generating-lightning-app

SKILL.md

Generating Lightning App

Overview

Build a complete, deployable Salesforce Lightning Experience application from a natural language description by defining a Lightning Custom Application and orchestrating its dependent metadata types in correct dependency order. Invoke specialized metadata skills when available; generate metadata directly when no skill exists.

When to Use This Skill

Use when:

User requests a "Lightning app", or "end-to-end solution"

User says "build an app", "create an application", "build a [type] app" (project management, tracking, etc.)

The work produces a custom app (CustomApplication) plus supporting metadata, not a lone object, page, or tab in isolation

Examples that should trigger this skill:

"Build a project management lightning app with Tasks, Resources, and Supplies objects"

"Create a LEX app to track vehicles with Lightning pages and permission sets"

"I need a Space Station management system with multiple objects and relationships"

"Build an employee onboarding lightning app with custom Lightning Record Pages"

Do NOT use when:

Creating a single metadata component (use specific metadata skill instead)

Troubleshooting or debugging existing metadata

Building Salesforce Classic apps (not Lightning Experience)

User asks for just one object, or just one page, or just one permission set (without others)

User only needs to create or configure an app container (grouping existing tabs) without other metadata; use generating-custom-application instead

Metadata Type Registry

This table shows which metadata types are commonly needed for Lightning Experience apps, their skill availability, and API context requirement.

Metadata Type
Skill Name
API Context
Usage Rule

Custom Object
generating-custom-object
salesforce-api-context
MUST load skill AND call API context

Custom Field
generating-custom-field
salesforce-api-context
MUST load skill AND call API context

Custom Tab
generating-custom-tab
salesforce-api-context
MUST load skill AND call API context

FlexiPage
generating-flexipage
salesforce-api-context
MUST load skill AND call API context

Custom Application
generating-custom-application
salesforce-api-context
MUST load skill AND call API context

List View
generating-list-view
salesforce-api-context
MUST load skill AND call API context (if requested)

Validation Rule
generating-validation-rule
salesforce-api-context
MUST load skill AND call API context (if requested)

Flow
generating-flow
metadata-experts pipeline
MUST load skill AND run pipeline. Exempt from salesforce-api-context.

Permission Set
generating-permission-set
salesforce-api-context
MUST load skill AND call API context

Usage Rules

SKILL RULE: When a skill exists for a metadata type, you MUST load that skill. Do NOT generate metadata directly without loading the skill first.

API CONTEXT RULE: For every metadata type (except Flow), you MUST call salesforce-api-context tools before generating. Do NOT generate metadata without calling API context first. The skill provides structure and rules; API context confirms what is valid for the current API version. Both are essential.

FALLBACK RULE: When no skill exists for a metadata type you need, generate the metadata directly using your knowledge of Salesforce Metadata API and best practices. API context is still required.

RATIONALE: Skills contain validated patterns and constraints. API context provides version-specific accuracy. Together they prevent deployment failures.

Dependency Graph & Build Order

Phase 1: Data Model (Foundation)

Custom Objects (no dependencies)
    ↓
Custom Fields (depends on: Objects exist)
    ↓
Relationships (depends on: Both parent and child objects + fields exist)

Metadata types in this phase:

generating-custom-object - once, with all objects

generating-custom-field - once, with all fields (including Master-Detail, Lookup, Roll-up Summary)

Phase 2: Business Logic (Optional - only if requested)

Validation Rules (depends on: Fields exist)
    ↓
Flows (depends on: Objects, Fields exist)

Metadata types in this phase (only if user requested):

generating-validation-rule - once, if validation requirements mentioned

generating-flow - once, if automation/workflow requirements mentioned

Phase 3: User Interface

List Views (depends on: Objects, Fields exist)
    ↓
Custom Tabs (depends on: Objects exist)
    ↓
FlexiPages (depends on: Objects, Tabs exist)

Metadata types in this phase:

generating-list-view - once, for filtered record views (if requested)

generating-custom-tab - once, with all object tabs

generating-flexipage - once, with all record/home/app pages

Phase 4: Application Assembly

Custom Application (depends on: Tabs exist)

Metadata types in this phase:

generating-custom-application - once, to create the Lightning App container

Phase 5: Security & Access

Permission Sets (depends on: Objects, Fields, Tabs, App exist)

Metadata types in this phase:

generating-permission-set - once, with all permission sets and access to:

Objects (Read, Create, Edit, Delete)

Fields (Read, Edit)

Tabs (Visible)

Custom Application (Visible)

Execution Workflow

STEP 1: Requirements Analysis & Planning

Actions:

Parse user's natural language request

Extract business entities (become Custom Objects)

Extract attributes/properties (become Custom Fields)

Identify relationships (Master-Detail, Lookup)

Detect validation requirements (become Validation Rules)

Detect automation requirements (become Flows)

Identify user personas (inform Permission Sets)

Output: Build Plan

Generate a structured plan listing:

