A Salesforce Developer Advocate documents their experience rebuilding a React drag-and-drop tier list app using Lightning Web Components (LWC) and Salesforce platform tools. Key findings include: LWC uses native browser drag-and-drop APIs instead of npm packages like dnd-kit; Salesforce Custom Objects replace the need for a separate backend database and API; the platform's server-side compilation model requires deploying Apex classes before LWC components that reference them; and Salesforce Flows can replace webhooks/cron jobs for automation. The post highlights that the platform handles auth, database, hosting, and APIs out of the box, letting developers focus on business logic rather than infrastructure.
Table of contents
Phase 1: The Control Group (React + Vite)Phase 2: The Variable – Salesforce LWCPhase 3: Where React Needs a Backend, Salesforce Is the BackendPhase 4: The “Chicken and Egg” Deployment CheckPhase 5: Low-Code Superpowers (The “Real Dev” Moment)Conclusion: It’s a Platform, Not Just a CRMSort: