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Details for the much anticipated Salesforce API 2.0 have been released and I will have to say that my first impression is that there is a whole lot of marketing going into this. As an example they have registered a new 1-800 number (didn’t all 1800 numbers become extinct at one point) - 1-800-NO-SOFTWARE.

The number gives away the whole idea behind Apex (afore mentioned API upgrade). General idea is that a subscription to Salesforce allows all out of the box capabilities (Account, Contact, Lead’s etc. management) of the standard CMS, with an extremely flexible architecture which allows unique custom application development. The tag line is “Develop. On Demand.” I have some mixed opinions about this but before I weigh in let me talk a bit about some of the features it does have:

Java based development interface
Essentially, what they have done is taken the application tier and opened it up to interact with Server Side applications that you build. If you are familiar with the current Java API, they look very similar. The difference being that you can:

1.) Bind business logic coding to almost any user interaction - buttons, views, forms, reports etc…
2.) Build triggers to update data to enhance the Business Process Flow (something that was very lacking before this).
3.) Expose interaction as Web services
4.) Completely write compile and execute code in a “test” environment without the cost of hardware/software licenses (this is the marketing side)

Some of the extension coding that you can do (outside of the previous SOQL language and Salesforce Object instantiation) now is incredible, especially for this individuals that use or have built custom objects. For instance now you can:

Create a custom object and allow content that is updated in that custom object directly modify content located in standard Salesforce Object. In our case, we have built a custom Statement of Work object that we bound to the Projects custom object. When a Statement of Work is created it would be nice to update the Project’s Statement of Work delivery date. Or, if you have a Time Entry objects against a Statement of Work object, each Time Entry can update the Estimated Statement of Work and Project Tasks Custom Object.

All tasks that you would do in normal application development.

Questions currently unanswered
What about security? Since users will essentially be loading scripts to a server that is technically available to everyone, how do we prevent people from uploading miscellaneous scripts to extract data from other accounts?

What about the interface? It would seem likely that this would fit nicely into the Eclipse platform. A plugin that allows a developer to enter their SForce username and password and develop “locally” with no startup hardware/software costs.

What about .NET developers? Not that I care too much, but the syntax for this API is based on the constructs of Java which means users that have currently built applications that integrate with Salesforce and are written in .NET will be missing out (unless they want to learn another language).

What about access for Professional level accounts? Currently the extensible API calls for Salesforce are only available for Enterprise customers. Salesforce would have a larger audience if they opened this API up to Professional Level subscribers.

In retrospect?
Is this really that new of an idea? What if you compare this to say ColdFusion (or the like). ColdFusion applications can be pre-compiled server side objects that interact with data. What about the Building Blocks API in Blackboard where you have a core set of data objects, interface objects and global methods for data manipulation. Is Salesforce building something revolutionary, or are they putting a lot of marketing behind a few ideas that have been around before but that nobody has positioned correctly for proper public acceptance?

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AppExchange, SalesForce, Service Oriented Architecture, Software Development, Web 2.0

“We will destroy Oracle and SAP because they won’t be able to respond to the innovation we are about to unleash”.
Marc Benioff (CEO-Founder SalesForce.com)

Why is a software company that has only been around since the turn of the century able to make statements like this? Maybe because Marc Benioff is a big mouth and a hell of marketer or maybe because he is correct? Why would AppExchange ever have an opportunity to take Oracle out of the picture?

Innovation is finally leading the way
Back when the Internet boom first occured it was fueled by ideas. Innovation was a leading factor in the success of some of the early Internet companies. Yahoo!, Amazon.com, Dell and many others all had innovative ideas. New ways of doing the same thing. Yahoo! produced easy to use tools and search engine that made finding information easy. Amazon.com made purchasing books easier then ever and Dell revolutionized the way we purchased computers. These companies were all successful (and continue to be successful) because they were innovative.

Somewhere along the way a “shakedown” occurred and all of the companies that were truly not innovative crumbled. Granted some companies crumbled for other reasons but most simply because they did not innovate. Look at some of the popular technologies making waves in the world today during this new technology boom: Google, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, Zillow.com, SalesForce. Why are they successful? Well it’s simple, they are innovative. Google … do I really need to discuss any of these? They are all flipping the online software world upside down with their innovative features.

With all of this complexity wee need simple tools
In all of the companies I mentioned making waves in the world today, they all have one thing in common (save Zillow.com which can be a bit busy) - they all do what they do and do it well. Is there really any simpler search engine then Google? For those users out there who no nothing about HTML is there any easier way to publish your thoughts and connect with your friends then MySpace? And YouTube - c’mon - dosen’t get any easier.

The Interent is expanding and not only in the amount of computers and sites available but also the number of people who are using it. As the number of users grow so does the diversity of that user. In it’s infancy the web was used primarily by those individuals that have grown up on computers. The classification of “Intuitive Interfaces” had to change.

In the words of Marc Benioff:

“The future of technology is all lower cost and easier usage,”

AppExchange 2.0?
In light of all the changes that have occurred in the recent past as it pertains to on-line software what makes Marc so certain that his innovation will change the world of on-line information storage? Right now we can only wait but in a few weeks we will know what Marc and company are thinking

At the heart of ADN at Dreamforce is technology — the features, tools, and APIs that will inspire developers looking for new ways to innovate. At ADN, salesforce.com will preview the biggest update ever to the AppExchange Web services API, one of the industry’s most popular Web services.

Combining concepts from service-oriented architecture (SOA) and Web 2.0 patterns, this new API will open the door to applications that can combine on-demand with traditional software, and Internet services with each other. In addition, a new set of tools for building directly on top of the AppExchange platform will make it possible to create sophisticated, enterprise-class solutions — capable of meeting the most challenging business requirements — on demand, and without software.

From the “DreamForce 06” web site.

I only wish that I could be there for the announcement.

AppExchange, Internet boom 2.0, SalesForce, Service Oriented Architecture, Software Development, Web 2.0

I have been using Salesforce at work for some time now. I will have to say that I have had my issues with Salesforce in general but I have to admit I am pretty impressed with their API's. I got in to the API's when I wanted to expand our use of SalesForce. Since I am not a big fan of the UI and they way information is managed I thought that the Web Service approach would give me access to do what it is I think that they do best "Store Contact Data". Sure there are some great features in Salesforce like reminders and task management and auto email and … all sorts of stuff. But being that I am not a Sales person I don't need all of them. However, since a lot of what I do at work is work with Customers most of the information is invaluable. In general, I feel that their calendar approach is implorable and thier features for auto notification and multi user notification is gross at best.

But, since we own the software and our contact data is so important, I have to play nice. So here is the reason for my post. The App Exchange, is very interesting. I am currently in the process of managing consulting projects that have begun to grow in number. Since I now have to implement a process where each consulting project has stages and phases and resources and contacts and deliverables and on top of that I have to grow the consulting business, I need to start tracking it. I am interested in working with Salesforce data, but not from a sales perspective, but from a project perspective. I will be updating this site with my findings. Hopefully they are good.

Read more if you want … TechCrunch had a great post today.

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AppExchange, SalesForce, project management