Understanding How Managed Packages Operate in Your Salesforce Org

When you install an ISV-certified managed package in your Salesforce org, the package runs its Apex code within your environment. However, Salesforce enforces a key distinction: managed packages have their own set of governor limits, separate from the limits applied to your custom code or other managed packages. This separation is crucial for maintaining the stability and performance of your Salesforce org.

Separate Governor Limits

Governor limits are restrictions that Salesforce places on various resources, like CPU time, heap size, and the number of SOQL queries, to ensure that no single process dominates the system. For ISV-certified managed packages, these limits are isolated from those of other code within your org. This means the managed package uses its own resources and doesn’t compete directly with your custom code or other managed packages for the same limits.

Resource Isolation

The isolation of resources provided by separate governor limits ensures that managed packages run smoothly alongside your custom development without causing conflicts. For instance, if a managed package’s Apex job is executing, it won’t consume the CPU time, memory, or database queries that your custom code might need. This separation helps maintain the overall performance and reliability of your Salesforce environment.

Impact on Org Performance

While managed packages do not share resource limits with your custom code, they can still indirectly affect your org’s performance. For example, if a managed package generates a large number of records or consumes a significant amount of API calls, this could impact the overall efficiency of your Salesforce instance. However, the design of separate governor limits generally minimizes the risk of one package overwhelming your system.