node-backend

name	node-backend
description	Build Node.js backends for Salesforce Commerce — SFCC server-side JavaScript (not actual Node.js runtime), PWA Kit backend (Express-like SSR server), Commerce SDK for server-side SCAPI access, and async patterns for external service integration. Use when building server-side commerce logic.

Salesforce Commerce Server-Side JavaScript

Before Writing Code

Always fetch the latest official documentation BEFORE building server-side logic:

1. Web-search: "Salesforce B2C Commerce server-side JavaScript Script API 2026"
2. Web-search: "Salesforce PWA Kit server-side rendering 2026"
3. Web-search: "Salesforce Commerce SDK Node.js 2026"
4. Web-fetch: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/commerce/b2c-commerce/references/b2c-commerce-script-api
5. Web-fetch: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/commerce/pwa-kit-managed-runtime/guide/getting-started.html
6. Web-fetch: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@salesforce/commerce-sdk

Verify API methods, module paths, and runtime constraints against current documentation before writing any code.

Conceptual Architecture

CRITICAL: SFCC Server-Side JavaScript is NOT Node.js

WARNING: SFCC uses a Rhino-based JavaScript engine, NOT V8/Node.js. Code that works in Node.js will fail in SFCC. Never assume Node.js APIs or patterns are available.

Feature	SFCC (Rhino)	Node.js / PWA Kit
Runtime engine	Rhino (Java-based)	V8
npm packages	NOT available	Available
async/await	NOT available	Available
Promises	NOT available	Available
ES6 modules (import/export)	NOT available	Available
Filesystem access	Only via dw.io (IMPEX sandbox)	Full fs module
HTTP client	dw.net.HTTPClient only	fetch, axios, etc.
Module system	CommonJS-like (require())	CommonJS or ESM
var vs let/const	var only (Rhino)	let, const, var
Arrow functions	NOT available	Available
Template literals	NOT available	Available
Destructuring	NOT available	Available
Classes (ES6)	NOT available	Available
for...of loops	NOT available	Available

Common SFCC Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Why It Fails	Correct Approach
const x = ...	Rhino does not support const	Use var x = ...
arr.forEach(item => ...)	No arrow functions	Use function(item) { ... }
`Hello ${name}`	No template literals	Use 'Hello ' + name
async function f()	No async/await	Synchronous code only
require('lodash')	No npm packages	Use dw.* APIs or bundle in cartridge
import x from 'y'	No ES6 modules	Use require('y')

dw.* Namespace Purposes

All SFCC server-side functionality is provided through the dw.* namespace:

Namespace	Purpose	Key Classes
dw.web	Request/response, URL generation, i18n	Resource, URLUtils, FormElement
dw.catalog	Product search, catalog management	ProductMgr, CatalogMgr, ProductSearchModel
dw.order	Basket and order management	BasketMgr, OrderMgr, ShippingMgr
dw.customer	Customer profiles, auth	CustomerMgr, AuthenticationManager
dw.system	Transaction, logging, session, site	Transaction, Logger, Session, Site
dw.net	HTTP callouts, FTP, email	HTTPClient, FTPClient, Mail
dw.io	File I/O (IMPEX sandbox only)	File, FileReader, FileWriter, XMLStreamReader
dw.crypto	Encoding, hashing, encryption	Encoding, MessageDigest, Mac
dw.util	Collections and utilities	ArrayList, HashMap, Iterator, Calendar
dw.content	Content management	ContentMgr, ContentAsset
dw.campaign	Promotions and coupons	PromotionMgr, CouponMgr
dw.value	Money and quantity types	Money, Quantity

Transaction Handling

All database modifications in SFCC must be wrapped in Transaction.wrap() for atomicity. If any statement inside the transaction throws, all changes are rolled back. Transactions are implicit for job steps but must be explicit in controllers and hooks.