Lightning App Build Plan: [App Name]

DATA MODEL:
- Custom Objects: [list with object names]
- Custom Fields: [list grouped by object]
- Relationships: [list M-D and Lookup relationships]

BUSINESS LOGIC (if applicable):
- Validation Rules: [list with object and rule name]
- Flows: [list with flow name and type]

USER INTERFACE:
- List Views (if requested): [list with object and view name]
- Custom Tabs: [list with object]
- FlexiPages: [list with page name and type]
- Custom Application: [app name]

SECURITY:
- Permission Sets: [list with purpose]

PER-TYPE EXECUTION (skill + API context for each):
- CustomObject: load generating-custom-object + call salesforce-api-context
- CustomField: load generating-custom-field + call salesforce-api-context
- ValidationRule: load generating-validation-rule + call salesforce-api-context (if requested)
- Flow: load generating-flow + run metadata-experts pipeline (if requested)
- ListView: load generating-list-view + call salesforce-api-context (if requested)
- CustomTab: load generating-custom-tab + call salesforce-api-context
- FlexiPage: load generating-flexipage + call salesforce-api-context
- CustomApplication: load generating-custom-application + call salesforce-api-context
- PermissionSet: load generating-permission-set + call salesforce-api-context

STATUS LINES TO EMIT BEFORE FILE WRITES:
- `type=<Type> skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>`
- Flow exception: `type=Flow skill=complete pipeline=complete`

DEPENDENCY ORDER:
1. Phase 1: Data Model (Objects -> Fields)
2. Phase 2: Business Logic (Validation Rules -> Flows)
3. Phase 3: User Interface (List Views -> Tabs -> Pages)
4. Phase 4: App Assembly (Application)
5. Phase 5: Security (Permission Sets)

STEP 2: Per-Type Execution

Execute these four steps for each metadata type, one type at a time. Complete all four steps for the current type before moving to the next type. Do NOT skip any step.

Step
What to do
Why

① Load skill
Search for and read the per-type SKILL.md
Gives you the XML structure, required elements, naming rules, and validation constraints

② Call API context
Call salesforce-api-context tools for this metadata type using one or more of: get_metadata_type_sections, get_metadata_type_context, get_metadata_type_fields, get_metadata_type_fields_properties, search_metadata_types
Gives you the current valid values — allowed enum values, required vs. optional fields, child types for this API version. The skill provides structure; API context provides version-specific accuracy.

③ Record status
Emit: type=<Type> skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>
Confirms both steps were attempted before any files are written and records which API context tools were used

④ Generate files
Generate all files for this type, then checkpoint
Only after ①②③ are done. Verify, then move to the next type.

Do NOT combine ① and ② into a single action or skip ② after completing ①. They are separate steps that serve different purposes. After loading the skill you may feel ready to generate — stop and do ② first.

If salesforce-api-context is unavailable after a real attempt, record mcp=unavailable and generate using skill knowledge alone. Not attempting ② at all is a bug.

1. Custom Objects

① Load skill: Read generating-custom-object SKILL.md

② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for CustomObject

③ Status: type=CustomObject skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>

④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all Custom Object files, then proceed to #2

2. Custom Fields

① Load skill: Read generating-custom-field SKILL.md

② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for CustomField

③ Status: type=CustomField skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>

④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all Custom Field files, then proceed to #3

3. Validation Rules (only if requested)

① Load skill: Read generating-validation-rule SKILL.md

② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for ValidationRule

③ Status: type=ValidationRule skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>

④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all Validation Rule files, then proceed to #4

4. Flows (only if requested)

① Load skill: Read generating-flow SKILL.md

② Pipeline: Run metadata-experts/execute_metadata_action 3-step pipeline (exempt from salesforce-api-context)

③ Status: type=Flow skill=complete pipeline=complete

④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all Flow files via the pipeline, then proceed to #5

5. List Views (only if requested)

① Load skill: Read generating-list-view SKILL.md

② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for ListView

③ Status: type=ListView skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>

④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all List View files, then proceed to #6

6. Custom Tabs

① Load skill: Read generating-custom-tab SKILL.md

② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for CustomTab

③ Status: type=CustomTab skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>

④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all Custom Tab files, then proceed to #7

7. FlexiPages

① Load skill: Read generating-flexipage SKILL.md

② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for FlexiPage

③ Status: type=FlexiPage skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>

④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all FlexiPage files, then proceed to #8

8. Custom Application

① Load skill: Read generating-custom-application SKILL.md

② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for CustomApplication

③ Status: type=CustomApplication skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>

④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate the Custom Application file, then proceed to #9

9. Permission Sets

① Load skill: Read generating-permission-set SKILL.md

② API context: Call salesforce-api-context for PermissionSet

③ Status: type=PermissionSet skill=complete mcp=complete|unavailable mcp_tools=<tool-list|none>

④ Generate + Checkpoint: Generate all Permission Set files — all types complete

STEP 3: Final Artifact Assembly

After all phases complete, consolidate outputs into deployment-ready structure.

