NetSuite SuiteCloud Development Framework (SDF): A Developer’s Guide

For developers and administrators managing complex NetSuite environments, customization management is a critical challenge. The SuiteCloud Development Framework (SDF) is NetSuite’s solution for building, deploying, and maintaining customizations in a structured and scalable way.

In this blog, we’ll explore what SDF is, why it matters, and how developers can leverage it to streamline NetSuite development.

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🛠️ What is SuiteCloud Development Framework (SDF)?

SDF is a development and deployment framework that allows developers to:

• Manage NetSuite customizations as XML-based project files.
• Use version control (Git, SVN) to track changes.
• Deploy projects directly to NetSuite environments.
• Collaborate with teams across sandbox and production accounts.

👉 With SDF, NetSuite development moves closer to modern software development practices.

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⚡ Benefits of SDF

• Version control ready → Manage changes with Git.
• Team collaboration → Multiple developers can work on the same project.
• Faster deployments → Deploy directly from IDE or CLI.
• Reusable projects → Easier migration between accounts.
• Supports CI/CD → Enables DevOps practices for NetSuite.

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⚡ What Can You Manage with SDF?

• SuiteScripts (1.0, 2.x, 2.1).
• Custom records, fields, and forms.
• Workflows (SuiteFlow).
• Dashboards, roles, and permissions.
• Advanced PDF/HTML templates.
• Integration configurations.

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⚡ How SDF Works

1. Create a Project → Define objects in XML format.
2. Version Control → Store project in Git/SVN.
3. Develop Locally → Edit scripts and metadata in an IDE.
4. Validate & Deploy → Use SDF CLI or IDE tools to push to NetSuite.
5. Monitor → Validate deployment logs and errors.

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📚 Real-World Example

A SaaS company with multiple NetSuite developers struggled to manage custom scripts and workflows across environments.

After adopting SDF:

• Developers stored projects in GitHub for version control.
• Automated deployments ran through CI/CD pipelines.
• Sandbox testing ensured fewer production issues.

👉 Result: Faster releases, fewer errors, and better team collaboration.

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✅ Best Practices for SDF

✔️ Always use Git or another VCS with SDF.
✔️ Keep projects modular (separate by functionality).
✔️ Test deployments in sandbox before production.
✔️ Automate deployments with CI/CD pipelines.
✔️ Document project dependencies.

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✅ Final Thoughts

The SuiteCloud Development Framework transforms NetSuite development into a modern, scalable practice. By supporting version control, local development, and automated deployments, SDF empowers teams to build and manage NetSuite customizations more effectively.

👉 If you’re still manually moving customizations, it’s time to adopt SDF and streamline your development process.

Learn more about NetSuite Scripting Tutorials & different NetSuite Customization resources