Highly efficient Visualforce pages have rock-solid HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They do not support a single pixel-perfect UI across all browsers and instead allow for differences. They are also stateless, do not poll servers excessively, and defer difficult work asynchronously using techniques like the transient keyword, Visualforce remoting, streaming API, and the @future annotation.

1. 7 Habits of Highly Efficient
Visualforce Pages
How to Not Shoot Yourself in the Foot with Visualforce
Eric Wilson, salesforce.com
Director, Product Management - UI Platforms

2. Safe Harbor
Safe harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
This presentation may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. If any such uncertainties
materialize or if any of the assumptions proves incorrect, the results of salesforce.com, inc. could differ materially from the results
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements we make. All statements other than statements of historical fact could be
deemed forward-looking, including any projections of product or service availability, subscriber growth, earnings, revenues, or other
financial items and any statements regarding strategies or plans of management for future operations, statements of belief, any
statements concerning new, planned, or upgraded services or technology developments and customer contracts or use of our services.
The risks and uncertainties referred to above include – but are not limited to – risks associated with developing and delivering new
functionality for our service, new products and services, our new business model, our past operating losses, possible fluctuations in our
operating results and rate of growth, interruptions or delays in our Web hosting, breach of our security measures, the outcome of
intellectual property and other litigation, risks associated with possible mergers and acquisitions, the immature market in which we
operate, our relatively limited operating history, our ability to expand, retain, and motivate our employees and manage our growth, new
releases of our service and successful customer deployment, our limited history reselling non-salesforce.com products, and utilization
and selling to larger enterprise customers. Further information on potential factors that could affect the financial results of salesforce.com,
inc. is included in our annual report on Form 10-Q for the most recent fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2012. This documents and others
containing important disclosures are available on the SEC Filings section of the Investor Information section of our Web site.
Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other presentations, press releases or public statements are not currently
available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase our services should make the purchase decisions based
upon features that are currently available. Salesforce.com, inc. assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-
looking statements.

3. Eric Wilson
Director, Product Management
UI Platforms

4. About Me
Product Manager for All Salesforce UI Development Platforms
10+ Years @ Salesforce
Application Instructor
UI Developer
Interaction Designer
Product Manager

5. Highly Efficient Visualforce Pages...
...Have Rock-Solid
HTML, CSS, &
JavaScript

6. If You Don’t Know Basic Web Technologies...

7. Pop Quiz!

8. What’s Wrong With This HTML?
<table>
<tr>
<td class="header" colspan="2">...</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="sidebar">...</td>
<td class="content">...</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="footer" colspan="2">...</td>
</tr>
</table>

9. What’s Wrong With This CSS?
.button {
background: #F8F8F8;
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -moz-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -o-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -ms-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(...);
}

10. What’s Wrong With This JavaScript?
function getTotalSum(itemArray) {
var sum = 0;
for (var item in itemArray) {
sum += item;
}
return sum;
}

11. Highly Efficient Visualforce Pages...
...Do Not Support a
Single, Pixel-Perfect UI
on Every Browser

12. Theory A: One UI to Rule Them All

13. Theory A: One UI to Rule Them All
.button {
background: #F8F8F8 url("...") left top repeat-x;
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -moz-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -o-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -ms-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(...);
}

14. Theory A: One UI to Rule Them All
Q: Why Is This Bad?
A: Fragmentation (Code Maintenance), Performance
 Browser-specific HTML
 Browser-specific CSS
 Browser-specific JavaScript
 Unnecessary HTTP Requests (Makes Mobile Sad)

15. Theory B: It’s OK To Be Different

16. Theory B: It’s OK To Be Different
.button {
background: #F8F8F8 url("...") left top repeat-x;
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -moz-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -o-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -ms-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(...);
}

17. Theory B: It’s OK To Be Different
.button {
background: #F8F8F8 url("...") left top repeat-x;
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -moz-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -o-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -ms-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
}

18. Theory B: It’s OK To Be Different
.button {
background: #F8F8F8 url("...") left top repeat-x;
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -moz-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -o-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -ms-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
}

19. Theory B: It’s OK To Be Different
.button {
background: ;
#F8F8F8
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -moz-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -o-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: -ms-linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
background: linear-gradient(#F8F8F8, #D4DADC);
}

20. Highly Efficient Visualforce Pages...
...Are Stateless,
Don’t Poll Our Servers,
and Defer Difficult Work

21. Stateless / Non-Polling / Deferring Techniques
Use the transient Keyword (Reduces Viewstate)
Implement Visualforce Remoting (Reduces Viewstate)
Use the Streaming API (Removes Need for Polling)
Use @future Annotation (Executes Apex Asynchronously)

22. transient Keyword: The Example

23. transient Keyword: The Apex Class
BEFORE
public with sharing class EditClientController {
public Contact client { get; set; }
public List<Contact> connections { get; set; }
public List<Account> previousEmployers { get; set; }
public Set<String> hashTags { get; set; }
}

