By a Salesforce Admin Who’s Been in the Trenches

When I first stepped into the Salesforce ecosystem, I was promised a “no-code” platform. And for the most part, that promise held true. Salesforce empowers admins like me to create powerful workflows, dynamic user experiences, and automation—all without writing a single line of code.

But over the years, I’ve seen something troubling happen in many orgs: custom code creeping into places it doesn’t belong. Before long, a platform that was supposed to be agile and admin-friendly turns into a tangled mess only developers can untangle.

So let’s talk about it. Here’s how too much code sabotages the very power of a no-code platform—and what you should be doing instead.

1. Code Creates Dependence, Not Agility

One of the greatest strengths of Salesforce is that an admin can respond to business needs quickly—build a report, adjust a field, tweak a flow. When your org is overly reliant on Apex classes, triggers, and custom components, that agility gets lost. Every change becomes a ticket. Every tweak becomes a sprint.

And when your developer is unavailable? You’re stuck. The business loses momentum, and the admin becomes powerless.

2. Code Ages Poorly. Declarative Tools Evolve

Salesforce is always innovating. Tools like Flow Builder, Dynamic Forms, and Lightning App Builder get smarter and more capable with each release. But your 5-year-old Apex trigger? That thing probably breaks every time a new object is added or a field changes.

Meanwhile, that same process could be rebuilt in Flow with clicks, versioning, and better visibility for admins and stakeholders.

3. Code Obscures. Declarative Tools Clarify

Have you ever opened a Visualforce page or Apex class just to figure out why a field is populating the way it is? It’s like stepping into a dark cave with a candle.

On the other hand, declarative tools are visible. You can open a flow or validation rule and instantly see what’s happening. You can collaborate with your team. You can even bring stakeholders into the discussion without needing to explain what “null pointer exception” means.

Transparency leads to better governance, easier documentation, and faster onboarding.

4. Code Is Not Always Wrong—But It Should Be Last

Don’t get me wrong. Code has its place.

You need Apex when:

• You’re hitting governor limits with declarative tools
  
  

• You need complex logic that flows can’t handle (yet)
  
  

• You’re building deeply custom integrations or components
  
  

But even then, code should be the exception, not the foundation.

Your first instinct should always be:

• Can this be done with Flow?
  
  

• Can this be solved with permissions, record types, or page layouts?
  
  

• Can I use out-of-the-box automation?
  
  

That mindset protects the long-term health of your org.

5. Too Much Code = Technical Debt

Every line of code is a future maintenance ticket. A potential bug. A bottleneck when your developer leaves or a business process changes.

Meanwhile, declarative tools are easier to update, test, and scale.

As admins, our role is to future-proof our orgs—not create brittle systems that only one person can maintain.

Final Thoughts: Build Smart. Build for Admins.

If you’re a Salesforce admin, advocate for declarative solutions. If you’re a developer, work with your admin to find the most maintainable path. And if you’re a business leader—listen to both. The right solution isn’t always the flashiest; it’s the one that your team can own and evolve.

Because at the end of the day, Salesforce isn’t just a platform. It’s a partnership between people and process. And the less code standing in the way, the better we all perform.

Want help untangling your over-coded org?
Visit mercurycrmsolutions.com — We make Salesforce simple. So your team can stay agile, efficient, and empowered.