💃 UML Diagramming for Apex 🕺

Good morning, Salesforce Nerds! How many over you have looked at a complex Apex codebase and felt like you were deciphering ancient hieroglyphs? 😵‍💫 

I know I have … no way I’m the only one!

Without a well-laid plan, Apex can quickly become an entangled web of dependencies.

Making it next to impossible to understand the overall design. Especially if there’s no technical documentation … 😭 

So, how do we document our class structure so other developers and architects can minimize the time they need to grasp it?

That’s where UML (Unified Modeling Language) comes to the rescue! 🚑️ 

In this article, we’ll break down how to diagram your Apex class structure using UML, helping you and your team navigate Salesforce development with greater clarity!

Let’s do this …

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UML Diagramming for Apex

• Why UML?

• Core Concepts

• Core Concepts

• How to Create UML Diagrams

• Conclusion

BECAUSE GUESSING CLASS RELATIONSHIPS WON’T WORK

Why UML?

Think of UML as the Google Maps of your code - offering a visual representation of how different classes, interfaces, and relationships fit together. 🗺️ 

Instead of sifting through thousands of lines of code, developers can quickly identify inheritance hierarchies, associations, and interactions.

These things improve maintainability and debugging! 🔥 

UML diagrams are particularly useful for:

👀 Visualizing Class Relationships – See how different classes interact without deep-diving into the code.

➕ Improving Maintainability – Easily onboard new developers by giving them a high-level view of the architecture.

🤝 Enhancing Collaboration – Help business stakeholders, admins, and architects understand how custom code fits into the Salesforce ecosystem.

✨ Better Code Design – Identify problematic dependencies, unnecessary complexity, or opportunities for refactoring.

CRACKING THE CODE

Core Concepts

UML class diagrams help visualize Apex structures by mapping classes, inheritance, interfaces, and dependencies in an easy-to-read format. 📖 

They illustrate relationships like associations, composition, and aggregation, making it simpler to design, debug, and communicate system architecture.

Before we really start diving in, let’s cover some core UML components that map well to Apex:

📦️ Classes and Objects

A Class Diagram represents your Apex classes, properties (variables), and methods.

Example:

• - logger: Logger is a private (denoted by the -) variable named logger of Type Logger

• + getAccounts(): List<Account> is a public (denoted by the +) method returning a list of Account records

⬇️ Inheritance (Generalization)

Apex supports class inheritance via the extends keyword.

In UML, inheritance is represented using a solid line with a hollow arrow pointing to the parent class.

Example:

This means AccountService inherits from BaseService.

📜 Interfaces (Realization)

Apex interfaces define method signatures without implementations.

UML represents this as a dashed arrow with a hallow arrow pointing from the class to the interface.

This means AccountService implements the IAccountService interface.

🔗 Associations and Dependencies

When one class depends on another (e.g., dependency injection or method calls), UML represents this with a simple arrow. Sometimes you’ll see the arrow is dashed. 🤷 

Here, AccountService depends on Logger.

WHEN TO UML AND CHILL

Common Use Cases

UML comes in handy across lots of use cases. 👍️ 

I opt to create them when I’ve got a feature to implement that require implementing a class structure that may not adhere strictly to our development framework.

For example, when a solution uses a design pattern (like Strategy or Command) I like to document it in UML and publish the artifact to the team. 💥 

A few more …

✍️ Documenting Your Codebase

Use UML to document how different classes interact, making it easier for new developers to ramp up.

🛠️ Refactoring Legacy Code

A UML diagram can highlight unnecessary dependencies and help streamline complex code structures.

🧑‍🏫 Explaining Architecture to Non-Developers

A clear diagram helps business stakeholders understand how custom Apex code supports business processes.

🏗️ Planning Future Development

Before writing new classes, mapping out the architecture with UML ensures better scalability and maintainability.

FROM SCRIBBLES TO STRUCTURE

How to Create UML Diagrams

First, you’re going to need a diagramming tool. 🥇 

There are various tools to generate UML diagrams, such as.

• Manual Drawing – Tools like Lucidchart, Draw.io, or Visio.

• Automated UML Generation – Plugins like IntelliJ IDEA’s UML plugin or VS Code extensions.

• Text-Based UML – Use PlantUML for simple, code-driven diagrams.

Then, you’re probably going need to dive more into the “language” a bit more. 🥈 

If you’re like me you can make that a lot more. 😅 

This is probably the resource I use the most. It’s not sexy. But it' gets the job done and gives good, concise info! 💪 

DIAGRAM LIKE A PRO, CODE LIKE A LEGEND

Conclusion

UML is a powerful tool for understanding and documenting your Apex class structures.

Whether you're a solo developer or part of a large Salesforce team, these diagrams help simplify complexity, improve collaboration, and make future development smoother. 🚄 

So next time you're knee-deep in Apex code, take a step back, grab a UML tool, and diagram your way to clarity. Your future self (and teammates) will thank you!

Happy diagramming! 🚀

SOUL FOOD

Today’s Principle

and now....Salesforce Memes