Generating Apex
Use this skill for production-grade Apex: new classes, selectors, services, async jobs,
invocable methods, and triggers; and for evidence-based review of existing .cls OR .trigger.
Required Inputs
Gather or infer before authoring:
- Class type (service, selector, domain, batch, queueable, schedulable, invocable, trigger, trigger action, DTO, utility, interface, abstract, exception, REST resource)
- Target object(s) and business goal
- Class name (derive using the naming table below)
- Net-new vs refactor/fix; any org/API constraints
- Deployment targets (default to runSpecifiedTests and use generated tests where applicable)
Defaults unless specified:
- Sharing:
with sharing (see sharing rules per type below)
- Access:
public (use global only when required by managed packages or @RestResource)
- API version:
66.0 (minimum version)
- ApexDoc comments: yes
If the user provides a clear, complete request, generate immediately without unnecessary back-and-forth.
Workflow
All steps are sequential. Do not skip, merge, or reorder. If blocked, stop and ask for missing context. If not applicable, mark N/A with a one-line justification in the report.
Phase 1 — Author
Discover project conventions
- Service-Selector-Domain layering, logging utilities
- Existing classes/triggers and current trigger framework or handler pattern
- Whether Trigger Actions Framework (TAF) is already in use
Choose the smallest correct pattern (see Type-Specific Guidance below)
Review templates and assets
- Read the matching template from
assets/ before authoring (see Type-Specific Guidance for the file mapping)
- When a
references/ example exists for the type, read it as a concrete style guide
- For any test class work, always read and use
platform-apex-test-generate skill
Author with guardrails -- apply every rule in the Rules section below
- Generate
{ClassName}.cls with ApexDoc
- Generate
{ClassName}.cls-meta.xml
Generate test classes -- Load the skill platform-apex-test-generate to create {ClassName}Test.cls and {ClassName}Test.cls-meta.xml. Apex tests are always required to be generated to deploy. No test file creation or edits can occur without loading the platform-apex-test-generate skill to generate tests.
Phase 2 — Validate (required before reporting)
Writing files is the midpoint, not the finish line. Steps 6 and 7 each require a tool invocation and produce output that must appear in the Step 8 report. Do not summarize or present the report until both steps have run and their output is captured.
Run code analyzer
- Invoke MCP
run_code_analyzer on all generated/updated .cls files.
- Remediate all
sev0, sev1, and sev2 violations; re-run until clean.
- Capture the final tool output verbatim for the report.
- Fallback:
sf code-analyzer run --target <target>. If both are unavailable, record run_code_analyzer=unavailable: <error> in the report.
Execute Apex tests
- Run org tests including
{ClassName}Test via sf apex run test or MCP.
- Delegate all test generation/fixes/coverage work to
platform-apex-test-generate; iterate until the tests pass.
- Capture pass/fail counts and coverage percentage for the report.
- If unavailable, record
test_execution=unavailable: <error> in the report.
Phase 3 — Report
- Report -- use the output format at the bottom of this file.
- The
Analyzer line must contain the actual Step 6 tool output (or run_code_analyzer=unavailable: <reason> after attempting invocation).
- The
Testing line must contain the actual Step 7 results (or test_execution=unavailable: <reason> after attempting invocation).
- A report missing either line is incomplete. Always attempt the tool invocation before recording unavailable.
Rules
Hard-Stop Constraints (Must Enforce)
If any constraint would be violated in generated code, stop and explain the problem before proceeding:
| Constraint |
Rationale |
| Place all SOQL outside loops |
Avoid query governor limits (100 queries) |
| Place all DML outside loops |
Avoid DML governor limits (150 statements) |
| Declare a sharing keyword on every class |
Prevent unintended without sharing defaults and data exposure |
| Use Custom Metadata/Labels/describe calls instead of hardcoded IDs |
Ensure portability across orgs |
| Always handle exceptions (log, rethrow, or recover) |
Prevent silent failures |
| Use bind variables for all dynamic SOQL with user input |
Prevent SOQL injection |
Use Apex-native collections (List, Map, Set) rather than Java types |
Prevent compile errors |
| Verify methods exist in Apex before use |
Prevent reliance on non-existent APIs |
Avoid System.debug() in main code paths |
Debug statements evaluate even when loggign is not active and consume CPU. Use a logging framework if required on main code paths |
Never use @future methods |
Use Queueable with System.Finalizer; @future cannot chain, cannot be called from Batch, and cannot accept non-primitive types |
Bulkification & Governor Limits
- All public APIs accept and process collections; single-record overloads delegate to the bulk method
- In batch/bulk flows, prefer partial-success DML (
Database.update(records, false)) and process SaveResult for errors
- Use
Map<Id, SObject> constructor for efficient ID-based lookups from query results
- Use
Map<Id, List<SObject>> to group child records by parent; build the map in a single loop before processing
- Use
Set<Id> for deduplication and membership checks; prefer Set.contains() over List.contains()
- Use relationship subqueries to fetch parent + child records in a single SOQL when both are needed
- Use
AggregateResult with GROUP BY for rollup calculations instead of querying and counting in Apex
- Only DML records that actually changed — compare against
Trigger.oldMap or prior state before adding to the update list
- Use
Limits.getQueries(), Limits.getDmlStatements(), Limits.getCpuTime() to monitor consumption in complex transactions
SOQL Optimization
- Use selective queries with proper
WHERE clauses; use indexed fields (Id, Name, OwnerId, lookup/master-detail fields, ExternalId fields, custom indexes) in filters when possible
