)
   ├── flows/                # Flows (.flow-meta.xml) - if applicable
   └── objects/.../validationRules/  # Validation Rules (.validationRule-meta.xml) - if applicable

3. Deployment Manifest (package.xml)

   • Lists all components with proper API version
   • Organized by metadata type in dependency order
   • Ready for Salesforce CLI deployment or Metadata API deployment

4. Build Summary Report - A markdown file listing:

   • Every component created
   • Component type and API name
   • File path location
   • Dependency relationships
   • Any warnings or recommendations

Example Summary Structure:

Lightning App Build Complete: Project Management App
 
METADATA GENERATED:
1 Custom Objects
   - Project__c -> force-app/main/default/objects/Project__c/Project__c.object-meta.xml
   - Task__c -> force-app/main/default/objects/Task__c/Task__c.object-meta.xml
   - Resource__c -> force-app/main/default/objects/Resource__c/Resource__c.object-meta.xml
 
2 Custom Fields
   - Project__c.Name -> force-app/main/default/objects/Project__c/fields/Name.field-meta.xml
   - Project__c.Status__c -> force-app/main/default/objects/Project__c/fields/Status__c.field-meta.xml
   [... etc ...]
 
3 Custom Tabs
   - Project__c -> force-app/main/default/tabs/Project__c.tab-meta.xml
   [... etc ...]
 
4 Lightning Record Pages
   - Project_Record_Page -> force-app/main/default/flexipages/Project_Record_Page.flexipage-meta.xml
   [... etc ...]
 
5 Custom Application
   - Project_Management -> force-app/main/default/applications/Project_Management.app-meta.xml
 
6 Permission Sets
   - Project_Manager -> force-app/main/default/permissionsets/Project_Manager.permissionset-meta.xml
   - Project_User -> force-app/main/default/permissionsets/Project_User.permissionset-meta.xml
 
WARNINGS: None

Validation

Before presenting the completed build to the user, verify cross-component integrity:

• Object-Tab Coverage: Every Custom Object has at least one Custom Tab
• Relationship Integrity: Every Custom Object referenced in a relationship (parent or child) exists in the build
• Field References in Pages: Every field referenced in a FlexiPage exists on the corresponding object
• Tab References in App: Every tab referenced in the Custom Application was successfully created
• Permission Set Completeness: Permission Sets grant access to all generated objects, fields, tabs, and the application
• No Orphaned Components: No tabs without objects, no pages without corresponding tabs, no app without tabs
• Deployment Manifest Completeness: package.xml includes all generated components in proper dependency order

Validation Failure Handling (Category 2):

• If validation fails, include failed checks in the Build Summary Report under a VALIDATION WARNINGS section
• These are post-generation issues — do NOT block delivery of the build, but clearly communicate what needs manual review or correction
• Provide specific remediation steps for each failed validation check

Note: Individual component validations (reserved words, name lengths, field types, etc.) are handled by specialized metadata skills and do not need to be re-validated here.

Error Handling

Category 1: Stop and Ask User

Stop execution and ask for clarification if:

• User request is too vague to extract any objects or fields
• Conflicting requirements detected (e.g., "make it private" + "everyone should see it")
• Invalid Salesforce naming detected (reserved words like Order, Group)

Category 2: Post-Generation Warnings (Log Warning, Continue)

Log warning and continue if:

• Cross-component validation check fails (e.g., field referenced in FlexiPage doesn't exist on object)
• Optional component generation fails (e.g., List View generation has minor issues)
• Validation Rule or Flow has minor output issues

Warning Pattern:

Warning: [Component Type] generation encountered issue
    Component: [Name]
    Issue: [Description]
    Impact: [What won't work]
    Recommendation: [How to fix manually]
    Continuing with remaining components...

Best Practices

1. Always Follow Dependency Order

Never invoke skills out of sequence. Fields need objects, pages need tabs, apps need tabs.

2. Use Skills When Available

Don't reinvent the wheel. Specialized skills have field-specific validation that prevents deployment errors.

3. Generate Thoughtful Defaults

When user doesn't specify details:

• Use Text name fields for human entities
• Use AutoNumber for transactions
• Enable Search and Reports for user-facing objects
• Set sharingModel based on relationships

4. Validate Before Building

Check for:

• Reserved words in API names
• Relationship limits (max 2 M-D per object)
• Name length limits
• Duplicate names