MatterAI Documentation | AI Super Intelligence for Engineering

Java Anti-Patterns Overview

Not Closing Resources Properly

// Anti-pattern: Not closing resources
public void readFile(String path) throws IOException {
    FileReader reader = new FileReader(path);
    BufferedReader bufferedReader = new BufferedReader(reader);
    String line;
    while ((line = bufferedReader.readLine()) != null) {
        System.out.println(line);
    }
    // What if an exception occurs? Resources might not be closed
}

// Better approach: Use try-with-resources
public void readFile(String path) throws IOException {
    try (FileReader reader = new FileReader(path);
         BufferedReader bufferedReader = new BufferedReader(reader)) {
        String line;
        while ((line = bufferedReader.readLine()) != null) {
            System.out.println(line);
        }
    }
    // Resources are automatically closed
}

Always use try-with-resources (Java 7+) for automatic resource management to ensure resources are properly closed, even if exceptions occur.

Using Raw Types Instead of Generics

// Anti-pattern: Using raw types
List myList = new ArrayList();
myList.add("string");
myList.add(42);  // No compile-time type checking
String s = (String) myList.get(1);  // ClassCastException at runtime

// Better approach: Use generics
List<String> myList = new ArrayList<>();
myList.add("string");
// myList.add(42);  // Compile-time error
String s = myList.get(0);  // No cast needed

Raw types bypass the compile-time type safety that generics provide. Always use proper generic types to catch type errors at compile time.

Excessive Null Checks

// Anti-pattern: Excessive null checking
public String getUserCity(User user) {
    if (user != null) {
        Address address = user.getAddress();
        if (address != null) {
            City city = address.getCity();
            if (city != null) {
                return city.getName();
            }
        }
    }
    return "Unknown";
}

// Better approach: Use Optional (Java 8+)
public String getUserCity(User user) {
    return Optional.ofNullable(user)
            .map(User::getAddress)
            .map(Address::getCity)
            .map(City::getName)
            .orElse("Unknown");
}

Excessive null checks lead to deeply nested code that’s hard to read and maintain. Use Optional (Java 8+) for cleaner handling of potentially null values.

Using Exceptions for Flow Control

// Anti-pattern: Using exceptions for flow control
public boolean isInteger(String s) {
    try {
        Integer.parseInt(s);
        return true;
    } catch (NumberFormatException e) {
        return false;
    }
}

// Better approach: Use validation
public boolean isInteger(String s) {
    if (s == null || s.isEmpty()) {
        return false;
    }
    for (int i = 0; i < s.length(); i++) {
        if (!Character.isDigit(s.charAt(i))) {
            return false;
        }
    }
    return true;
}

Exceptions are for exceptional conditions, not normal flow control. They have performance overhead and make code harder to understand.

Mutable Public Fields

// Anti-pattern: Public mutable fields
public class User {
    public List<String> roles = new ArrayList<>();
}

// Anyone can modify the list
user.roles.clear();

// Better approach: Encapsulation
public class User {
    private final List<String> roles = new ArrayList<>();
    
    public List<String> getRoles() {
        return Collections.unmodifiableList(roles);
    }
    
    public void addRole(String role) {
        roles.add(role);
    }
    
    public void removeRole(String role) {
        roles.remove(role);
    }
}

Public mutable fields break encapsulation and can lead to unexpected state changes. Use proper encapsulation with getters and setters.

Returning Null Instead of Empty Collections

// Anti-pattern: Returning null instead of empty collection
public List<Customer> getCustomers() {
    if (customers.isEmpty()) {
        return null;
    }
    return customers;
}

// Client code needs null check
List<Customer> customers = getCustomers();
if (customers != null) {
    for (Customer customer : customers) {
        // Process customer
    }
}

// Better approach: Return empty collections
public List<Customer> getCustomers() {
    return new ArrayList<>(customers); // Returns empty list if customers is empty
}

// Client code is simpler
for (Customer customer : getCustomers()) {
    // Process customer
}

Returning null instead of empty collections forces clients to add null checks. Return empty collections instead of null to simplify client code.

Using == Instead of equals() for Objects

// Anti-pattern: Using == for object comparison
String a = new String("test");
String b = new String("test");
if (a == b) { // Always false
    // This code never executes
}

// Better approach: Use equals() for object comparison
if (a.equals(b)) { // True
    // This code executes
}

The == operator compares object references, not their contents. Use equals() to compare object values.