SELECT * does not exist in SOQL -- always specify the exact fields needed
- Apply
LIMIT clauses to bound result sets; use ORDER BY for deterministic results
- When querying Custom Metadata Types (objects ending with
__mdt), do NOT use SOQL — use the built-in methods ({CustomMdt__mdt}.getAll().values(), getInstance(), etc.)
- Queries executed in
without sharing keyword classes with API versions 67.0 and up will throw when the running user does not have the proper field or object-level security. If API versions are being updated, ensure queries are safeguarded properly, and that tests are updated accordingly. Only explicitly justified usages of SYSTEM_MODE variants within queries should be allowed by default.
Caching
- Use Platform Cache (
Cache.Org / Cache.Session) for frequently accessed, rarely changed data; set a TTL and always handle cache misses — cache can be evicted at any time
- Use
private static Map fields as transaction-scoped caches to prevent duplicate queries within the same execution context; lazy-initialize on first access
Security
- Default to
with sharing; document justification for without sharing or inherited sharing
WITH USER_MODE in SOQL and AccessLevel.USER_MODE for Database DML for CRUD/FLS enforcement — these are the defaults for all Apex classes with API versions of 67.0 or higher
- Validate dynamic field/operator names via allowlist or
Schema.describe
- Named Credentials for all external credentials/API keys
AuraHandledException for @AuraEnabled user-facing errors (no internal details)
without sharing requires a Custom Permission check
- Isolate
without sharing logic in dedicated helper classes; call from with sharing entry points to limit elevated-access scope
- Encrypt PII/sensitive data at rest via Platform Encryption; never expose PII in debug statements, error messages, or API responses
Security Verification
Before finalizing, verify: CRUD/FLS enforced (SOQL + DML) · explicit sharing keyword on every class · no hardcoded secrets or Record IDs · PII excluded from logs and error messages · error messages sanitized for end users.
Error Handling
- Catch specific exceptions before generic
Exception; include context in messages
- Use
try/catch only around code that can throw (DML, callouts, JSON parsing, casts); avoid defensive wrapping of simple assignments/collection ops/arithmetic
- Preserve exception cause chains:
new CustomException('message', cause) (do not replace stack trace with concatenated messages)
- Provide a custom exception class per service domain when meaningful
- In
@AuraEnabled methods, catch exceptions and rethrow as AuraHandledException
- Fallback option: when no meaningful domain exception exists, catch generic
Exception and either rethrow it or wrap it in a minimal custom exception that preserves the original cause.
Null Safety
- Add guard clauses for null/empty inputs at the top of every public method; match style to context:
return early in private/trigger-handler methods, throw exceptions in public APIs, record.addError() in validation services
- Return empty collections instead of
null
- Use safe navigation (
?.) for chained property access
- Never dereference
map.get(key) inline unless presence is guaranteed; use containsKey, assignment + null check, or safe navigation first
- Use null coalescing (
??) for default values
- Prefer
String.isBlank(value) over manual checks like value == null || value.trim().isEmpty()
Constants & Literals
- Use enums over string constants whenever possible; enum values follow
UPPER_SNAKE_CASE
- Extract repeated literal strings/numbers into
private static final constants or a constants class
- Use
Label. custom labels for user-facing strings
- Use Custom Metadata for configurable values (thresholds, mappings, feature flags)
- Never output HTML-escaped entities in code (e.g.,
'); use literal single quotes ' in Apex string literals
Naming Conventions
| Type |
Pattern |
Example |
| Service |
{SObject}Service |
AccountService |
| Selector |
{SObject}Selector |
AccountSelector |
| Domain |
{SObject}Domain |
OpportunityDomain |
| Batch |
{Descriptive}Batch |
AccountDeduplicationBatch |
| Queueable |
{Descriptive}Queueable |
ExternalSyncQueueable |
| Schedulable |
{Descriptive}Schedulable |
DailyCleanupSchedulable |
| DTO |
{Descriptive}DTO |
AccountMergeRequestDTO |
| Wrapper |
{Descriptive}Wrapper |
OpportunityLineWrapper |
| Utility |
{Descriptive}Util |
StringUtil |
| Interface |
I{Descriptive} |
INotificationService |
| Abstract |
Abstract{Descriptive} |
AbstractIntegrationService |
| Exception |
{Descriptive}Exception |
AccountServiceException |
| REST Resource |
{SObject}RestResource |
AccountRestResource |
| Trigger |
{SObject}Trigger |
AccountTrigger |
| Trigger Action |
TA_{SObject}_{Action} |
TA_Account_SetDefaults |
Additional naming rules:
- Classes:
PascalCase
- Methods:
camelCase, start with a verb (get, create, process, validate, is, has, can)
- Variables:
camelCase, descriptive nouns; Lists as plural nouns (e.g., accounts, relatedContacts); Maps as {value}By{key} (e.g., accountsById); Sets as {noun}Ids
- Constants:
UPPER_SNAKE_CASE
- Use full descriptive names instead of abbreviations (
acc, tks, rec)
ApexDoc
- Required on the class header and every
public/global method
- Include: brief description,
@param, @return, @throws, @example where helpful
Class-level format:
/**
* Provides services for geolocation and address conversion.
