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Anonymous Apex execution in ZuppIO: architecture, examples, and best practices

ZuppIO Anonymous Apex: multi-org execution made simple

Introduction: what is Anonymous Apex in ZuppIO

In Salesforce, developers can run Apex snippets through the Developer Console or VS Code. The limitation is clear: execution is restricted to a single org. For teams managing multiple environments or ISVs supporting hundreds of customers, this approach does not scale.

ZuppIO changes this.
The platform allows you to run Anonymous Apex execution across dozens or even hundreds of orgs at once. A script can update data, fix issues, or initialize features simultaneously, with full traceability in Job logs.

This is especially important for ISVs, where package upgrades do not cover subscriber-editable components like layouts, picklists, or help texts. Instead of asking each customer to perform manual steps, ISVs can deliver post-install routines or corrective actions centrally with ZuppIO.

Architecture and limitations

Anonymous Apex in ZuppIO is implemented as a Step inside a Job:

  • Job defines a Source Org, Target Orgs, and a sequence of Steps.
  • Anonymous Apex Step executes code directly in each Target Org.
  • Immediate execution: unlike metadata deployment, there is no Validation mode.
  • Parallel execution: all Target Orgs run the script simultaneously.
  • Secure OAuth authorization: no password sharing, only OAuth connections.
  • Logging and audit: each org’s results are saved in Job history.
  • Governor limits apply: SOQL, DML, CPU time, and heap size restrictions remain in effect.

Because there is no validation mode, best practice is to test in Sandbox first and prepare rollback scripts.

Rollback example:

// Restore Industry values from a backup custom object
List<Industry_Backup__c> backups = [SELECT Account__c, OldValue__c FROM Industry_Backup__c];
List<Account> accounts = new List<Account>();
for (Industry_Backup__c b : backups) {
    accounts.add(new Account(Id = b.Account__c, Industry = b.OldValue__c));
}
update accounts;

Use cases for Salesforce administrators

For administrators, Anonymous Apex in ZuppIO eliminates repetitive manual work and reduces risk.

Common scenarios:

  • Clean up test data after QA cycles.
  • Correct invalid field values or relationships.
  • Generate demo or load test data.
  • Apply default settings across objects.

Delete test contacts:

List<Contact> testContacts = [SELECT Id FROM Contact WHERE Email LIKE 'test%@demo.com'];
delete testContacts;

Generate 50 demo contacts:

for (Integer i = 0; i < 50; i++) {
    Contact c = new Contact(
        LastName = 'DemoUser' + i,
        Email = 'demo' + i + '@example.com'
    );
    insert c;
}

Fix picklist values:

List<Opportunity> opps = [SELECT Id, StageName FROM Opportunity WHERE StageName='Initial'];
for (Opportunity opp : opps) {
    opp.StageName = 'Prospecting';
}
update opps;

Note: make sure the value Prospecting is already defined in the picklist metadata. If the value has not been added to the picklist definition, the script will fail.

Use cases for ISVs

Independent Software Vendors face unique challenges when distributing managed packages: subscriber-editable components (layouts, picklists, help texts) are not updated by package upgrades. Moreover, package versions cannot always anticipate the need for urgent fixes in client orgs. Anonymous Apex in ZuppIO provides a bridge for these gaps.

Typical ISV scenarios:

  • Post-install routines: initialize data, set default preferences, or create sample records.
  • Enable features: activate new functionality via Custom Settings or Custom Metadata.
  • Fix data issues: roll out corrective updates to subscribers.
  • Collect metrics: run diagnostic scripts across orgs for usage tracking.

Enable feature flag in Custom Settings:

Feature_Config__c config = Feature_Config__c.getOrgDefaults();
if (config == null) {
    config = new Feature_Config__c();
}
config.New_Feature_Enabled__c = true;
upsert config;

Collect record counts across orgs:

Integer accCount = [SELECT COUNT() FROM Account];
System.debug('Account count: ' + accCount);

With ZuppIO, each org’s output is logged in Job history, so ISVs can review metrics centrally.

Best practices and risk management

Anonymous Apex is powerful, but unsafe if used carelessly. ZuppIO provides the scale — teams must apply discipline.

Best practices checklist:

  • Always test in Sandbox first.
  • Use restrictive SOQL filters. Avoid unscoped queries such as SELECT Id FROM Contact.
  • Prepare rollback scripts to restore data if needed.
  • Make scripts idempotent: safe to rerun without breaking data.
  • Handle errors with try-catch blocks and log them.
  • Split heavy jobs into batches to respect governor limits.

Safe update with error handling:

try {
    List<Account> accounts = [SELECT Id, IsActive__c FROM Account WHERE IsActive__c = false];
    for (Account acc : accounts) {
        acc.IsActive__c = true;
    }
    if (!accounts.isEmpty()) {
        update accounts;
    }
} catch (Exception e) {
    System.debug('Error: ' + e.getMessage());
}

This approach ensures reliability and auditability when running scripts across many orgs.

Advanced: CI/CD integration (optional use case)

Although CI/CD is not the main purpose of Anonymous Apex, it can play a role in automation. ZuppIO integrates with GitHub and Bitbucket, allowing Jobs to be triggered on push, merge, or release events.

Examples:

  • Run post-install scripts automatically after package deployment.
  • Clean up environments before regression tests.
  • Gather metrics across orgs during nightly builds.

This positions Anonymous Apex as a supporting tool in DevOps pipelines, but its core value remains operational maintenance and ISV support.

Conclusion

Anonymous Apex execution in ZuppIO is a scalable, flexible, and auditable way to manage multiple Salesforce orgs. It allows:

  • ISVs to synchronize subscriber orgs after package installs or upgrades.
  • Administrators to automate repetitive cleanup and data fixes.
  • DevOps teams to integrate scripts into CI/CD workflows.

By following best practices — sandbox testing, rollback planning, idempotent design, and logging — teams can use Anonymous Apex safely and effectively.

In ZuppIO, what used to take hours of manual effort becomes a single Job Step executed across all environments.