Why can’t I make packaged code namespace-agnostic in Salesforce?
Question
How can I avoid hardcoding the namespace in my Salesforce app?
I created an open-source app for my company to showcase Agentic AI in Salesforce, before Copilots and Agentforce were introduced. To make it easily installable as an unlocked package in several orgs, we decided to assign it the namespace aquiva_os.
My initial understanding was that the namespace would only be necessary when creating packages and versions, and wouldn’t need to be hardcoded in any code or low-code files. However, when attempting to push the code (instead of installing a version) to an org, I realized that the namespace had been included in several files.
Is there a way to remove the hardcoded namespace, or do some files in Salesforce still require it? I recall that the plan was to keep the package metadata namespace-agnostic.
The files where the namespace appears are:
- Named Credential calls
- EmpApi channels in LWC
- External CredentialPrincipal XML
Answer
When building an Open-Source app in Salesforce, especially for showcasing features like Agentic AI, you may face the challenge of wanting to make your app installable as an unlocked package in multiple orgs. Ideally, you would expect the namespace to only be relevant when creating packages or package versions and not require hardcoding within the code or low-code files. However, when attempting to push the code to an org rather than installing a version, you may notice that the namespace has unexpectedly crept into several files.
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Namespace in Salesforce: Where is it Required?
Certain files in Salesforce, such as Named Credential calls, EmpApi channels in Lightning Web Components (LWC), and External CredentialPrincipal XML files, require the namespace prefix to be hardcoded. These files are some common examples where Salesforce forces the inclusion of a namespace, even if you intended to keep the package metadata namespace-agnostic.
Solutions to Handle Namespace Issues
1. String Replacement Before Deployment
One solution is to perform a string replacement in the code before deploying it. This involves replacing the namespace with the appropriate one in the source code. While this method allows you to deploy the code without packaging it, it can create challenges in maintaining the code and ensuring consistency across environments.
2. Creating an Unlocked Package Without a Namespace
Another, often more efficient solution, is to create an unlocked package without a namespace. By doing this, the code remains namespace-agnostic, and tests run in a clean packaging org. This prevents interference from customizations like validation rules, which can break test data factories in the subscriber/production environment. Additionally, the package’s tests are not affected by the subscriber environment.
Benefits of the No-Namespace Approach
When opting for a no-namespace approach, you can prefix all metadata API names to prevent potential name clashes, ensuring the app functions correctly across different orgs. This is an effective method to maintain flexibility and ensure the package works across various Salesforce environments without the complications of managing namespaces.
Conclusion
While Salesforce does require the namespace to be hardcoded in certain metadata types like Aura components and Flows, you can manage this challenge by either replacing the namespace in the code before deployment or creating an unlocked package without a namespace. The latter approach is generally preferred as it offers a cleaner, more flexible solution, while ensuring the integrity of your tests and metadata names across different environments.
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