*/
public with sharing class GeolocationService { }
Method-level format:
/**
* @param paramName Description of the parameter
* @return Description of the return value
* @example
* List<Account> results = AccountService.deduplicateAccounts(accountIds);
*/
Code Structure & Architecture
- Single responsibility per class; max 500 lines -- split when exceeded
- Return early: validate preconditions at method top, return/throw immediately
- Extract private helpers for methods over ~40 lines
- Use Dependency Injection (constructor/method params) for testability
- Prefer composition and narrow interfaces over deep inheritance; extend via new implementations, not modifications
- Enforce single-level abstraction per method across layer boundaries:
| Layer |
Owns |
Must NOT contain |
| Trigger |
Event routing only |
Business logic, orchestration |
| Handler/Service |
Flow control, coordination |
Inline SOQL/DML/HTTP/parsing |
| Domain |
Business rules, validation |
Queries, callouts, persistence details |
| Data/Integration |
SOQL, DML, HTTP |
Business decisions |
- Disallowed: methods mixing orchestration with inline SOQL/DML/HTTP; business rules mixed with parsing internals; validation + persistence + cross-system plumbing in one method
Async Decision Matrix
| Scenario |
Default |
Key Traits |
| Standard async work |
Queueable |
Job ID, chaining, non-primitive types, configurable delay (up to 10 min via AsyncOptions), dedup signatures |
| Very large datasets |
Batch Apex |
Chunked processing, max 5 concurrent; use QueryLocator for large scopes |
| Modern batch alternative |
CursorStep (Database.Cursor) |
2000-record chunks, higher throughput, no 5-job limit |
| Recurring schedule |
Scheduled Flow (preferred) or Schedulable |
Schedulable has 100-job limit; use only when chaining to Batch or needing complex Apex logic |
| Post-job cleanup |
Finalizer (System.Finalizer) |
Runs regardless of Queueable success/failure |
| Long-running callouts |
Continuation |
Up to 3 per transaction, 3 parallel |
| Delays > 10 minutes |
System.scheduleBatch() |
Schedule a Batch job at a specific future time |
| Legacy fire-and-forget |
@future |
Do not use in new code — see Hard-Stop Constraints; replace with Queueable + Finalizer |
Type-Specific Guidance
Service
- Template:
assets/service.cls · Reference: references/AccountService.cls
with sharing; stateless — no public fields or mutable instance state; keep public APIs focused and static where reasonable
- Delegate all SOQL to Selectors and SObject behavior to Domains
- Wrap business errors in a custom exception (e.g.,
AccountServiceException)
Selector
- Template:
assets/selector.cls · Reference: references/AccountSelector.cls
inherited sharing; one per SObject or query domain
- Return
List<SObject> or Map<Id, SObject>; use a shared base field list constant (no inline duplication)
- Accept filter parameters; always include
WITH USER_MODE
Domain
- Template:
assets/domain.cls
with sharing; encapsulate field defaults, derivations, and validations
- Operate on in-memory lists only; no SOQL/DML (belongs in Services/Selectors)
Batch
- Template:
assets/batch.cls · Reference: references/AccountDeduplicationBatch.cls
with sharing; implement Database.Batchable<SObject> (add Database.Stateful when tracking across chunks)
start() = query definition; execute() = business logic; finish() = logging/notification
- Use
QueryLocator for large datasets; handle partial failures via Database.SaveResult
- Accept filter parameters via constructor for reusability
Queueable
- Template:
assets/queueable.cls
with sharing; implement Queueable and optionally Database.AllowsCallouts when HTTP callouts are needed
- Accept data via constructor
- Add chain-depth guards to prevent infinite chains
- Optionally implement
Finalizer for recovery/cleanup
- Use
AsyncOptions for configurable delay (up to 10 min) and dedup signatures
Schedulable
- Template:
assets/schedulable.cls
with sharing; execute() delegates to Queueable or Batch
- Provide CRON constants and a convenience
scheduleDaily() helper
DTO / Wrapper
- Template:
assets/dto.cls
- No sharing keyword needed (pure data containers)
- Simple public properties; no-arg + parameterized constructors;
Comparable when ordering matters
- Use
@JsonAccess on private/protected inner DTOs that are serialized/deserialized
Utility
- Template:
assets/utility.cls
- No sharing keyword needed; all methods
public static; private constructor
- Pure, side-effect-free; no SOQL/DML
Interface
- Template:
assets/interface.cls
- Define clear contracts with ApexDoc on each method signature
Abstract
- Template:
assets/abstract.cls
with sharing; offer default behavior via virtual methods
- Mark extension points
protected virtual or protected abstract
- Include a concrete example in the ApexDoc showing how to extend the class
Custom Exception
- Template:
assets/exception.cls
- No sharing keyword; extend
Exception with descriptive names
- Supported constructors:
(), ('msg'), (cause), ('msg', cause)
Trigger
- Template:
assets/trigger.cls
- One trigger per object; delegate all logic to handler/TAF action classes
- Include all relevant DML contexts; if TAF:
new MetadataTriggerHandler().run();
Trigger Action (TAF)
- One class per concern per context; implement
TriggerAction.{Context}
- Register via
Trigger_Action__mdt (actions are inactive without registration)
- Name:
TA_{SObject}_{ActionName}; prefer field-value comparison over static booleans for recursion
