Differences Between Developing Apps on Data Cloud and the Salesforce Platform

Check out the tools and APIs that are available for custom app development in Data Cloud, and compare them to those available in the Salesforce Platform.

TaskData CloudSalesforce Platform
Customer developers: Migrate metadata from one org to anotherUse one of these features or APIs.
  • Unmanaged packages
  • Data kits
  • Data Cloud Metadata API
  • Salesforce Metadata API
Use one of these features or APIs.
  • Unlocked packages
  • Unmanaged packages
  • DevOps Center
  • Scratch Orgs
  • Salesforce Metadata API
Salesforce partners: Distribute apps to customers
  • Data kits
  • Managed packages
  • Managed packages
Environments for custom app development and testingSandbox org with Data Cloud (beta). Altenatively, customer developers use a second org for development and testing. Salesforce partners use a Partner Business org.Sandbox org for customer developers. Scratch orgs or sandboxes for Salesforce partners.
Managed Package GenerationFirst-generation and second-generation managed packages with data kits.First-generation managed packages and second-generation managed packages.
API AuthenticationWhen using Data Cloud API, requests are authorized via OAuth with a Salesforce access token, which is exchanged for a Data Cloud access token. The requests reach the Data Cloud tenant-specific endpoint. When using Connect API, the same OAuth authorization path as the Salesforce Platform APIs is used.When using Salesforce Platform APIs, requests are authorized for the org’s MyDomain endpoint via a Salesforce access token.
SOQL QueriesTo query records in Data Cloud, you can use a subset of SOQL. For more information about what’s supported and the limitations, see Data Cloud Query Profile Parameters in the REST API Developer Guide.To query records in Salesforce, you can use SOQL. For more information, see SOQL and SOSL Reference.

See Also