# Salesforce CLI Commands for LWC Development

> Code Analyzer v5 (@salesforce/plugin-code-analyzer) validates LWC files for SLDS 2 compliance, accessibility, and security.

- Skill: `tools-only/salesforce-cli-commands-for-lwc-development` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tools-only/salesforce-cli-commands-for-lwc-development`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tools-only/salesforce-cli-commands-for-lwc-development/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tools-only (https://skillmd.com/u/tools-only)
- Updated: 2026-09-29
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tools-only/salesforce-cli-commands-for-lwc-development

---

# Salesforce CLI Commands for LWC Development

## Quick Reference

| Task | Command |
|------|---------|
| Create component | `sf lightning generate component --name myComp --type lwc` |
| Run all tests | `sf lightning lwc test run` |
| Deploy component | `sf project deploy start --source-dir force-app/.../lwc/myComp` |
| Create message channel | `sf lightning generate messageChannel --name MyChannel` |

---

## Component Generation

### Create New LWC

```bash
# Basic component
sf lightning generate component \
  --name accountList \
  --type lwc \
  --output-dir force-app/main/default/lwc

# Creates:
# force-app/main/default/lwc/accountList/
# ├── accountList.js
# ├── accountList.html
# └── accountList.js-meta.xml
```

### Generate with Jest Test

```bash
# The test file must be created manually in __tests__ folder
mkdir -p force-app/main/default/lwc/accountList/__tests__
touch force-app/main/default/lwc/accountList/__tests__/accountList.test.js
```

---

## Testing

### Run All Jest Tests

```bash
sf lightning lwc test run
```

### Run Specific Test File

```bash
sf lightning lwc test run \
  --spec force-app/main/default/lwc/accountList/__tests__/accountList.test.js
```

### Watch Mode (Development)

```bash
# Re-runs tests when files change
sf lightning lwc test run --watch
```

### Coverage Report

```bash
# Generate HTML coverage report
sf lightning lwc test run --coverage
# Report at: coverage/lcov-report/index.html
```

### Debug Tests

```bash
# Run with Node debugger
sf lightning lwc test run --debug

# Then in Chrome: chrome://inspect
```

### Update Snapshots

```bash
sf lightning lwc test run --update-snapshot
```

---

## Linting

### Run ESLint

```bash
# Lint all LWC files
sf lightning lint ./force-app/main/default/lwc

# Lint specific component
sf lightning lint ./force-app/main/default/lwc/accountList

# Auto-fix issues
sf lightning lint ./force-app/main/default/lwc --fix
```

---

## Deployment

### Deploy Single Component

```bash
sf project deploy start \
  --source-dir force-app/main/default/lwc/accountList \
  --target-org my-sandbox
```

### Deploy Multiple Components

```bash
sf project deploy start \
  --source-dir force-app/main/default/lwc/accountList \
  --source-dir force-app/main/default/lwc/accountForm \
  --target-org my-sandbox
```

### Deploy with Related Apex

```bash
sf project deploy start \
  --source-dir force-app/main/default/lwc/accountList \
  --source-dir force-app/main/default/classes/AccountController.cls \
  --target-org my-sandbox
```

### Validate Without Deploying

```bash
sf project deploy start \
  --source-dir force-app/main/default/lwc \
  --target-org my-sandbox \
  --dry-run
```

---

## Retrieval

### Retrieve Component from Org

```bash
sf project retrieve start \
  --metadata LightningComponentBundle:accountList \
  --target-org my-sandbox \
  --output-dir force-app/main/default
```

### Retrieve All LWC

```bash
sf project retrieve start \
  --metadata LightningComponentBundle \
  --target-org my-sandbox
```

---

## Local Development Server

### Start Local Dev Server

```bash
# Install if not available
sf plugins install @salesforce/lwc-dev-server

# Start server
sf lightning dev-server start

# Server runs at: http://localhost:3333
```