Invocable Method (@InvocableMethod)
- Template:
assets/invocable.cls
with sharing; inner Request/Response with @InvocableVariable
- Method must be
public static; non-static or single-object signatures will not compile
- Accept
List<Request>, return List<Response>; bulkify (SOQL/DML outside loops)
- Decorator parameters:
label (required — Flow Builder display name), description, category (groups actions in Builder), callout=true (required when method makes HTTP callouts)
@InvocableVariable parameters: label (required), description, required=true/false
@InvocableVariable supports: primitives, Id, SObject, List<T> only (no Map/Set/Blob); use List<Id> or List<SObject> fields for Flow collection I/O
- Always include
isSuccess, errorMessage, and errorType (e.getTypeName()) in Response
- Return errors in Response (recommended); throwing an exception triggers the Flow Fault path — reserve for unrecoverable failures only
REST Resource (@RestResource)
- Template:
assets/rest-resource.cls
global with sharing; both class and methods must be global
- Versioned URL:
@RestResource(urlMapping='/{resource}/v1/*')
- Use proper HTTP status codes per branch (
200/201/400/404/422/500); never default all errors to 500
- Validate inputs (Id format:
Pattern.matches('[a-zA-Z0-9]{15,18}', value)); bind all user input in SOQL
- Include
LIMIT/ORDER BY in queries; implement pagination (pageSize/offset)
- Standardized
ApiResponse wrapper (success, message, data/records); inner request/response DTOs
- Thin controller: delegate business logic to Service classes
@AuraEnabled Controller
with sharing; use WITH USER_MODE in all SOQL
- Use
@AuraEnabled(cacheable=true) only for read-only queries; leave cacheable unset for DML operations
- Catch exceptions and rethrow as
AuraHandledException with user-friendly messages
Output Expectations
Deliverables per class:
{ClassName}.cls
{ClassName}.cls-meta.xml (default API version 66.0 or higher unless specified)
{ClassName}Test.cls (generated via platform-apex-test-generate skill)
{ClassName}Test.cls-meta.xml (generated via platform-apex-test-generate skill)
Deliverables per trigger:
{TriggerName}.trigger
{TriggerName}.trigger-meta.xml (default API version 66.0 or higher unless specified)
Meta XML template:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<ApexClass xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
<apiVersion>{API_VERSION}</apiVersion>
<status>Active</status>
</ApexClass>
Report in this order:
Apex work: <summary>
Files: <paths>
Design: <pattern / framework choices>
Workflow: all steps completed (1-8); any N/A justified
Risks: <security, bulkification, async, dependency notes>
Analyzer: <REQUIRED -- paste actual run_code_analyzer output or state "run_code_analyzer=unavailable: <reason>">
Testing: <REQUIRED -- paste actual test execution results (pass/fail, coverage) or state "test_execution=unavailable: <reason>">
Deploy: <dry-run or next step>
Cross-Skill Integration
| Need |
Delegate to |
| Apex tests / fix failures |
platform-apex-test-generate skill |
| Describe objects/fields |
metadata skill (if available) |
| Deploy to org |
deploy skill (if available) |
| Flow calling Apex |
Flow skill (if available) |
| LWC calling Apex |
LWC skill (if available) |
Troubleshooting Boundary
This skill handles production .cls/.trigger/.apex issues only: compile/parse failures, deployment dependency errors, runtime governor-limit failures. For test execution, assertions, coverage, or sf apex run test failures, delegate to platform-apex-test-generate.
1---2name: platform-apex-generate3description: Primary Apex authoring skill for class generation, refactoring, and review. ALWAYS ACTIVATE when the user mentions Apex, .cls, triggers, or asks to create/refactor a class (service, selector, domain, batch, queueable, schedulable, invocable, DTO, utility, interface, abstract, exception, REST resource). Use this skill for requests involving SObject CRUD, mapping collections, fetching related records, scheduled jobs, batch jobs, trigger design, @AuraEnabled controllers, @RestResource endpoints, custom REST APIs, or code review of existing Apex.4---5
6# Generating Apex
7
8Use this skill for production-grade Apex: new classes, selectors, services, async jobs,
9invocable methods, and triggers; and for evidence-based review of existing `.cls` OR `.trigger`.
10
11## Required Inputs
12
13Gather or infer before authoring:
14
15- Class type (service, selector, domain, batch, queueable, schedulable, invocable, trigger, trigger action, DTO, utility, interface, abstract, exception, REST resource)
16- Target object(s) and business goal
17- Class name (derive using the naming table below)
18- Net-new vs refactor/fix; any org/API constraints
19- Deployment targets (default to runSpecifiedTests and use generated tests where applicable)
20
21Defaults unless specified:
22- Sharing: `with sharing` (see sharing rules per type below)
23- Access: `public` (use `global` only when required by managed packages or `@RestResource`)
24- API version: `66.0` (minimum version)
25- ApexDoc comments: yes
26
27If the user provides a clear, complete request, generate immediately without unnecessary back-and-forth.
28
29---
30
31## Workflow
32
33All steps are sequential. Do not skip, merge, or reorder. If blocked, stop and ask for missing context. If not applicable, mark `N/A` with a one-line justification in the report.
