sf-cli-reference

SF CLI Command Reference

Reference: @../_reference/SF_CLI_COMMANDS.md

When to Use

• When you need to find the right sf command for a Salesforce task
• When constructing CLI commands with correct flags and syntax
• When choosing between similar commands (e.g., deploy start vs deploy validate)
• When setting up org authentication (web, jwt, sfdx-url)
• When running Apex tests or querying data from the command line
• When managing scratch orgs, packages, or metadata via CLI

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Command Decision Tree

Authenticate to an Org

Scenario	Command	Key Flags
Interactive browser login	sf org login web	--alias, --set-default
CI/CD non-interactive login	sf org login jwt	--client-id, --jwt-key-file, --username
Auth URL from file	sf org login sfdx-url	--sfdx-url-file
Log out of an org	sf org logout	--target-org, --no-prompt
List all connected orgs	sf org list	--all
Open org in browser	sf org open	--target-org, --path
Display org details	sf org display	--target-org, --verbose

Deploy or Retrieve Source

Scenario	Command	Key Flags
Deploy source directory	sf project deploy start	--source-dir, --target-org
Deploy with manifest	sf project deploy start	--manifest, --target-org
Deploy specific metadata	sf project deploy start	--metadata "ApexClass:MyClass"
Validate without deploying	sf project deploy validate	--test-level, --target-org
Quick deploy after validation	sf project deploy quick	--job-id, --target-org
Check deploy status	sf project deploy report	--job-id
Resume failed deploy	sf project deploy resume	--job-id
Cancel in-progress deploy	sf project deploy cancel	--job-id
Retrieve from org	sf project retrieve start	--source-dir, --target-org
Retrieve by manifest	sf project retrieve start	--manifest
Preview retrieval	sf project retrieve preview	--target-org
Generate manifest	sf project generate manifest	--source-dir, --output-dir
Convert source to mdapi	sf project convert source	--root-dir, --output-dir
Convert mdapi to source	sf project convert mdapi	--root-dir, --output-dir
Create new project	sf project generate	--name, --template

Run Apex Code and Tests

Scenario	Command	Key Flags
Execute anonymous Apex	sf apex run	--file, --target-org
Run all local tests	sf apex run test	--test-level RunLocalTests
Run specific test classes	sf apex run test	--class-names "MyTest,OtherTest"
Run specific test methods	sf apex run test	--tests "MyTest.testMethod"
Run tests with coverage	sf apex run test	--code-coverage, --output-dir
Run test suite	sf apex run test	--suite-names "MySuite"
Stream debug logs live	sf apex tail log	--target-org, --debug-level
Get a specific log	sf apex get log	--log-id
List recent logs	sf apex list log	--target-org

Work with Data

Scenario	Command	Key Flags
Run SOQL query	sf data query	--query, --target-org
Run SOQL from file	sf data query	--file, --result-format
Bulk SOQL query	sf data query	--query, --bulk, --wait
Run SOSL search	sf data search	--query
Create a record	sf data create record	--sobject, --values
Update a record	sf data update record	--sobject, --record-id, --values
Delete a record	sf data delete record	--sobject, --record-id
Bulk upsert from CSV	sf data upsert bulk	--file, --sobject, --external-id
Bulk delete from CSV	sf data delete bulk	--file, --sobject
Export data as tree	sf data export tree	--query, --plan
Import tree data	sf data import tree	--plan, --target-org

Manage Scratch Orgs and Sandboxes

Scenario	Command	Key Flags
Create scratch org	sf org create scratch	--definition-file, --alias, --duration-days
Delete scratch org	sf org delete scratch	--target-org, --no-prompt
Create sandbox	sf org create sandbox	--name, --definition-file, --alias
Clone sandbox	sf org create sandbox	--clone, --name
Delete sandbox	sf org delete sandbox	--target-org, --no-prompt
Resume sandbox creation	sf org resume sandbox	--name, --target-org
Assign permission set	sf org assign permset	--name, --target-org
Create user	sf org create user	--definition-file, --target-org