### Start with Specific Port

```bash
sf lightning dev-server start --port 3000
```

---

## Message Channels

### Generate Message Channel

```bash
sf lightning generate messageChannel \
  --name RecordSelected \
  --output-dir force-app/main/default/messageChannels

# Creates: RecordSelected.messageChannel-meta.xml
```

### Deploy Message Channel

```bash
sf project deploy start \
  --metadata LightningMessageChannel:RecordSelected__c \
  --target-org my-sandbox
```

---

## Debugging

### Open Component in Browser

```bash
# Open Lightning App Builder
sf org open --target-org my-sandbox --path /lightning/setup/FlexiPageList/home
```

### View Debug Logs

```bash
# Tail logs while testing
sf apex tail log --target-org my-sandbox --color
```

### Check Deployment Errors

```bash
# If deployment fails, check status
sf project deploy report --job-id <job-id>
```

---

## Package Development

### Create Unlocked Package

```bash
# Create package
sf package create \
  --name "My LWC Package" \
  --package-type Unlocked \
  --path force-app

# Create version
sf package version create \
  --package "My LWC Package" \
  --installation-key test1234 \
  --wait 10
```

---

## Jest Configuration

### Setup Jest (if not already configured)

```bash
# Install Jest dependencies
npm install @salesforce/sfdx-lwc-jest --save-dev

# Add to package.json scripts
{
  "scripts": {
    "test:unit": "sfdx-lwc-jest",
    "test:unit:watch": "sfdx-lwc-jest --watch",
    "test:unit:debug": "sfdx-lwc-jest --debug",
    "test:unit:coverage": "sfdx-lwc-jest --coverage"
  }
}
```

### Jest Config (jest.config.js)

```javascript
const { jestConfig } = require('@salesforce/sfdx-lwc-jest/config');

module.exports = {
    ...jestConfig,
    modulePathIgnorePatterns: ['<rootDir>/.localdevserver'],
    testTimeout: 10000
};
```

---

## Useful Patterns

### Deploy and Test Flow

```bash
# 1. Run local tests
sf lightning lwc test run

# 2. Deploy to sandbox
sf project deploy start \
  --source-dir force-app/main/default/lwc/myComponent \
  --target-org my-sandbox

# 3. Open org to test
sf org open --target-org my-sandbox
```

### CI/CD Pipeline Pattern

```bash
#!/bin/bash

# Lint
sf lightning lint ./force-app/main/default/lwc || exit 1

# Test
sf lightning lwc test run --coverage || exit 1

# Validate deployment
sf project deploy start \
  --source-dir force-app/main/default/lwc \
  --target-org ci-sandbox \
  --dry-run || exit 1

# Deploy if validation passes
sf project deploy start \
  --source-dir force-app/main/default/lwc \
  --target-org ci-sandbox
```

### Watch and Auto-Deploy

```bash
# Using nodemon or similar
npx nodemon \
  --watch "force-app/main/default/lwc/**/*" \
  --exec "sf project deploy start --source-dir force-app/main/default/lwc --target-org my-sandbox"
```

---

## Troubleshooting

### Component Not Visible in App Builder

1. Check `isExposed` is `true` in meta.xml
2. Check `targets` include the desired location
3. Verify deployment was successful

```bash
# Re-deploy with verbose output
sf project deploy start \
  --source-dir force-app/main/default/lwc/myComponent \
  --target-org my-sandbox \
  --verbose
```

### Jest Tests Not Finding Component

```bash
# Clear Jest cache
npx jest --clearCache

# Re-run tests
sf lightning lwc test run
```

### Wire Service Not Working

1. Verify `cacheable=true` on Apex method
2. Check reactive parameter has `$` prefix
3. Verify Apex method is accessible

```bash
# Test Apex method directly
sf apex run --target-org my-sandbox <<< "System.debug(MyController.getRecords());"
```

### Deployment Conflicts

```bash
# Check what's different
sf project retrieve start \
  --metadata LightningComponentBundle:myComponent \
  --target-org my-sandbox \
  --output-dir temp-retrieve

# Compare and resolve
diff -r force-app/main/default/lwc/myComponent temp-retrieve/force-app/.../myComponent
```

