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Ordinarily, when referencing a static class in a managed package from outside, we would do this:

ns.Class1.foo();

Now, if the ns package is somehow uninstalled, this code should stop working, I assume. How would I be able to make sure that this code is executed only when the package is in the org?

Also, can I build the above code in an org in which the managed package does not exist?

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Apex does not include full reflection capabilities so it is hard to do what you want. You can instantiate a class using e.g. Type.forName('...').newInstance() but there is then no way to invoke methods by name.

If you are willing to add quite a lot of code you can work-around the problem using techniques such as the one described in Breaking managed package dependencies. But that is quite painful.

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  • Okay, so now that I know I have to hardcode it, the question is, will the build break if ns disappears? Or will it still compile? If ns isn't there, and I put an if check based on which that hardcoded function call is not executed in its absence, it shouldn't be an issue, or should it?
    – coldspeed
    Commented Apr 18, 2017 at 9:02
  • It would add a dependency if you add any code which refers to managed package
    – Raul
    Commented Apr 18, 2017 at 9:14
  • The platform compiles on demand so in general the compilation will fail if you have a reference to a namespace/class that is no longer present. But if you put the call in a class that you only instantiate via Type.forName when the namespace is present you can probably get it to work.
    – Keith C
    Commented Apr 18, 2017 at 9:35
  • Even if I instantiate it with Type.forName I'd have to cast it to the actual class type to call any method... this casting will raise an error in any case.
    – coldspeed
    Commented Apr 18, 2017 at 12:25
  • I'm suggesting making the call entirely in the Type.forName instantiated class, but that requires a lot of glue code.
    – Keith C
    Commented Apr 18, 2017 at 13:01

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