API VERSION SALESFORCE
For enterprise-level companies that rely heavily on Salesforce, managing the API version is a critical and ongoing task. As Salesforce releases new API versions and discontinues support for old versions, enterprise organizations must ensure their processes are up-to-date with the latest versions for effective operational efficiency and security. This task, however, can be time-consuming, complicated, and generally cumbersome. Knowing and understanding the Salesforce API version lifecycle can help organizations get a better handle on managing the versions more effectively and efficiently. The Salesforce API version lifecycle typically falls into four stages – Supported, End-of-Life (EOL), Unsupported, and Obsolete. Salesforce supports multiple API versions simultaneously at any given time, depending on their policy. Supported versions are the versions available for use and are actively supported by Salesforce. When a new version of API is released, the oldest version becomes end-of-life and is no longer supported. As support for a given API version is about to end, Salesforce typically issues a retirement notice, giving admins time to plan an upgrade. Once an API version reaches the “Unsupported” stage, it is no longer supported or maintained by Salesforce. This means that if there is an issue or problem with the API version, Salesforce will not provide any support or assistance. As such, it’s important to upgrade to the currently supported API version as soon as possible. Finally, Salesforce marks an API version as “Obsolete” once it is no longer in use. This means that the version is no longer functional and should no longer be used. At this stage, an API version is removed from the list of supported versions and is potentially removed completely from the Salesforce code. Managing the API version lifecycle can be a complex and timely task. One suggestion is to create a plan to ensure that teams are planning for, and implementing, upgrades in a timely manner. An enterprise-level release management solution can help automate this process, tracking each API version as it goes through the lifecycle from Supported to Unsupported and finally to Obsolete. The solution can also provide proactive notifications to administrators and timely recommendations for upgrade paths. Overall, a solid understanding of the Salesforce API version lifecycle is essential for organizations to ensure that the Salesforce environment works consistently and securely. An enterprise-level release management solution can then provide the necessary visibility and control needed to manage API versions more effectively, ensuring that all users are working with the latest versions of Salesforce.
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