34
35### Phase 1 — Author
36
371. **Discover project conventions**
38 - Service-Selector-Domain layering, logging utilities
39 - Existing classes/triggers and current trigger framework or handler pattern
40 - Whether Trigger Actions Framework (TAF) is already in use
41
422. **Choose the smallest correct pattern** (see Type-Specific Guidance below)
43
443. **Review templates and assets**
45 - Read the matching template from `assets/` before authoring (see Type-Specific Guidance for the file mapping)
46 - When a `references/` example exists for the type, read it as a concrete style guide
47 - For any test class work, always read and use `platform-apex-test-generate` skill
48
494. **Author with guardrails** -- apply every rule in the Rules section below
50 - Generate `{ClassName}.cls` with ApexDoc
51 - Generate `{ClassName}.cls-meta.xml`
52
535. **Generate test classes** -- Load the skill `platform-apex-test-generate` to create `{ClassName}Test.cls` and `{ClassName}Test.cls-meta.xml`. Apex tests are always required to be generated to deploy. No test file creation or edits can occur without loading the `platform-apex-test-generate` skill to generate tests.
54
55### Phase 2 — Validate (required before reporting)
56
57Writing files is the midpoint, not the finish line. Steps 6 and 7 each require a tool invocation and produce output that must appear in the Step 8 report. Do not summarize or present the report until both steps have run and their output is captured.
58
596. **Run code analyzer**
60 - Invoke MCP `run_code_analyzer` on all generated/updated `.cls` files.
61 - Remediate all `sev0`, `sev1`, and `sev2` violations; re-run until clean.
62 - Capture the final tool output verbatim for the report.
63 - Fallback: `sf code-analyzer run --target <target>`. If both are unavailable, record `run_code_analyzer=unavailable: <error>` in the report.
64
657. **Execute Apex tests**
66 - Run org tests including `{ClassName}Test` via `sf apex run test` or MCP.
67 - Delegate all test generation/fixes/coverage work to `platform-apex-test-generate`; iterate until the tests pass.
68 - Capture pass/fail counts and coverage percentage for the report.
69 - If unavailable, record `test_execution=unavailable: <error>` in the report.
70
71### Phase 3 — Report
72
738. **Report** -- use the output format at the bottom of this file.
74 - The `Analyzer` line must contain the actual Step 6 tool output (or `run_code_analyzer=unavailable: <reason>` after attempting invocation).
75 - The `Testing` line must contain the actual Step 7 results (or `test_execution=unavailable: <reason>` after attempting invocation).
76 - A report missing either line is incomplete. Always attempt the tool invocation before recording unavailable.
77
78---
79
80## Rules
81
82### Hard-Stop Constraints (Must Enforce)
83
84If any constraint would be violated in generated code, **stop and explain the problem** before proceeding:
85
86| Constraint | Rationale |
87|---|---|
88| Place all SOQL outside loops | Avoid query governor limits (100 queries) |
89| Place all DML outside loops | Avoid DML governor limits (150 statements) |
90| Declare a sharing keyword on every class | Prevent unintended `without sharing` defaults and data exposure |
91| Use Custom Metadata/Labels/describe calls instead of hardcoded IDs | Ensure portability across orgs |
92| Always handle exceptions (log, rethrow, or recover) | Prevent silent failures |
93| Use bind variables for all dynamic SOQL with user input | Prevent SOQL injection |
94| Use Apex-native collections (`List`, `Map`, `Set`) rather than Java types | Prevent compile errors |
95| Verify methods exist in Apex before use | Prevent reliance on non-existent APIs |
96| Avoid `System.debug()` in main code paths | Debug statements evaluate even when loggign is not active and consume CPU. Use a logging framework if required on main code paths |
97| Never use `@future` methods | Use Queueable with `System.Finalizer`; `@future` cannot chain, cannot be called from Batch, and cannot accept non-primitive types |
98
99### Bulkification & Governor Limits
100
101- All public APIs accept and process collections; single-record overloads delegate to the bulk method
102- In batch/bulk flows, prefer partial-success DML (`Database.update(records, false)`) and process `SaveResult` for errors
103- Use `Map<Id, SObject>` constructor for efficient ID-based lookups from query results
104- Use `Map<Id, List<SObject>>` to group child records by parent; build the map in a single loop before processing
105- Use `Set<Id>` for deduplication and membership checks; prefer `Set.contains()` over `List.contains()`
106- Use relationship subqueries to fetch parent + child records in a single SOQL when both are needed
107- Use `AggregateResult` with `GROUP BY` for rollup calculations instead of querying and counting in Apex
108- Only DML records that actually changed — compare against `Trigger.oldMap` or prior state before adding to the update list
109- Use `Limits.getQueries()`, `Limits.getDmlStatements()`, `Limits.getCpuTime()` to monitor consumption in complex transactions
110
111### SOQL Optimization
112
113- Use selective queries with proper `WHERE` clauses; use indexed fields (`Id`, `Name`, `OwnerId`, lookup/master-detail fields, `ExternalId` fields, custom indexes) in filters when possible
114- `SELECT *` does not exist in SOQL -- always specify the exact fields needed
115- Apply `LIMIT` clauses to bound result sets; use `ORDER BY` for deterministic results
116- When querying Custom Metadata Types (objects ending with `__mdt`), do NOT use SOQL — use the built-in methods (`{CustomMdt__mdt}.getAll().values()`, `getInstance()`, etc.)
