AppExchange partners now have an innovative tool to streamline and optimize their Second Generation Managed Packaging (2GP) processes: the Package Visualizer app. Developed by Praveen Haridasan, an expert in the ecosystem, this application has quickly become essential for ISV (Independent Software Vendor) partners worldwide, with over 1,000 partners utilizing its capabilities and more than 600 active users. Through Salesforce Labs, Package Visualizer delivers an intuitive interface that simplifies the typically complex CLI-based package management process, making it accessible even for non-developers, like product managers, by providing a clear, visual overview of package structures and subscriber data.
Package Visualizer’s impact on the partner community is undeniable, as it garnered the “Best Developer Tool” award in the Salesforce Labs Contest 2022. By offering a low-code, visual solution for package management, the app aligns with the platform’s commitment to low-code development, making it easier for partners to oversee and maintain their packages.
Praveen developed Package Visualizer under the Labs branding, an initiative that allows employees to create and share solutions on AppExchange. The goal was to create a versatile and powerful tool that would help ISV partners enhance their 2GP processes. By enabling partners to visualize and analyze package data within their instances, Praveen’s work has filled a critical need for enhanced transparency, making it easier for teams to make informed packaging decisions.
The tool not only supports daily management but also provides ongoing updates and feature enhancements. The next stage in Package Visualizer’s development aims to introduce new capabilities such as scheduled push upgrades and a template-based industry org creation framework, demonstrating Praveen’s commitment to continuous innovation and meeting partner needs.
Addressing Key Challenges in 2GP Package Management
Historically, managing 2GP packages required a Developer Hub and in-depth knowledge of CLI commands, an experience often limited to developers and out of reach for many product managers who lacked CLI expertise. This challenge created a gap, as CLI commands were designed for developers rather than business-oriented users, were non-interactive, and left non-technical users dependent on developer assistance to access and understand package data. Moreover, the License Management Application (LMA), the existing tool for package subscriber data, only provided partial visibility, showing details only for managed packages and retaining inactive organization license records, which could lead to cluttered data.
Package Visualizer addresses these limitations by setting up a comprehensive, user-friendly single-page application with Lightning Web Components (LWC) architecture. The app utilizes external static resources for optimal visualization and an Apex class coupled with Visualforce sessions to invoke the Tooling API directly within the same org, bypassing the need for external session handling and enabling seamless access to relevant data.
Core Features and Architecture of Package Visualizer
The Package Visualizer app is designed with user-friendly features that make it an invaluable tool for ISV partners to efficiently manage packages, package versions, and subscriber information. As a single-page, highly visual application, it offers a straightforward experience for partners who may not be familiar with developer tools like CLI. First, the app allows users to search, filter, and explore packages created within their Developer Hub, providing a comprehensive overview and enabling them to delve into specific packages for in-depth insights.
When navigating package versions, the app supports further drill-down capabilities, showing all associated versions of a selected package. If the package is managed, users can even view the hierarchical ancestry of each package version, giving them valuable insights into the evolution and dependencies of their software over time. Package Visualizer also incorporates a 360° subscriber view, which, through integration with AppAnalytics and the License Management Application (LMA), provides a complete view of subscriber data. This includes both active and deactivated records, making it easy for partners to track package adoption and monitor subscriber engagement comprehensively.
Finally, the app utilizes the robust architecture of Lightning Web Components (LWC) and Visualforce to deliver highly interactive data visualizations. These visual elements empower partners to engage with their package data directly and intuitively, reducing the need for complex CLI commands or extensive technical knowledge, thus making package management accessible to a broader audience.
Building on Success and Looking Ahead
Praveen Haridasan’s vision for Package Visualizer has not only met a pressing need within the ecosystem but has also set a new standard for user-friendly ISV tools. Beyond its current features, the app is continually evolving to support advanced functionalities like scheduled push upgrades and a template-based framework for creating industry-specific org structures.
“The Package Visualizer app has provided a way for ISV partners to access and understand their 2GP data in a way that just wasn’t possible before,” shares Praveen. “Our goal is to keep pushing forward, adding even more tools that will allow partners to effectively manage and enhance their product life cycles.”
With its continued enhancements and growing popularity, Package Visualizer is not only redefining package management for ISV partners but also reinforcing the Labs’ mission to provide innovative, low-code solutions that simplify development and drive success for partners across industries.
