sf-ai-agentforce: Standard Agentforce Platform Development
Use this skill for the Setup UI / Agent Builder path: declarative topics, Builder-managed actions, GenAiFunction / GenAiPlugin metadata, Prompt Builder templates stored as GenAiPromptTemplate metadata, Models API usage from Apex, and custom Lightning types.
For new code-first agent development, prefer sf-ai-agentscript.
If the work produces or edits a .agent file — including Builder Script / Canvas work that results in an authoring bundle — use sf-ai-agentscript.
When This Skill Owns the Task
Use sf-ai-agentforce when the user is:
- maintaining existing Builder-based agents
- working in Setup → Agentforce → Agents
- creating or fixing
GenAiFunction, GenAiPlugin, or GenAiPromptTemplate metadata
- wiring Builder topics to Flow / Apex / Prompt Builder actions
- using Models API or LightningTypeBundle in the context of Builder-based agents
Do not use it for:
Required Context to Gather First
Ask for or infer:
- whether this is a Builder / Setup UI project or a code-first Agent Script project
- whether the user is editing Builder metadata or a
.agent authoring bundle
- agent type: Service Agent or Employee Agent
- whether the work targets topics, actions, Prompt Builder templates, Models API, or custom Lightning types
- what supporting Flow / Apex / metadata dependencies already exist
- whether the user needs authoring help, publish help, or troubleshooting
Two Agentforce Paths
| Path |
Skill |
Best fit |
| Builder metadata path |
sf-ai-agentforce |
Declarative maintenance, existing Builder agents, metadata-driven action registration |
| Agent Script authoring bundle path |
sf-ai-agentscript |
Code-first .agent authoring, deterministic routing, version-controlled agent logic |
If the user is starting from scratch and wants strong control over flow/state, route to Agent Script.
Builder Workflow Summary
- Confirm this is a Builder / Setup UI project
- Pick Service Agent vs Employee Agent
- For Service Agents, provision the running user (prefer
sf org create agent-user)
- For Employee Agents, plan visibility with a Permission Set containing
<agentAccesses>
- Define topics with strong descriptions, scope, and instructions
- Prepare supporting actions (Flow, Apex, Prompt Builder template)
- Configure inputs / outputs carefully
- Validate dependencies and template status
- Publish, then activate
Expanded workflow: references/builder-workflow.md
Key Platform Rules
Topic quality matters
Topic descriptions are routing instructions for the planner. They must be:
- specific
- scenario-based
- non-overlapping with sibling topics
Actions are wrappers around real targets
| Target type |
Typical use |
Registered via |
| Flow |
safest default for Builder actions |
GenAiFunction |
| Apex |
complex business logic via @InvocableMethod |
GenAiFunction |
| Prompt Builder template |
generated summaries / drafts / recommendations |
GenAiFunction |
Prompt Template vs GenAiPromptTemplate
- Prompt Template is the plain-English / UI term used in Prompt Builder.
GenAiPromptTemplate is the current Metadata API type for source-driven template work.- Prefer current source format:
genAiPromptTemplates/*.genAiPromptTemplate-meta.xml.
- For flexible Prompt Builder templates, plan around the 5-input maximum and consolidate inputs when needed.
- Prompt content should reference inputs with the current merge-field shape, e.g.
{!$Input:TargetRecord} or {!$Input:AdditionalContext}.
Supporting metadata deploys first
Before publishing the agent itself, deploy the supporting stack:
- metadata / fields if needed
- Apex if needed
- Flows if needed
GenAiPromptTemplate / GenAiFunction / GenAiPlugin- then publish the agent
Service Agent running user
For Service Agents, prefer the native GA command:
sf org create agent-user --target-org <alias> --json
Use the returned username in the running-user configuration.
Employee Agent visibility
For Employee Agents, ensure end users receive a Permission Set containing <agentAccesses>. Without this, the agent can be active but still invisible in Lightning Experience.
See ../sf-permissions/references/agent-access-guide.md.
Publish does not activate
After publish, run sf agent activate separately.
For automation, prefer sf agent activate --api-name <AgentName> --version <n> --target-org <alias> --json so the rollout is deterministic and machine-readable.
Metadata Guidance
GenAiFunction
Use when registering a single callable action. Validate:
- target exists
- target is active / deployable
- input names match the target contract
- output names match the target contract
- capability text clearly says when the action should be used
GenAiPlugin
Use when grouping related functions into one logical package.
GenAiPromptTemplate
Use for generated content, not deterministic business rules.
Prefer the current metadata shape:
- metadata type:
GenAiPromptTemplate
- folder:
genAiPromptTemplates/
- file suffix:
.genAiPromptTemplate-meta.xml
- content lives under
templateVersions
- use published template versions before wiring actions that depend on them
Models API
Use when the solution belongs in Apex-driven AI orchestration rather than Builder-only actions.
Custom Lightning Types
Use when the action needs richer structured input or output presentation.
Expanded references:
Cross-Skill Integration
Recommended Orchestration Order
sf-metadata → sf-apex → sf-flow → sf-ai-agentforce → sf-deploy
Required delegations
| Requirement |
Delegate to |
Why |
| Create / fix Flows |
sf-flow |
Action target creation and Flow validation |
| Create / fix Apex actions |
sf-apex |
@InvocableMethod and Apex correctness |
| Deploy / publish |
sf-deploy |
Deployment orchestration |
| Test the agent |
sf-ai-agentforce-testing |
Formal test execution and assertions |
| Employee Agent visibility / access |
sf-permissions |
Permission Set <agentAccesses> setup |
High-Signal Failure Patterns
Reference Map
Start here
Terminology and template planning
Rubric
Cross-skill reads
Score Guide
| Score |
Meaning |
| 90+ |
Ready to deploy |
| 80–89 |
Strong, minor cleanup only |
| 70–79 |
Review before deploy |
| 60–69 |
Needs work |
| < 60 |
Block deployment |
Full rubric: references/scoring-rubric.md