SFCC Script Module Pattern

Scripts live in cartridges at cartridge/scripts/ and export functions via module.exports. Use the */cartridge/ prefix for cross-cartridge imports that follow the cartridge path overlay. The cartridge path is configured in Business Manager and determines module resolution order.

SFCC Controller Pattern

Controllers in SFRA (Storefront Reference Architecture) live at cartridge/controllers/ and use the server module to define routes. Controllers handle HTTP verbs (get, post, use) and render templates or return JSON.

PWA Kit Backend

PWA Kit runs on actual Node.js (V8) via Salesforce Managed Runtime. It uses an Express-like server created with @salesforce/pwa-kit-runtime. Full modern JavaScript (async/await, ESM, npm packages) is available.

Aspect	Detail
Server creation	createApp() from @salesforce/pwa-kit-runtime/ssr/server/express
Data fetching	getProps() static method on page components
Configuration	config/default.js with environment overrides
Deployment	Salesforce Managed Runtime (auto-scaling, CDN)
Custom middleware	Express-style app.use() and app.get()
Environment variables	Set via Managed Runtime dashboard

Commerce SDK

The @salesforce/commerce-sdk npm package provides TypeScript-typed clients for all Shopper APIs:

Client	Purpose
ShopperProducts	Get products, categories, recommendations
ShopperSearch	Product search with facets, sorting
ShopperBaskets	Create/update baskets, add items, apply coupons
ShopperOrders	Create orders from baskets
ShopperCustomers	Customer registration, login, profiles

It handles SLAS authentication automatically via helpers.getShopperToken(). All SDK methods return Promises. Use Commerce SDK typed clients instead of raw HTTP calls to SCAPI for type safety and automatic auth management.

Code Examples

Pattern: SFCC script module

var ProductMgr = require('dw/catalog/ProductMgr');
var Transaction = require('dw/system/Transaction');
module.exports.execute = function(params) {
    // Fetch live docs for dw.catalog.ProductMgr API
};

Pattern: PWA Kit getProps server-side fetch

ProductDetail.getProps = async ({ params, api }) => {
    const product = await api.shopperProducts.getProduct({
        parameters: { id: params.productId }
    });
    return { product };
};

Pattern: SFCC HTTPClient callout

var httpClient = new (require('dw/net/HTTPClient'))();
httpClient.open('POST', endpoint);
httpClient.send(JSON.stringify(payload));
// Fetch live docs for dw.net.HTTPClient response handling

Pattern: SFCC Transaction.wrap

var Transaction = require('dw/system/Transaction');
Transaction.wrap(function() {
    // All database modifications are atomic here
    // Fetch live docs for Transaction rollback behavior
});

Best Practices

SFCC Server-Side

• Use var (not let/const), function expressions (not arrows), and try/catch (not Promises)
• Always wrap data mutations in Transaction.wrap()
• Use dw/system/Logger for logging -- never console.log (it does not persist)
• Place third-party libraries directly in cartridge/scripts/lib/ -- no npm available

PWA Kit Backend

• Use getProps() for SSR data fetching, Commerce SDK hooks for client-side data
• Configure environments via config/default.js and environment-specific overrides
• Use Commerce SDK typed clients instead of raw HTTP calls to SCAPI
• Deploy to Managed Runtime for auto-scaling and CDN integration

Error Handling

• SFCC: synchronous try/catch with dw.system.Logger error logging at appropriate levels
• PWA Kit: async try/catch, structured logging, implement retry with exponential backoff
• Both: validate all inputs, handle null/missing data gracefully, never expose stack traces to clients

Performance

• Minimize external callouts (SFCC has per-request time limits)
• Cache frequently accessed data (SFCC: custom cache, PWA Kit: HTTP cache headers)
• Use parallel Promise.all() in PWA Kit for independent API calls
• Batch operations where supported by Commerce APIs
• Use SFCC Pipeline Profiler and Request Logs to identify bottlenecks

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Fetch the latest SFCC Script API reference and PWA Kit developer guide for exact method signatures, runtime constraints, and deployment procedures before implementing.