24. transient Keyword: The Viewstate
BEFORE

25. transient Keyword: The Apex Class
AFTER
public with sharing class EditClientController {
public Contact client { get; set; }
transient public List<Contact> connections { get; set; }
transient public List<Account> previousEmployers { get; set; }
transient public Set<String> hashTags { get; set; }
}

26. transient Keyword: The Viewstate
AFTER
<input type="hidden" id="com.salesforce.visualforce.ViewState" name="com.salesforce.visualforce.ViewState"
value="fMiWLUoSiUjWyBHX9fDk1eLUrkW+FrZ1mLRQEcDZv4ocKNGwrFcWs+v0EzuEiisflTMEci830WiYmlUP9LB7VaxOURd20gbjZdaW+rTM9rhSEgwHsAv5csZFYy0ILY9urD0/9ekk26o5GJJ/7mJB8UVmTU4bAPCj27mq+y9WTO
PPeHAF6MXBUt16MTNlzoVlWTUEKuvFwhz/GZoApQoL8KmHqaP9kYWcSbsormJB8hNdWQpLh2ayKNfAcKyNk+xrDQVlQAMcAog12mixM97l2FOfcpKtTQF33zRVloMx2mYKst9tTps4VykwyQK7tXjhT9DKG8RvQ1jLk5vgQRGD/Is9nNw
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RTE+TKstXAPzVCL8egJfBSTLE2IvKHKvFiQoNpNZKPeQchse027RjxzCGVAN8zmrNx2kxdTY6waDStw2Etj0fJsXbE9Us1wnk+YSAQARdQv/5cdZ/TiCX5mZ4lct2sP2B+8KsfpCi7SOYeXMhfZnvNkgT4xrDL/8PCV7FKRa0mR6sYRQt
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/EnhmCep/Gxs+gU1bz9rSjW+mCjMkPzPR11XewCisKewWskx6PzHPHSqM614w9l7O1m901kwG94aQ==">

27. transient Keyword: The Results
BEFORE
AFTER
58%

28. Visualforce Remoting: The Example
Find Customer:
<apex:actionFunction ... />
<apex:actionRegion ... />
Visualforce Remoting
<apex:actionSupport ... />

29. Visualforce Remoting: The Lifecycle
JS Function
Apex Method
Client-side
JS Callback Server-side

30. JS Function
Apex Method
JS Callback

31. Visualforce Remoting: The Page
<apex:page controller="FindCustomerController">
<input id="searchField" type="text" placeholder="Enter Last Name"/>
<button onclick="findMeSomeCustomers();">Search</button>
<table>
<tbody id="results"></tbody>
</table>
</apex:page> JS Function
Apex Method
JS Callback

32. Visualforce Remoting: The Page
<apex:page controller="FindCustomerController">
<input id="searchField" type="text" placeholder="Enter Last Name"/>
<button onclick="findMeSomeCustomers();">Search</button>
<table>
<tbody id="results"></tbody>
</table>
</apex:page> JS Function
Apex Method
JS Callback

33. Visualforce Remoting: The JavaScript Controller
function findMeSomeCustomers() {
var searchTerm = document.getElementById("searchField").value;
FindCustomerController.doSearch(searchTerm, renderResults);
}
JS Function
Apex Method
JS Callback

34. Visualforce Remoting: The JavaScript Controller
function findMeSomeCustomers() {
var searchTerm = document.getElementById("searchField").value;
FindCustomerController.doSearch(searchTerm, renderResults);
}
Apex Class Apex Method Apex Method Parameter JS Callback Function
JS Function
Apex Method
JS Callback

35. Visualforce Remoting: The Apex Class
public with sharing class FindCustomerController {
@RemoteAction
public static List<Contact> doSearch(String customerLastName) {
customerLastName = '%' + customerLastName + '%';
return [
SELECT id, FirstName, LastName
FROM Contact
WHERE LastName LIKE :customerLastName
LIMIT 200
];
} JS Function
Apex Method
}
JS Callback

36. Visualforce Remoting: The Apex Class
public with sharing class FindCustomerController {
@RemoteAction
public static List<Contact> doSearch(String customerLastName) {
customerLastName = '%' + customerLastName + '%';
return [
SELECT id, FirstName, LastName
FROM Contact
WHERE LastName LIKE :customerLastName
LIMIT 200
];
} JS Function
Apex Method
}
JS Callback

37. Visualforce Remoting: The JavaScript Callback
function renderResults(results, event) {
var container = document.getElementById("results"),
html = [];
for (var i=0, j=results.length; i<j; i++) {
html.push("<tr><td>");
html.push(results[i].LastName + ", " + results[i].FirstName);
html.push("</td></tr>");
}
container.innerHTML = html.join("");
} JS Function
Apex Method
JS Callback