Manage Packages

Scenario	Command	Key Flags
Create package	sf package create	--name, --package-type, --path
Create version	sf package version create	--package, --installation-key, --code-coverage
Promote version	sf package version promote	--package
Install package	sf package install	--package, --target-org
Uninstall package	sf package uninstall	--package, --target-org
List versions	sf package version list	--packages, --verbose
List installed	sf package installed list	--target-org

Work with Agentforce / AI Agents

Scenario	Command	Key Flags
Create agent	sf agent create	--target-org
Generate agent spec	sf agent generate spec	--output-dir
Generate agent tests	sf agent generate test	--spec-file, --output-dir
Run agent tests	sf agent test run	--name, --target-org
Preview agent	sf agent preview	--name, --target-org
Activate agent	sf agent activate	--target-org
Deactivate agent	sf agent deactivate	--target-org

Note: sf agent commands are actively evolving. Run sf agent <command> --help for the latest flags.

Generate Code from Templates

Scenario	Command	Key Flags
Generate Apex class	sf apex generate class	--name, --output-dir, --template
Generate Apex trigger	sf apex generate trigger	--name, --sobject, --output-dir
Generate LWC	sf lightning generate component	--name, --type lwc
Generate Aura component	sf lightning generate component	--name, --type aura
Generate Lightning event	sf lightning generate event	--name, --output-dir
Generate SObject	sf schema generate sobject	--label, --output-dir
Generate field	sf schema generate field	--label, --object
Generate platform event	sf schema generate platformevent	--label, --output-dir
Generate project	sf project generate	--name, --template

Other Utilities

Scenario	Command	Key Flags
Set default org	sf config set	target-org=myOrg
List config values	sf config list
Set alias	sf alias set	myAlias=user@org.com
Describe SObject	sf sobject describe	--sobject, --target-org
List SObjects	sf sobject list	--sobject-type, --target-org
REST API request	sf api request rest	(URL path), --method, --body
GraphQL request	sf api request graphql	--body
Run Flow tests	sf logic run test	--target-org
Diagnose CLI issues	sf doctor
Install plugin	sf plugins install	(plugin name)
Update CLI	sf update
Show release notes	sf info releasenotes display

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Workflow Patterns

Authentication + Deploy

# Login and deploy source
sf org login web --alias myOrg --set-default
sf project deploy start --source-dir force-app --target-org myOrg --wait 30

CI/CD: Validate Then Quick Deploy

# Authenticate in CI
sf org login jwt \
    --client-id $SF_CLIENT_ID \
    --jwt-key-file server.key \
    --username $SF_USERNAME \
    --alias prod

# Validate (runs tests without committing)
sf project deploy validate \
    --source-dir force-app \
    --test-level RunLocalTests \
    --target-org prod \
    --wait 60

# Quick deploy after successful validation (use job ID from validation output)
sf project deploy quick --job-id $JOB_ID --target-org prod

Scratch Org Development Cycle

# Create scratch org
sf org create scratch \
    --definition-file config/project-scratch-def.json \
    --alias dev \
    --duration-days 7 \
    --set-default

# Push source and assign permissions
sf project deploy start --source-dir force-app --target-org dev
sf org assign permset --name MyPermSet --target-org dev

# Import sample data
sf data import tree --plan data/sample-data-plan.json --target-org dev

# Run tests
sf apex run test --test-level RunLocalTests --target-org dev --code-coverage

# Clean up
sf org delete scratch --target-org dev --no-prompt

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Related

• Skill: sf-deployment -- detailed deployment strategies and error resolution
• Skill: sf-devops-ci-cd -- CI/CD pipeline setup with GitHub Actions
• Skill: sf-debugging -- debug log setup and analysis with CLI commands
• Skill: sf-metadata-management -- metadata types and source tracking
• Skill: sf-docs-lookup -- web search for official Salesforce documentation