One IDE, two very different users. One onboarding experience to serve them both.
Salesforce Code Builder is a web-based IDE that brings the power of VS Code directly into the Salesforce platform. It needs to work for seasoned pro-code developers who want immediate access to their tools, and for low-code or hybrid users who need more context to get started.
The challenge was building an onboarding experience that could flex its complexity based on who was walking in — without creating friction for either group.
Pro-code developers
Expect to start immediately, relying on familiar IDE patterns with no hand-holding
Low-code users
Need more context and guidance to feel confident in an IDE environment
Shared tension
A single, rigid onboarding flow was slowing down one group without adequately supporting the other
High stakes
First impressions at GA launch would directly shape adoption across 50k+ users
The Solution
An onboarding experience that meets each user where they are.
I redesigned the entry into Code Builder to flex based on user type — giving pro-code developers immediate, frictionless access while surfacing the right level of guidance for low-code users who needed it. No rigid flows, no one-size-fits-all ramp.
50k+
Adoption across users at GA launch
↓40%
Time-to-first-action for new users
200k+
Shown at Dreamforce to attendees worldwide
Key Moments
A first look at the redesigned onboarding experience.
Welcome Screen & Entry PointsImmediate access to the IDE — no blocking setup flow. Side-by-side primary actions replaced hierarchical lists, improving discoverability for all user types.
Resource PanelA familiar sidebar-driven layout aligned with patterns developers already know, with support, guides, and resources available at any point in their journey without interrupting their flow.
Empty StateA critical step users often missed — redesigned to explain why connecting an org is required and what happens next, so users feel guided rather than stuck.
Get Started: Org BrowserThe Org Browser lists all Salesforce object types in the connected org — users select one to retrieve metadata and start coding. A lightweight Get Started guide opens alongside, walking them through that first step without leaving the IDE.
Onboarding GuidesActionable, step-by-step guides designed for low-code users, surfaced contextually within the IDE and entirely optional for those who don't need them.
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The details of this project are confidential.
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