A look back at SFDC99: the self-taught Google engineer who wrote beginner-friendly Apex tutorials, built a community, and has now said goodbye. Resources, legacy lessons, and why this matters for admins and developers.
About SFDC99
SFDC99 (https://www.sfdc99.com) provided Salesforce coding lessons “for the 99%” — practical Apex tutorials and career guidance aimed at point-and-click admins who wanted to learn to code. Written by David (a self-taught Google engineer and Salesforce MVP), the site included beginner tutorials, Apex guides, Visualforce, certification help, career advice, and more.
Key sections on the site
- Beginner Tutorials — Apex, Visualforce, Videos
- Apex Academy — practical coding lessons
- Career Info and Certification Guides
- Success Stories and Reader Mailbag
David’s Farewell
On September 5, 2024, David published a heartfelt farewell explaining that after ten years of running SFDC99, he is stepping back to focus on family. He thanked the community for the messages and memories, shared how his priorities changed with three young children, and expressed hope that his work helped readers in their careers.
Why this matters
SFDC99 lowered the barrier to learning Apex for many admins and junior developers. The approachable, example-driven tutorials helped people pass exams, land developer roles, and build confidence with the Salesforce platform.
Practical takeaways
- Bookmark core resources: beginner tutorials and Apex Academy for quick reference.
- Use SFDC99 lessons as interview preparation or hands-on practice projects.
- Share the legacy: mentor others the way David did by creating small, focused tutorials or walkthroughs.
Resources
Primary site: https://www.sfdc99.com
Selected pages:
Best practices for maintaining learning resources
- Keep tutorials short and example-driven.
- Organize content for beginners separately from intermediate/advanced topics.
- Encourage community contributions and success stories.
For Salesforce admins, developers, and business users: SFDC99 is a reminder that approachable, well-structured learning material can change careers. Keep these lessons accessible — and when possible, pay it forward by mentoring others.