How do you keep track of metadata to add on package.xml?

Question

Say I'm building an app in Salesforce with many different fields, objects, classes, etc.

How do you add those entries to a package.xml file without having to add them one by one as you go? I'm interested in understanding how others create and manage huge package.xml files.

Any help would be appreciated.

EDIT

So the workflow I'd be following would be:

• Developing in a sandbox
• Don't want to use Change Sets
• High Volume of metadata items
• Need scripted deployment (thus the need to add items to package.xml)

Answer 1

If you use DX, you don't need a package.xml; all changes are tracked automatically. Otherwise, the only solution is to modify xml files. You can create an unmanaged package to help facilitate this, but it's still mostly manual. If possible, use DX to simplify your development cycle.

Answer 2

There is an alternative way to handle your own package.xml. There is a tool called package-xml (link here). You can install it via npm either on your own local or via script in your CI environment (this is what we do).

Run it, and its output is a package.xml file that is ready to deploy. The tool is open source and it is not maintained by me, though I've contributed to it.