38. Visualforce Remoting: The Results
JS Function
Apex Method
JS Callback

39. Visualforce Remoting: The Results
BEFORE AFTER
234ms 152ms
35%

40. Visualforce Remoting: The Difference
<apex:action*/> Visualforce Remoting
Uses Viewstate No Viewstate
Indirect Parameter Passing Direct Parameter Passing
Visualforce Handles Re-rendering You Handle Re-rendering
Less Flexibility More Flexibilty

41. Streaming API: The Example
New Accounts Show Up Here...

42. Streaming API: The Page
BEFORE
<apex:page controller="NewAccountsController">
<apex:form>
<apex:actionPoller action="{!find}" rerender="wrapper" interval="15"/>
<h1>Streaming API Example</h1>
<h2>New Accounts</h2>
<apex:outputPanel id="wrapper"></apex:outputPanel>
</apex:form>
</apex:page>

43. Streaming API: The Page
AFTER
<apex:page controller="NewAccountsController">
<apex:includeScript value="..."/> <!-- 4 js files needed -->
<h1>Streaming API Example</h1>
<h2>New Accounts</h2>
<div id="wrapper"></div>
<script>... $.cometd.init(...) $.cometd.subscribe(...) ...</script>
</apex:page>

44. Streaming API Demo

45. Streaming API: Steps to Use
Define SOQL Query
Create a PushTopic Record
Include Necessary JavaScript Libraries on Visualforce Page
Call cometd’s init(...) and subscribe(...) Functions (Inline JS)
Watch Magic Happen

46. Streaming API: The Difference
<apex:actionPoller/> Streaming API
Uses Viewstate No Viewstate
Uses Polling Method Uses Pub/Sub Method
XHR Happens Always XHR Happens Only When It Has To
All Apex-Exposed SObjects Available Subset of Apex-Exposed SObjects

47. Asynchronous @future: Why Does It Matter?
Perceived performance is more
important than actual performance.

48. Asynchronous @future: The Apex Class
public with sharing class SendInvoiceController{
@RemoteAction
public static String requestAllInvoices(String customerId) {
sendAllInvoices(customerId);
return('All invoices have been requested.');
}
@future
public static void sendAllInvoices(String customerId) {
EmailHelper.emailCustomerInvoices(customerId);
}
}

49. Asynchronous @future: The Difference
Synchronous Asynchronous
User Must Wait for Server Response Returns UI Control Immediately
Slower Perceived Performance Faster Perceived Performance

50. Highly Efficient Visualforce Pages...
...Have Optimized
SOQL

51. Optimized SOQL: The Basics
Place SOQL Queries Outside Loops
Use WHERE Clauses
Use Indexed Fields in WHERE Clauses
Use LIMIT
Use OFFSET
Use COUNT() (...or other aggregation functions, when possible)
NEW!
Use FOR VIEW (...MRU API Pilot - adds items to MRU list)

52. Optimized SOQL: Loops
public List<Invoice__c> getFamilyInvoices() {
List<Invoice__c> invoices = new List<Invoice__c>();
for (Contact c : this.contacts) {
invoices.addAll(
[SELECT id FROM Invoice__c WHERE Client__c = :c.id]
);
}
return invoices;
}

53. Optimized SOQL: Loops
public List<Invoice__c> getFamilyInvoices() {
List<Invoice__c> invoices = new List<Invoice__c>();
List<Id> contactIds = new List<Id>();
for (Contact c : this.contacts) {
contactIds.add(c.id);
}
invoices.addAll(
[SELECT id FROM Invoice__c WHERE Client__c IN :contactIds]
);
return invoices;
}

54. Optimized SOQL: WHERE Clauses
public List<Contact> getContacts() {
return [
SELECT id, lastName
FROM Contact
];
}

55. Optimized SOQL: WHERE Clauses
public List<Contact> getContacts() {
return [
SELECT id, lastName
FROM Contact
WHERE CreatedDate > LAST_N_DAYS:365
];
}

56. Highly Efficient Visualforce Pages...
...Use Standard
Set Controllers

57. Standard Set Controllers
Optimized for Large Data Sets
Play Nicely With Salesforce List Views
Provide Robust Paging Capabilities
Should Be Used Liberally

58. Highly Efficient Visualforce Pages...
...Aren’t Kitchen Sinks

59. Don’t Do This...

60. ...Because Here Are Your Limits...
Viewstate: 135K
Total Page Size: 15MB (!!!)

61. Bottom Line: Less is More

62. Highly Efficient Visualforce Pages...
...Do Not Use
Any Salesforce
Resources

63. Um, OK, But Why?
Sheer Size
No Developer Support

64. Salesforce Resource Size

65. How Do I Not Use Salesforce Resources?
<apex:page showHeader="false" standardStylesheets="false">
...
</apex:page>

66. Developer Support
Salesforce Resources
Are Not Supported APIs

67. Eric Wilson
Director, Product Management
UI Platforms