Salesforce Code Refactoring – Reducing Apex Usage From 95% to 70%

After getting the continuous requests from customers to increase the Apex code character limit in an Org. Salesforce has doubled the Apex code limit from 3MB to 6MB. In its Summer 18 release, Salesforce has increased the default Apex code character limit to 6MB. Apex is a programming language which allows developers to develop custom applications as well as enables customers to add business logic to their applications.

Use Case-Challenge with Apex Code limit

Salesforce has been used by many companies to customize their Sales, Service and Marketing Processes.The problem arises when companies want to add any new updates to improve their application but the code limit has been exceeded or is about to reach the limit.

For example, one of our clients wanted to optimize their Salesforce process by adding new features that would help them in streamline their process handling and provide quality assurance. But, the problem was that their Apex code has already reached a code limit of 90%, where it becomes impossible to write any code to add any functionality. Our key challenge was to reduce the code in an efficient way without disturbing the existing implementation.

In this scenario, Ksolves Salesforce Architect and Developers have two options.

• First, they can refactor the code to make space for writing new code for enhancing the app’s performance.
• Second, they need to find and delete unused code from the existing code.

Our developers worked on the second option and successfully reduced the Apex code from 95% to 70% to boost the app’s performance.

Use of Tooling API To Reduce the Code Utilization Limit

When it comes to refactoring or reducing the code, it is crucial to know what dependencies exist between the classes, methods, and properties. This will help in making a decision on where to cut or consolidate the code accordingly. We have started with the goal of determining which methods and classes are no longer being used or referenced in the code by using the Tooling API. For example, Symbol Tables are useful for breaking down written code and providing analytics over it.

If you want to read the complete case study, click on the link – https://www.ksolves.com/insights/case-study-onpoint

Does Salesforce Provide an Option to Increase the Apex Code Limit?

Yes! If you have exceeded or reached the code limit, Salesforce support can assist you in increasing the default Apex code limit in an Org. But companies are looking for other options because it is a time-consuming process where they need to follow some practices to get approval for exceeding the Apex code limit. Salesforce considers some key points before giving the approval to exceed the Apex code limit, such as managed packages, test classes, invalid test practices, and invalid classes.

Instead of requesting Salesforce to increase the Apex limit, it is better to go with the Code Refactoring or Code Reduction option to keep your code secure without sharing it with any third party.

If you are also struggling with adding new updates and functionalities to your applications because of exceeding or reaching the Apex Code limit, then Ksolves experts are here to help you. Our Salesforce Developers have years of experience in the industry and are capable of providing the most efficient solutions for your Apex Code Refactoring and Salesforce Development related issues.

When Should Your Salesforce Code Be Refactored?

Refactoring your Salesforce instance can be done at different stages of building or upgrading the application. But before you start with refactoring, you need to first determine when your business is ready to get the most out of it. While each organization may have its own set of indicators, we’ve prepared a list of common reasons when Salesforce Code Refactoring can be considered:-

– When Your Organization is Expanding

Dealing with the business expansion is one of the most common causes for refactoring. When businesses are growing, their systems need to be optimized to manage increased numbers of customers, data, or users. The sudden increment in the system activities can lead to various issues if it is not resolved appropriately. When a company grows, they can start refactoring in different ways by:-

• User roles and teams are being re-evaluated.
• Changing defaults at the organizational level
• Increasing the security of access privileges

– When Your Company’s Data Is Changing

If your Org data is changing, you can make modifications to your Salesforce data structure. Over time, the requirement for more data and visibility may arise, where you need to refactor your Salesforce Org’s data model. It can be done in the form of reshaping the complete data or minor tweaks to objects, connections, and fields. The key reason behind this type of refactoring is to scale up the key performance indicators (KPIs) with new business activities. If your company’s operations start relying on new data, then it becomes important to refactor it by:

• Adding new Salesforce objects and fields
• Examine the relationships between objects.
• Determine the importance of existing metrics.
• Keeping track of new and useful data
• Creating new ways to display information

– Changes In Your Use Cases

Ideally, use cases need to be examined on a regular basis. It is important because systems such as Salesforce are set up on the basis of business use cases and any modifications to these factors will arise the need of refactoring. It is good to collect feedback from system stakeholders on a regular basis to determine what kind of changes are required and when they should be implemented. To maintain your Salesforce instance with user demand, you can :

• Create a new application to cater unique use cases.
• Make changes to the existing application when use cases change.
• Edit objects and fields to stay updated with evolving needs.

– Your Users Are Hitting Stumbling Blocks

It’s likely that if your users hit a snag, they will let you know about it. When this occurs, you should keep track of the system complaints in order to identify patterns and trends. If certain issues continue over time, then you need to consider refactoring. Your users are the ones who use your Salesforce on a daily basis and can inform you about the key difficulties faced by them. Some common issues faced by users include:-

• Report with complex data structures takes a long time to load.
• The requirement for data to be available at various levels and viewpoints
• Flaws in the application
• The process needs an excessive amount of time to accomplish.

Why Choose Ksolves?

When it comes to refactoring your Salesforce code, it needs a great deal of foresight, and working with experienced Salesforce partners can be advantageous for you. We are one of the trusted Salesforce Partners who have worked with various businesses and understand how to refactor Apex code to accomplish their customized needs. If you ever plan to refactor, you should keep in mind that you are setting your Salesforce instance for long-term success. To get the best Salesforce solutions or services, contact our professional Salesforce consultants today!