---

## Static Analysis (Code Analyzer v5)

### Salesforce Code Analyzer

Code Analyzer v5 (`@salesforce/plugin-code-analyzer`) validates LWC files for SLDS 2 compliance, accessibility, and security.

```bash
# Install Code Analyzer v5 plugin
sf plugins install @salesforce/plugin-code-analyzer

# Run scan on LWC components
sf code-analyzer run \
  --workspace force-app/main/default/lwc \
  --output-format html \
  --output-file lwc-scan-results.html

# Run with specific rules
sf code-analyzer run \
  --workspace force-app/main/default/lwc \
  --rule-selector "Category:Best Practices,Security"
```

> **Migration from sfdx-scanner**: v5 uses `--workspace` instead of `--target`, `--output-format` instead of `--format`, `--output-file` instead of `--outfile`, and `--rule-selector` instead of `--engine`/`--category`.

### SLDS 2 Compliance Checks

```bash
# Check for hardcoded colors (breaks dark mode)
rg -n '#[0-9A-Fa-f]{3,8}' force-app/main/default/lwc/**/*.css

# Find deprecated SLDS 1 tokens
rg -n '\-\-lwc\-' force-app/main/default/lwc/**/*.css

# Find missing alternative-text on icons
rg -n '<lightning-icon' force-app/main/default/lwc/**/*.html | \
  rg -v 'alternative-text'

# Check for !important overrides
rg -n '!important' force-app/main/default/lwc/**/*.css
```

### Dark Mode Validation

```bash
# Find all hardcoded colors that may break dark mode
rg -n 'rgb\(|rgba\(|#[0-9A-Fa-f]{3,8}' \
  force-app/main/default/lwc/**/*.css \
  --glob '!**/node_modules/**'

# Verify CSS variables usage (SLDS 2 global hooks)
rg -n '\-\-slds-g-color' force-app/main/default/lwc/**/*.css
```

---

## GraphQL Debugging

### GraphQL Wire Service

```bash
# View GraphQL queries in debug mode (enable in Setup → Debug Logs)
sf apex tail log --target-org my-sandbox --color \
  --debug-level FINEST

# Test GraphQL query via Anonymous Apex (for syntax validation)
sf apex run --target-org my-sandbox <<'EOF'
// GraphQL syntax can't be tested directly in Apex
// But you can verify field access:
System.debug([SELECT Id, Name FROM Account LIMIT 1]);
EOF
```

### GraphQL Troubleshooting

| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|-------|---------------|----------|
| "Field not found" | FLS restriction | Check user has read access |
| "Object not supported" | GraphQL scope | Not all objects support GraphQL |
| Cursor pagination fails | Invalid cursor | Use exact cursor from `pageInfo.endCursor` |
| Null data | Query error | Check `errors` array in wire result |

### Monitor GraphQL Performance

```bash
# Open Developer Console for network inspection
sf org open --target-org my-sandbox \
  --path /lightning/setup/ApexDebugLogDetail/home

# View Event Monitoring logs (if enabled)
sf data query \
  --query "SELECT EventType, LogDate FROM EventLogFile WHERE EventType='LightningPageView' ORDER BY LogDate DESC LIMIT 5" \
  --target-org my-sandbox
```

---

## Workspace API (Console Apps)

### Console Detection

```bash
# Check if an app is a Console app
sf data query \
  --query "SELECT DeveloperName, NavType FROM AppDefinition WHERE NavType='Console'" \
  --target-org my-sandbox

# List all Lightning Apps
sf data query \
  --query "SELECT DeveloperName, NavType, Label FROM AppDefinition ORDER BY Label" \
  --target-org my-sandbox
```

### Console App Testing

```bash
# Open Service Console
sf org open --target-org my-sandbox \
  --path /lightning/app/standard__ServiceConsole

# Open Sales Console
sf org open --target-org my-sandbox \
  --path /lightning/app/standard__SalesConsole

# Open custom console app
sf org open --target-org my-sandbox \
  --path /lightning/app/c__MyConsoleApp
```