Java development

Java Development

Overview

The house standard for writing Java well. Apply these as a set on any Java change. For tests use the java-testing skill; for logging/metrics/tracing use the java-observability skill.

First, know your JDK. Only use language/library features that are final in the project's configured Java version; never use preview/incubator features unless the project already enables --enable-preview. Detect the version and read the matching catalog in references/version/ — see Version gating.

Structure & immutability

• Declare variables, parameters, and fields final unless mutation is intentional and justified.
• Inject mandatory dependencies through the constructor and null-check them; no field/setter injection for required collaborators.
• Always use braces on if/for/while/else, even single-line bodies.
• Class-level imports only — no member/static imports unless an API is designed for it.
• Records for immutable data carriers (Java 16+); keep classes small and single-purpose.

public final class InvoiceService {
    private final InvoiceRepository repository;

    public InvoiceService(final InvoiceRepository repository) {
        this.repository = Objects.requireNonNull(repository, "repository");
    }

    public BigDecimal total(final Invoice invoice) {
        if (invoice.lineItems().isEmpty()) {
            return BigDecimal.ZERO;
        }
        final BigDecimal subtotal = invoice.lineItems().stream()
            .map(LineItem::amount).reduce(BigDecimal.ZERO, BigDecimal::add);
        return subtotal;
    }
}

Design & clarity

• Clarity over cleverness. Small, single-purpose methods (~10–20 lines); descriptive names (calculateTotalPrice, timeoutInMilliseconds), no abbreviations.
• Guard clauses over deep nesting — check and return early instead of nesting ifs.
• Composition over inheritance; make classes final unless explicitly designed for extension.
• Program to interfaces: declare List/Map/Set, not ArrayList/HashMap. Prefer collections over arrays.
• No raw types; always @Override; enums over int/String constants.
• Optional is a return type only — never a field, parameter, or collection element.
• Minimize scope: declare variables at first use, in the narrowest scope that works.
• Override equals and hashCode together, never one alone — or use a record.
• Switch expressions (14+) over if-else chains on one value; lambdas/method references over anonymous classes; enhanced-for or streams over index loops (all version-gated, see below).

// ❌ nested conditionals, int constants, silent fall-through
if (order != null) {
    if (!order.items().isEmpty()) {
        if (type == STANDARD) { fee = base; } else if (type == EXPRESS) { fee = base * 2; }
    }
}

// ✅ guard clauses + enum + exhaustive switch expression (14+)
Objects.requireNonNull(order, "order");
if (order.items().isEmpty()) {
    return BigDecimal.ZERO;
}
return switch (order.type()) {          // compiler enforces every ShippingType is handled
    case STANDARD -> baseFee;
    case EXPRESS -> baseFee.multiply(EXPRESS_MULTIPLIER);
};

Input validation

Validate untrusted input at the boundary, immediately — fail fast by throwing a clear, specific exception (no secrets/PII in messages). Never return a default/sentinel (0, null, empty) for invalid input — that hides the bug. Objects.requireNonNull(x, "x") for nulls; blank checks (x == null || x.isBlank(), or StringUtils.isBlank) for strings. Never let invalid data flow deeper.

Exceptions

• Catch the most specific type; reserve catch (Exception) for true top-level boundaries.
• Never swallow — handle, wrap+rethrow with context, or translate. Preserve the cause: throw new XException("context", e).
• On InterruptedException, restore the flag: Thread.currentThread().interrupt() then propagate.
• Don't let finally/cleanup mask the original failure. Exceptions are not control flow.

Resource management

Always try-with-resources, never try/finally. Watch the easy-to-miss ones: Files.lines(...) and Files.newDirectoryStream(...) return a resource that must be closed.

try (final Stream<String> lines = Files.lines(path)) {
    return lines.filter(l -> !l.isBlank()).toList();
}

Strings

• .formatted(...) / String.format(...) for interpolation — not +.
• String.join(delim, ...) for joining known elements.
• StringBuilder/StringJoiner in loops; never + in a loop.

Date & time

• Work in UTC internally (Instant preferred). Inject a java.time.Clock for "now" (clock.instant()) — never Instant.now()/LocalDateTime.now() directly (untestable).
• Never persist/exchange LocalDateTime (no offset). Be explicit about ZoneId; default to ISO-8601.

Comments

Comment intent, not mechanics — don't restate the signature. Javadoc public APIs: behavior, @throws conditions, edge cases/invariants. Avoid redundant/stale comments. Markdown Javadoc (///, JEP 467) only on Java 23+ — don't convert existing standard Javadoc.

Version gating

Detect the project's Java version, then read the matching cumulative catalog (each includes earlier LTS releases): references/version/java-8.md, java-11.md, java-17.md, java-21.md, java-25.md.

Build tool	Where to look
Maven	maven-compiler-plugin <release>/<source>, or maven.compiler.release / java.version
Gradle	java.toolchain.languageVersion, or sourceCompatibility/targetCompatibility

If undeterminable: the lowest LTS the project mentions, else Java 8 (Maven's default baseline). Don't assume the JDK you happen to be running. Preview features have been removed before (string templates, gone in 23) — never depend on them.

Red flags — stop

• A local/parameter without final; a control statement without braces; field/setter injection
• A raw type; a missing @Override; an Optional field/parameter; equals without hashCode
• Deeply nested conditionals where guard clauses would flatten; a variable typed ArrayList not List
• + interpolation or + in a loop; Instant.now()/LocalDateTime; Files.lines(...) not in try (...)
• catch (Exception) outside a boundary; swallowed exception or lost cause; swallowed InterruptedException
• Unvalidated external input passed deeper; a feature newer than the project's JDK, or a preview feature