---
schema_version: "1"
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title: Metadata Development Prerequisites
collection: legacydeveloper
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/legacydeveloper/current/en-us/api_meta/meta_quickstart_retrieve_prereqs.md
canonical_url: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.api_meta.meta/api_meta/meta_quickstart_retrieve_prereqs.htm
source_site: developer.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 798e5569b650e70cb2893c1d31319368ce922b4726fb714222b78f640a0fcf8a
description: Complete these prerequisites before you start developing with Metadata API.
---
# Metadata Development Prerequisites

Complete these prerequisites before you start developing with Metadata API.

- To access Metadata API through the command line, [install Salesforce CLI](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.264.0.sfdx_setup.meta/sfdx_setup/sfdx_setup_install_cli.htm).
- To create a development environment, [sign up for Salesforce Developer Edition](https://developer.salesforce.com/signup). A Developer Edition org is a free development environment for building and testing solutions independent of production data.
- Install [Salesforce Extensions for Visual Studio Code](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=salesforce.salesforcedx-vscode). These tools provide features for working with development orgs (scratch orgs, sandboxes, and DE orgs), Apex, Aura components, and Visualforce.
- Confirm that you have API Enabled permission and Modify Metadata Through Metadata API Functions permission or Modify All Data permission. If you don’t have these permissions set, [modify your metadata permissions](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.264.0.api_meta.meta/api_meta/meta_modify_metadata_perm.htm).
- [Enable Dev Hub in your org](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.264.0.sfdx_dev.meta/sfdx_dev/sfdx_setup_enable_devhub.htm). Dev Hub allows you to create and manage scratch orgs so that you can develop without affecting your production data or metadata.
- To allow access to protected resources such as production data and metadata, [authorize your org](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.264.0.sfdx_dev.meta/sfdx_dev/sfdx_dev_auth.htm) .

- [Next →](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.api_meta.meta/api_meta/meta_quickstart_retrieve_add_components.htm "Step 1: (Optional) Add Metadata Components to an Org Using the UI")