Not Using StringBuilder for String Concatenation

// Anti-pattern: String concatenation in loops
String result = "";
for (int i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
    result += i; // Creates a new String object each time
}

// Better approach: Use StringBuilder
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
for (int i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
    sb.append(i);
}
String result = sb.toString();

String concatenation in loops creates many temporary String objects, impacting performance. Use StringBuilder for efficient string building.

Using Singleton Pattern Incorrectly

// Anti-pattern: Non-thread-safe singleton
public class Singleton {
    private static Singleton instance;
    
    private Singleton() {}
    
    public static Singleton getInstance() {
        if (instance == null) {
            instance = new Singleton(); // Not thread-safe
        }
        return instance;
    }
}

// Better approach: Thread-safe singleton
public class Singleton {
    private static volatile Singleton instance;
    
    private Singleton() {}
    
    public static Singleton getInstance() {
        if (instance == null) {
            synchronized (Singleton.class) {
                if (instance == null) {
                    instance = new Singleton();
                }
            }
        }
        return instance;
    }
}

// Or even better: Enum singleton
public enum Singleton {
    INSTANCE;
    
    public void doSomething() {
        // Implementation
    }
}

Incorrectly implemented singletons can lead to thread safety issues or multiple instances. Use enum singletons or proper double-checked locking.

Not Using Interface for Type

// Anti-pattern: Using concrete class for type
public ArrayList<Customer> getCustomers() {
    return new ArrayList<>(customers);
}

// Better approach: Use interface for type
public List<Customer> getCustomers() {
    return new ArrayList<>(customers);
}

Program to interfaces, not implementations. This allows you to change the implementation without affecting client code.

Not Using try-catch-finally Correctly

// Anti-pattern: Incorrect exception handling
public void processFile(String path) {
    FileInputStream fis = null;
    try {
        fis = new FileInputStream(path);
        // Process file
        fis.close(); // Won't be called if an exception occurs
    } catch (IOException e) {
        e.printStackTrace(); // Just printing stack trace
    }
}

// Better approach: Proper exception handling
public void processFile(String path) {
    FileInputStream fis = null;
    try {
        fis = new FileInputStream(path);
        // Process file
    } catch (IOException e) {
        // Log the exception
        logger.error("Error processing file: " + path, e);
        // Rethrow or handle appropriately
        throw new ApplicationException("Could not process file", e);
    } finally {
        if (fis != null) {
            try {
                fis.close();
            } catch (IOException e) {
                logger.error("Error closing file", e);
            }
        }
    }
}

// Even better: Use try-with-resources (Java 7+)
public void processFile(String path) {
    try (FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(path)) {
        // Process file
    } catch (IOException e) {
        logger.error("Error processing file: " + path, e);
        throw new ApplicationException("Could not process file", e);
    }
}

Proper exception handling includes resource cleanup in finally blocks or using try-with-resources, meaningful error messages, and appropriate exception handling strategies.

Not Using Java 8+ Features

// Anti-pattern: Not using modern Java features
List<String> filtered = new ArrayList<>();
for (String s : strings) {
    if (s.length() > 3) {
        filtered.add(s.toUpperCase());
    }
}

// Better approach: Use streams and lambdas
List<String> filtered = strings.stream()
        .filter(s -> s.length() > 3)
        .map(String::toUpperCase)
        .collect(Collectors.toList());

Modern Java (8+) provides many features like streams, lambdas, and method references that can make code more concise and readable.

Using Checked Exceptions Excessively

// Anti-pattern: Excessive checked exceptions
public void doSomething() throws IOException, SQLException, ParseException {
    // Implementation
}

// Client code has to handle or propagate all exceptions
try {
    doSomething();
} catch (IOException e) {
    // Handle IOException
} catch (SQLException e) {
    // Handle SQLException
} catch (ParseException e) {
    // Handle ParseException
}

// Better approach: Use unchecked exceptions for non-recoverable errors
public void doSomething() {
    try {
        // Implementation
    } catch (IOException | SQLException | ParseException e) {
        throw new ServiceException("Operation failed", e);
    }
}

// Client code is simpler
try {
    doSomething();
} catch (ServiceException e) {
    // Handle service exception
}

Excessive use of checked exceptions can lead to cluttered code. Use unchecked exceptions for non-recoverable errors and checked exceptions only when the caller can reasonably recover.

