As a software vendor, it’s always cool when you get a feature request that you’ve never considered and your app can do it with just some config changes. Salesforce.com figured this out a long time ago with its full-featured administrative interface: clicks not code. The AppExchange ISV community is figuring this out as well and is taking advantage of Force.com platform tools like field sets and custom settings.
The attached video is a small example of how powerful that can be: a small but very useful feature request from a Chatter Activities user. They were even willing to pay me for a custom version of the application so that they could include hashtags based on a custom field. My response was instructions on how to use formulas and the Chatter Activities custom settings to get the desired result.
Ten minutes later, I got a message back: made the change, up and running, and thrilled. The software vendor in me beamed with pride (the billable consultant in me was none too happy, but I won’t bother you will my multiple personality inner torment…it’s complicated).
Want to learn more about Chatter Activities? It’s free, and you can find it on the Salesforce.com AppExchange.