Output

The completed build produces:

Salesforce DX Project Directory containing all generated metadata

Organized by standard SFDX structure: force-app/main/default/

Metadata Files - One file per component, organized by type:

force-app/main/default/
├── objects/              # Custom Objects (.object-meta.xml)
├── fields/               # Custom Fields (.field-meta.xml)
├── tabs/                 # Custom Tabs (.tab-meta.xml)
├── flexipages/           # Lightning Pages (.flexipage-meta.xml)
├── applications/         # Custom Applications (.app-meta.xml)
├── permissionsets/       # Permission Sets (.permissionset-meta.xml)
├── flows/                # Flows (.flow-meta.xml) - if applicable
└── objects/.../validationRules/  # Validation Rules (.validationRule-meta.xml) - if applicable

Deployment Manifest (package.xml)

Lists all components with proper API version

Organized by metadata type in dependency order

Ready for Salesforce CLI deployment or Metadata API deployment

Build Summary Report - A markdown file listing:

Every component created

Component type and API name

File path location

Dependency relationships

Any warnings or recommendations

Example Summary Structure:

Lightning App Build Complete: Project Management App

METADATA GENERATED:
1 Custom Objects
   - Project__c -> force-app/main/default/objects/Project__c/Project__c.object-meta.xml
   - Task__c -> force-app/main/default/objects/Task__c/Task__c.object-meta.xml
   - Resource__c -> force-app/main/default/objects/Resource__c/Resource__c.object-meta.xml

2 Custom Fields
   - Project__c.Name -> force-app/main/default/objects/Project__c/fields/Name.field-meta.xml
   - Project__c.Status__c -> force-app/main/default/objects/Project__c/fields/Status__c.field-meta.xml
   [... etc ...]

3 Custom Tabs
   - Project__c -> force-app/main/default/tabs/Project__c.tab-meta.xml
   [... etc ...]

4 Lightning Record Pages
   - Project_Record_Page -> force-app/main/default/flexipages/Project_Record_Page.flexipage-meta.xml
   [... etc ...]

5 Custom Application
   - Project_Management -> force-app/main/default/applications/Project_Management.app-meta.xml

6 Permission Sets
   - Project_Manager -> force-app/main/default/permissionsets/Project_Manager.permissionset-meta.xml
   - Project_User -> force-app/main/default/permissionsets/Project_User.permissionset-meta.xml

WARNINGS: None

Validation

Before presenting the completed build to the user, verify cross-component integrity:

 Object-Tab Coverage: Every Custom Object has at least one Custom Tab

 Relationship Integrity: Every Custom Object referenced in a relationship (parent or child) exists in the build

 Field References in Pages: Every field referenced in a FlexiPage exists on the corresponding object

 Tab References in App: Every tab referenced in the Custom Application was successfully created

 Permission Set Completeness: Permission Sets grant access to all generated objects, fields, tabs, and the application

 No Orphaned Components: No tabs without objects, no pages without corresponding tabs, no app without tabs

 Deployment Manifest Completeness: package.xml includes all generated components in proper dependency order

Validation Failure Handling (Category 2):

If validation fails, include failed checks in the Build Summary Report under a VALIDATION WARNINGS section

These are post-generation issues — do NOT block delivery of the build, but clearly communicate what needs manual review or correction

Provide specific remediation steps for each failed validation check

Note: Individual component validations (reserved words, name lengths, field types, etc.) are handled by specialized metadata skills and do not need to be re-validated here.

Error Handling

Category 1: Stop and Ask User

Stop execution and ask for clarification if:

User request is too vague to extract any objects or fields

Conflicting requirements detected (e.g., "make it private" + "everyone should see it")

Invalid Salesforce naming detected (reserved words like Order, Group)

Category 2: Post-Generation Warnings (Log Warning, Continue)

Log warning and continue if:

Cross-component validation check fails (e.g., field referenced in FlexiPage doesn't exist on object)

Optional component generation fails (e.g., List View generation has minor issues)

Validation Rule or Flow has minor output issues

Warning Pattern:

Warning: [Component Type] generation encountered issue
    Component: [Name]
    Issue: [Description]
    Impact: [What won't work]
    Recommendation: [How to fix manually]
    Continuing with remaining components...

Best Practices

1. Always Follow Dependency Order

Never invoke skills out of sequence. Fields need objects, pages need tabs, apps need tabs.

2. Use Skills When Available

Don't reinvent the wheel. Specialized skills have field-specific validation that prevents deployment errors.

3. Generate Thoughtful Defaults

When user doesn't specify details:

Use Text name fields for human entities

Use AutoNumber for transactions

Enable Search and Reports for user-facing objects

Set sharingModel based on relationships

4. Validate Before Building

Check for:

Reserved words in API names

Relationship limits (max 2 M-D per object)

Name length limits

Duplicate names