What is Salesforce Navigator?

Salesforce Navigator is a Chrome extension that brings keyboard-driven navigation and vim-like editing capabilities to Salesforce Lightning Experience. It enhances productivity by providing command palette navigation, record editing, metadata inspection, and SOQL query execution—all controlled via keyboard shortcuts.

The Problem

Salesforce Lightning is a powerful platform, but navigation can be slow:

• 🖱️ Too much clicking - Finding objects, flows, or setup pages requires multiple clicks through menus
• ⏱️ Slow record editing - Opening edit forms, clicking fields, and saving changes is time-consuming
• 🔍 Difficult metadata access - Viewing object details, field properties, or user information requires navigation
• 📊 Manual data export - Running SOQL queries and exporting results involves multiple steps

The Solution

Salesforce Navigator solves these problems with four core features:

1. Navigator Panel (Ctrl+Shift+M)

A Spotlight-style command palette for instant navigation:

Press Ctrl+Shift+M → Type "Account" → Select "Account Object" → Navigate instantly

Search across:

• Flows
• Objects
• Permission Sets
• Profiles
• Apex Classes
• Triggers
• Visualforce Pages
• Setup Pages

2. Record Editor (Ctrl+Shift+E)

Vim-inspired modal editing for records:

Press Ctrl+Shift+E → Navigate with j/k → Press i to edit → Press :wq to save

Features:

• Normal, Insert, and Command modes
• Vim keybindings (j/k/gg/G/i/a/u/U)
• Field search with / and Ctrl+/
• Smart picklists with dependent field support
• Lookup navigation to related records
• Change tracking with undo/redo

3. Inspector Panel (Ctrl+Shift+I)

View metadata from anywhere in Salesforce:

Press Ctrl+Shift+I → View org/user/object details → Copy values with y

Capabilities:

• Organization metadata
• User details and permissions
• Object definitions
• Record information
• Works on list views and setup pages
• Draggable floating button

4. SOQL Query Tool (Ctrl+Shift+Q)

Execute queries with vim-like interface:

Press Ctrl+Shift+Q → Write query with autocomplete → Execute → Navigate results with j/k

Features:

• Syntax highlighting
• Autocomplete for SOQL keywords
• Inline result editing
• Export as JSON/CSV
• Query templates and variables
• Query history

Design Philosophy

Salesforce Navigator is built on three principles:

🎯 Keyboard-First

Every action is accessible via keyboard. Mouse usage is optional, not required. This philosophy comes from vim's modal editing and terminal-based workflows.

⚡ Performance

Fast loading with pre-cached data, optimized API calls, and debounced search. No waiting for panels to load or searches to complete.

🎨 Beautiful by Default

Dark theme inspired by Tokyo Night Moon. Thoughtful color choices, smooth transitions, and visual feedback for every action.

Inspiration

Salesforce Navigator draws inspiration from:

• Salesforce Inspector Reloaded - The gold standard for Salesforce metadata inspection
• Neovim - Modal editing, keyboard-driven interface, and composable commands
• Spotlight/Raycast - Quick command palette navigation
• Tokyo Night - Beautiful, readable dark theme

Technology Stack

• Chrome Extension API (Manifest V3)
• Salesforce REST API (v61.0)
• Salesforce Tooling API
• Vanilla JavaScript - No frameworks, pure performance
• CSS3 - Custom properties, transitions, and modern layout

Browser Support

Salesforce Navigator works on:

• ✅ Google Chrome
• ✅ Microsoft Edge (Chromium)
• ✅ Brave Browser
• ✅ Any Chromium-based browser with Manifest V3 support

What's Next?

Ready to get started? Head to the Installation Guide to install the extension, or read the Getting Started Guide to learn the basics.

Learn by Doing

The best way to learn Salesforce Navigator is to use it! Install the extension, open a Salesforce record, and press Ctrl+Shift+E. Try navigating with j and k, editing with i, and saving with :wq. You'll get the hang of it quickly.