Java/BestPractices

Java best practices:

• When to use what type of container - trees are O(log N), sorted. hashes are O(1), not sorted.
• Comparators vs comparable - how to maximize utility of comparators (e.g., PriorityQueue)
• Iterator vs iterable - how and when to roll your own, how and when to be lazy.
• Class import statements:
  • Rigorously, we do "import java.util.LinkedList;" BUT
  • Informally we do "import java.util.*; import java.io.*"
• Why/when/how is this dangerous in Java.
• Organization of classes:
  • Start with main method
  • Move on to utility/protected/private classes, iterators/iterables, items, etc.
  • Finally, include class content at bottom (it is at end, because that's the "least surprising" part of the code.)

See also:

• Template:DataStructuresFlag
• Template:AlgorithmsFlag