117- Queries executed in `without sharing` keyword classes with API versions 67.0 and up will throw when the running user does not have the proper field or object-level security. If API versions are being updated, ensure queries are safeguarded properly, and that tests are updated accordingly. Only explicitly justified usages of `SYSTEM_MODE` variants within queries should be allowed by default.
118
119### Caching
120
121- Use Platform Cache (`Cache.Org` / `Cache.Session`) for frequently accessed, rarely changed data; set a TTL and always handle cache misses — cache can be evicted at any time
122- Use `private static Map` fields as transaction-scoped caches to prevent duplicate queries within the same execution context; lazy-initialize on first access
123
124### Security
125
126- Default to `with sharing`; document justification for `without sharing` or `inherited sharing`
127- `WITH USER_MODE` in SOQL and `AccessLevel.USER_MODE` for `Database` DML for CRUD/FLS enforcement — these are the defaults for _all_ Apex classes with API versions of 67.0 or higher
128- Validate dynamic field/operator names via allowlist or `Schema.describe`
129- Named Credentials for all external credentials/API keys
130- `AuraHandledException` for `@AuraEnabled` user-facing errors (no internal details)
131- `without sharing` requires a Custom Permission check
132- Isolate `without sharing` logic in dedicated helper classes; call from `with sharing` entry points to limit elevated-access scope
133- Encrypt PII/sensitive data at rest via Platform Encryption; never expose PII in debug statements, error messages, or API responses
134
135### Security Verification
136
137Before finalizing, verify: CRUD/FLS enforced (SOQL + DML) · explicit sharing keyword on every class · no hardcoded secrets or Record IDs · PII excluded from logs and error messages · error messages sanitized for end users.
138
139### Error Handling
140
141- Catch specific exceptions before generic `Exception`; include context in messages
142- Use `try/catch` only around code that can throw (DML, callouts, JSON parsing, casts); avoid defensive wrapping of simple assignments/collection ops/arithmetic
143- Preserve exception cause chains: `new CustomException('message', cause)` (do not replace stack trace with concatenated messages)
144- Provide a custom exception class per service domain when meaningful
145- In `@AuraEnabled` methods, catch exceptions and rethrow as `AuraHandledException`
146- Fallback option: when no meaningful domain exception exists, catch generic `Exception` and either rethrow it or wrap it in a minimal custom exception that preserves the original cause.
147
148
149### Null Safety
150
151- Add guard clauses for null/empty inputs at the top of every public method; match style to context: `return` early in private/trigger-handler methods, `throw` exceptions in public APIs, `record.addError()` in validation services
152- Return empty collections instead of `null`
153- Use safe navigation (`?.`) for chained property access
154- Never dereference `map.get(key)` inline unless presence is guaranteed; use `containsKey`, assignment + null check, or safe navigation first
155- Use null coalescing (`??`) for default values
156- Prefer `String.isBlank(value)` over manual checks like `value == null || value.trim().isEmpty()`
157
158### Constants & Literals
159
160- Use enums over string constants whenever possible; enum values follow `UPPER_SNAKE_CASE`
161- Extract repeated literal strings/numbers into `private static final` constants or a constants class
162- Use `Label.` custom labels for user-facing strings
163- Use Custom Metadata for configurable values (thresholds, mappings, feature flags)
164- Never output HTML-escaped entities in code (e.g., `'`); use literal single quotes `'` in Apex string literals
165
166### Naming Conventions
167
168| Type | Pattern | Example |
169|---|---|---|
170| Service | `{SObject}Service` | `AccountService` |
171| Selector | `{SObject}Selector` | `AccountSelector` |
172| Domain | `{SObject}Domain` | `OpportunityDomain` |
173| Batch | `{Descriptive}Batch` | `AccountDeduplicationBatch` |
174| Queueable | `{Descriptive}Queueable` | `ExternalSyncQueueable` |
175| Schedulable | `{Descriptive}Schedulable` | `DailyCleanupSchedulable` |
176| DTO | `{Descriptive}DTO` | `AccountMergeRequestDTO` |
177| Wrapper | `{Descriptive}Wrapper` | `OpportunityLineWrapper` |
178| Utility | `{Descriptive}Util` | `StringUtil` |
179| Interface | `I{Descriptive}` | `INotificationService` |
180| Abstract | `Abstract{Descriptive}` | `AbstractIntegrationService` |
181| Exception | `{Descriptive}Exception` | `AccountServiceException` |
182| REST Resource | `{SObject}RestResource` | `AccountRestResource` |
183| Trigger | `{SObject}Trigger` | `AccountTrigger` |
184| Trigger Action | `TA_{SObject}_{Action}` | `TA_Account_SetDefaults` |
185
186Additional naming rules:
187- Classes: `PascalCase`
188- Methods: `camelCase`, start with a verb (`get`, `create`, `process`, `validate`, `is`, `has`, `can`)
189- Variables: `camelCase`, descriptive nouns; Lists as plural nouns (e.g., `accounts`, `relatedContacts`); Maps as `{value}By{key}` (e.g., `accountsById`); Sets as `{noun}Ids`
190- Constants: `UPPER_SNAKE_CASE`
191- Use full descriptive names instead of abbreviations (`acc`, `tks`, `rec`)
192
193### ApexDoc
194
195- Required on the class header and every `public`/`global` method
196- Include: brief description, `@param`, `@return`, `@throws`, `@example` where helpful
197
198Class-level format:
199
200```apex
201/**
202 * Provides services for geolocation and address conversion.