Not Using Immutable Objects

// Anti-pattern: Mutable value objects
public class Point {
    private int x;
    private int y;
    
    public Point(int x, int y) {
        this.x = x;
        this.y = y;
    }
    
    public int getX() { return x; }
    public void setX(int x) { this.x = x; }
    public int getY() { return y; }
    public void setY(int y) { this.y = y; }
}

// Better approach: Immutable value objects
public final class Point {
    private final int x;
    private final int y;
    
    public Point(int x, int y) {
        this.x = x;
        this.y = y;
    }
    
    public int getX() { return x; }
    public int getY() { return y; }
    
    public Point withX(int x) {
        return new Point(x, this.y);
    }
    
    public Point withY(int y) {
        return new Point(this.x, y);
    }
}

Immutable objects are thread-safe, simpler to reason about, and prevent unexpected state changes. Make value objects immutable when possible.

Using System.out.println for Logging

// Anti-pattern: Using System.out for logging
public void processOrder(Order order) {
    System.out.println("Processing order: " + order.getId());
    // Process order
    System.out.println("Order processed successfully");
}

// Better approach: Use a proper logging framework
private static final Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(OrderProcessor.class);

public void processOrder(Order order) {
    logger.info("Processing order: {}", order.getId());
    // Process order
    logger.info("Order processed successfully");
}

Using System.out.println for logging doesn’t provide features like log levels, formatting, and output configuration. Use a proper logging framework like SLF4J with Logback or Log4j.

Not Using Dependency Injection

// Anti-pattern: Hard-coded dependencies
public class OrderService {
    private final CustomerRepository customerRepository = new CustomerRepositoryImpl();
    private final EmailService emailService = new EmailServiceImpl();
    
    public void placeOrder(Order order) {
        // Use customerRepository and emailService
    }
}

// Better approach: Dependency injection
public class OrderService {
    private final CustomerRepository customerRepository;
    private final EmailService emailService;
    
    public OrderService(CustomerRepository customerRepository, EmailService emailService) {
        this.customerRepository = customerRepository;
        this.emailService = emailService;
    }
    
    public void placeOrder(Order order) {
        // Use customerRepository and emailService
    }
}

Hard-coded dependencies make code hard to test and maintain. Use dependency injection to provide dependencies from outside the class.

Not Using Java Collections Framework Correctly

// Anti-pattern: Using wrong collection types
// Using ArrayList when frequent insertions/deletions in the middle
List<String> items = new ArrayList<>();
// Frequent insertions at the beginning
items.add(0, "newItem"); // O(n) operation

// Better approach: Choose appropriate collection types
// For frequent insertions/deletions, use LinkedList
List<String> items = new LinkedList<>();
items.add(0, "newItem"); // O(1) operation

// For fast lookups by key, use HashMap
Map<String, Customer> customerMap = new HashMap<>();

// For sorted data, use TreeMap or TreeSet
SortedMap<String, Customer> sortedCustomers = new TreeMap<>();

Choosing the wrong collection type can lead to performance issues. Understand the characteristics of different collection types and choose the appropriate one for your use case.

Not Using Appropriate Concurrency Utilities

// Anti-pattern: Using low-level synchronization
public class Counter {
    private int count = 0;
    
    public synchronized void increment() {
        count++;
    }
    
    public synchronized int getCount() {
        return count;
    }
}

// Better approach: Use appropriate concurrency utilities
import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;

public class Counter {
    private final AtomicInteger count = new AtomicInteger(0);
    
    public void increment() {
        count.incrementAndGet();
    }
    
    public int getCount() {
        return count.get();
    }
}

Java provides many high-level concurrency utilities like AtomicInteger, ConcurrentHashMap, and ExecutorService that are more efficient and easier to use correctly than low-level synchronization.

Not Using Java Time API (Java 8+)

// Anti-pattern: Using old date/time APIs
Date date = new Date();
Calendar calendar = Calendar.getInstance();
calendar.setTime(date);
calendar.add(Calendar.DAY_OF_MONTH, 1);
Date tomorrow = calendar.getTime();

// Better approach: Use Java Time API
LocalDate today = LocalDate.now();
LocalDate tomorrow = today.plusDays(1);

// Working with time zones
ZonedDateTime nowInNewYork = ZonedDateTime.now(ZoneId.of("America/New_York"));
ZonedDateTime nowInTokyo = nowInNewYork.withZoneSameInstant(ZoneId.of("Asia/Tokyo"));

The old date/time APIs (Date, Calendar) are error-prone and hard to use correctly. Java 8+ provides a much better date/time API that is immutable, thread-safe, and more intuitive.

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