Introduction
Imagine you are building a house. Would you wait until the entire structure is built before checking if the rooms are the right size? Of course not! You'd measure and adjust things as you go. The same logic applies to developing applications in Salesforce using Lightning Web Components (LWC). This is where the Lightning Local Development Server comes into play.
What is the Lightning Local Development Server?
The Lightning Local Development Server is a tool that allows developers to build, test, and preview Lightning Web Components (LWC) right on their computer—without needing to deploy them to Salesforce. This speeds up the development process and makes testing much easier.
Why is it Useful?
Before the Local Development Server, developers had to:
Write code.
Deploy it to Salesforce.
Test it on the Salesforce platform.
Make changes and repeat the process.
This cycle was slow and time-consuming. With the Local Development Server, you can see your changes instantly in your browser as you code—just like a regular web developer would when working with HTML and JavaScript.
How to Set It Up
Setting up the Local Development Server is simple. Follow these steps:
1. Install Salesforce CLI
Salesforce CLI is a command-line tool that helps interact with Salesforce from your computer. Install it from Salesforce CLI Download.
2. Enable Local Development in Your Salesforce Org
To turn on this feature for your production or sandbox org, from Setup, in the Quick Find box, enter Local Dev and then select Local Dev. Select Enable Local Dev to turn on the feature for all org users.
3. Enable Local Dev in Your Scratch Org
In your SFDX project, open the file config/project-scratch-def.json.
In the settings section of the file, add the key "enableLightningPreviewPref" and set it to true, like this:
4. Install the Local Development Server Plugin
Install the local dev server using this command "sf plugins install @salesforce/plugin-lightning-dev"
This installs the plugin that allows you to run the Local Development Server.
5. Start the Server
Run this command in terminal and enjoy the show "sf lightning dev app"
As shown in the video it will give you the option to choose the Salesforce Application and the device where you want to use the local dev server.
Using the Local Development Server in Mobile Simulators
You can test your Lightning Web Components on mobile devices using simulators. Follow these steps:
Install a Mobile Simulator: Use Xcode Simulator for iOS or Android Emulator for Android devices. (Mobile and Offline Developer Guide: Set Up Xcode)
Start the Local Development Server: Run the standard command to launch the server.
Select your device os, ios/android : After selecting the OS you will be getting a list of devices that support that OS.
This makes it easier to ensure your apps work seamlessly across all devices before deploying them to Salesforce.
Features of the Local Development Server
Instant Updates: See changes in real-time without waiting for deployment.
Works Offline: No need to be connected to Salesforce.
Mock Salesforce Data: Simulate Salesforce data to test how your component interacts with records.
Debug Easily: Identify and fix errors quickly without switching back and forth to Salesforce.
Mobile Support: Test LWCs in mobile simulators to optimize for mobile experiences.
Limitations
While the Local Development Server is powerful, it has some limitations:
It does not support all Salesforce features, like Apex or certain standard components.
It requires manual deployment to Salesforce when you're ready to go live.
Not every LWC component will behave exactly as it does inside Salesforce.
Conclusion
The Lightning Local Development Server is a game-changer for Salesforce developers. It makes development faster, debugging easier, and allows you to see your work instantly. Whether you're just starting with Lightning Web Components (LWC) or you're an experienced developer, using the Local Development Server will save you time and effort.
So, what are you waiting for? Set it up and start coding! 🚀
Previous Local Dev Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-i-ufr0JyQ
Blog Post : https://www.salesforcebolt.com/2024/10/new-lightning-local-development-server.html
Output
Checkout the Complete Video Tutorial below
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