203 */
204public with sharing class GeolocationService { }
205```
206
207Method-level format:
208
209```apex
210/**
211 * @param paramName Description of the parameter
212 * @return Description of the return value
213 * @example
214 * List<Account> results = AccountService.deduplicateAccounts(accountIds);
215 */
216```
217
218### Code Structure & Architecture
219
220- Single responsibility per class; max 500 lines -- split when exceeded
221- Return early: validate preconditions at method top, return/throw immediately
222- Extract private helpers for methods over ~40 lines
223- Use Dependency Injection (constructor/method params) for testability
224- Prefer composition and narrow interfaces over deep inheritance; extend via new implementations, not modifications
225- Enforce single-level abstraction per method across layer boundaries:
226
227| Layer | Owns | Must NOT contain |
228|---|---|---|
229| Trigger | Event routing only | Business logic, orchestration |
230| Handler/Service | Flow control, coordination | Inline SOQL/DML/HTTP/parsing |
231| Domain | Business rules, validation | Queries, callouts, persistence details |
232| Data/Integration | SOQL, DML, HTTP | Business decisions |
233
234- Disallowed: methods mixing orchestration with inline SOQL/DML/HTTP; business rules mixed with parsing internals; validation + persistence + cross-system plumbing in one method
235
236---
237
238## Async Decision Matrix
239
240| Scenario | Default | Key Traits |
241|---|---|---|
242| Standard async work | **Queueable** | Job ID, chaining, non-primitive types, configurable delay (up to 10 min via `AsyncOptions`), dedup signatures |
243| Very large datasets | **Batch Apex** | Chunked processing, max 5 concurrent; use `QueryLocator` for large scopes |
244| Modern batch alternative | **CursorStep** (`Database.Cursor`) | 2000-record chunks, higher throughput, no 5-job limit |
245| Recurring schedule | **Scheduled Flow** (preferred) or **Schedulable** | Schedulable has 100-job limit; use only when chaining to Batch or needing complex Apex logic |
246| Post-job cleanup | **Finalizer** (`System.Finalizer`) | Runs regardless of Queueable success/failure |
247| Long-running callouts | **Continuation** | Up to 3 per transaction, 3 parallel |
248| Delays > 10 minutes | `System.scheduleBatch()` | Schedule a Batch job at a specific future time |
249| Legacy fire-and-forget | `@future` | **Do not use in new code** — see Hard-Stop Constraints; replace with Queueable + Finalizer |
250
251---
252
253## Type-Specific Guidance
254
255### Service
256- Template: `assets/service.cls` · Reference: `references/AccountService.cls`
257- `with sharing`; stateless — no `public` fields or mutable instance state; keep public APIs focused and `static` where reasonable
258- Delegate all SOQL to Selectors and SObject behavior to Domains
259- Wrap business errors in a custom exception (e.g., `AccountServiceException`)
260
261### Selector
262- Template: `assets/selector.cls` · Reference: `references/AccountSelector.cls`
263- `inherited sharing`; one per SObject or query domain
264- Return `List<SObject>` or `Map<Id, SObject>`; use a shared base field list constant (no inline duplication)
265- Accept filter parameters; always include `WITH USER_MODE`
266
267### Domain
268- Template: `assets/domain.cls`
269- `with sharing`; encapsulate field defaults, derivations, and validations
270- Operate on in-memory lists only; no SOQL/DML (belongs in Services/Selectors)
271
272### Batch
273- Template: `assets/batch.cls` · Reference: `references/AccountDeduplicationBatch.cls`
274- `with sharing`; implement `Database.Batchable<SObject>` (add `Database.Stateful` when tracking across chunks)
275- `start()` = query definition; `execute()` = business logic; `finish()` = logging/notification
276- Use `QueryLocator` for large datasets; handle partial failures via `Database.SaveResult`
277- Accept filter parameters via constructor for reusability
278
279### Queueable
280- Template: `assets/queueable.cls`
281- `with sharing`; implement `Queueable` and optionally `Database.AllowsCallouts` when HTTP callouts are needed
282- Accept data via constructor
283- Add chain-depth guards to prevent infinite chains
284- Optionally implement `Finalizer` for recovery/cleanup
285- Use `AsyncOptions` for configurable delay (up to 10 min) and dedup signatures
286
287### Schedulable
288- Template: `assets/schedulable.cls`
289- `with sharing`; `execute()` delegates to Queueable or Batch
290- Provide CRON constants and a convenience `scheduleDaily()` helper
291
292### DTO / Wrapper
293- Template: `assets/dto.cls`
294- No sharing keyword needed (pure data containers)
295- Simple public properties; no-arg + parameterized constructors; `Comparable` when ordering matters
296- Use `@JsonAccess` on private/protected inner DTOs that are serialized/deserialized
297
298### Utility
299- Template: `assets/utility.cls`
300- No sharing keyword needed; all methods `public static`; `private` constructor
301- Pure, side-effect-free; no SOQL/DML
302
303### Interface
304- Template: `assets/interface.cls`
305- Define clear contracts with ApexDoc on each method signature
306
307### Abstract
308- Template: `assets/abstract.cls`
309- `with sharing`; offer default behavior via `virtual` methods
310- Mark extension points `protected virtual` or `protected abstract`
311- Include a concrete example in the ApexDoc showing how to extend the class
312
313### Custom Exception
314- Template: `assets/exception.cls`
315- No sharing keyword; extend `Exception` with descriptive names
316- Supported constructors: `()`, `('msg')`, `(cause)`, `('msg', cause)`
317
318### Trigger
319- Template: `assets/trigger.cls`
320- One trigger per object; delegate all logic to handler/TAF action classes
321- Include all relevant DML contexts; if TAF: `new MetadataTriggerHandler().run();`
322
323### Trigger Action (TAF)
324- One class per concern per context; implement `TriggerAction.{Context}`
325- Register via `Trigger_Action__mdt` (actions are inactive without registration)
326- Name: `TA_{SObject}_{ActionName}`; prefer field-value comparison over static booleans for recursion
327
328### Invocable Method (`@InvocableMethod`)
329- Template: `assets/invocable.cls`
330- `with sharing`; inner `Request`/`Response` with `@InvocableVariable`
331- Method must be `public static`; non-static or single-object signatures will not compile
332- Accept `List<Request>`, return `List<Response>`; bulkify (SOQL/DML outside loops)
333- Decorator parameters: `label` (required — Flow Builder display name), `description`, `category` (groups actions in Builder), `callout=true` (required when method makes HTTP callouts)
334- `@InvocableVariable` parameters: `label` (required), `description`, `required=true/false`
335- `@InvocableVariable` supports: primitives, `Id`, `SObject`, `List<T>` only (no `Map`/`Set`/`Blob`); use `List<Id>` or `List<SObject>` fields for Flow collection I/O
336- Always include `isSuccess`, `errorMessage`, and `errorType` (`e.getTypeName()`) in Response
337- Return errors in Response (recommended); throwing an exception triggers the Flow Fault path — reserve for unrecoverable failures only
338
339### REST Resource (`@RestResource`)
340- Template: `assets/rest-resource.cls`
341- `global with sharing`; both class and methods must be `global`
342- Versioned URL: `@RestResource(urlMapping='/{resource}/v1/*')`
343- Use proper HTTP status codes per branch (`200`/`201`/`400`/`404`/`422`/`500`); never default all errors to `500`
344- Validate inputs (Id format: `Pattern.matches('[a-zA-Z0-9]{15,18}', value)`); bind all user input in SOQL
345- Include `LIMIT`/`ORDER BY` in queries; implement pagination (`pageSize`/`offset`)
346- Standardized `ApiResponse` wrapper (`success`, `message`, `data`/`records`); inner request/response DTOs
347- Thin controller: delegate business logic to Service classes
348
349### `@AuraEnabled` Controller
350- `with sharing`; use `WITH USER_MODE` in all SOQL
351- Use `@AuraEnabled(cacheable=true)` only for read-only queries; leave `cacheable` unset for DML operations
352- Catch exceptions and rethrow as `AuraHandledException` with user-friendly messages
353
354---
355
356## Output Expectations
357
358Deliverables per class:
359- `{ClassName}.cls`
360- `{ClassName}.cls-meta.xml` (default API version `66.0` or higher unless specified)
361- `{ClassName}Test.cls` (generated via `platform-apex-test-generate` skill)
362- `{ClassName}Test.cls-meta.xml` (generated via `platform-apex-test-generate` skill)
363
364Deliverables per trigger:
365- `{TriggerName}.trigger`
366- `{TriggerName}.trigger-meta.xml` (default API version `66.0` or higher unless specified)
367
368Meta XML template:
369
370```xml
371<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
372<ApexClass xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
373 <apiVersion>{API_VERSION}</apiVersion>
374 <status>Active</status>
375</ApexClass>
376```
377
378Report in this order:
379
380```text
381Apex work: <summary>
382Files: <paths>
383Design: <pattern / framework choices>
384Workflow: all steps completed (1-8); any N/A justified
385Risks: <security, bulkification, async, dependency notes>
386Analyzer: <REQUIRED -- paste actual run_code_analyzer output or state "run_code_analyzer=unavailable: <reason>">
387Testing: <REQUIRED -- paste actual test execution results (pass/fail, coverage) or state "test_execution=unavailable: <reason>">
388Deploy: <dry-run or next step>
389```
390
391---
392
393## Cross-Skill Integration
394
395| Need | Delegate to |
396|---|---|
397| Apex tests / fix failures | `platform-apex-test-generate` skill |
398| Describe objects/fields | metadata skill (if available) |
399| Deploy to org | deploy skill (if available) |
400| Flow calling Apex | Flow skill (if available) |
401| LWC calling Apex | LWC skill (if available) |
402
403---
404
405## Troubleshooting Boundary
406
407This skill handles production `.cls`/`.trigger`/`.apex` issues only: compile/parse failures, deployment dependency errors, runtime governor-limit failures. For test execution, assertions, coverage, or `sf apex run test` failures, delegate to `platform-apex-test-generate`.