Lang Java Code Writing

Java Code Writing — Android Automotive

Expert-level best practices for writing production-quality Java on Android Automotive / AOSP platforms, guided by the principles of Joshua Bloch (Effective Java), Robert C. Martin (Clean Code), and the Android Code Style Guide.

Standards baseline: Java 11 (default) · Java 8 min · Java 17 where available.

When to Use This Skill

• Writing a new Java class, service, or module for Android Framework or App layers.
• Reviewing a Gerrit patch that touches .java files.
• Refactoring legacy Java to modern idioms (streams, optionals, records).
• Designing an Android System Service, AIDL interface, or Car API integration.
• Generating Javadoc class / method documentation.

Prerequisites

• Java version confirmed: Java 11 (default for AOSP), Java 8 min, Java 17 if available.
• Target confirmed: Android Framework (com.android.*), Android App, or System Service.
• Android SDK / AOSP build environment available.
• Kotlin is out of scope here — use the kotlin-code-writing skill.

1. Package & File Organization

Goal: clear module boundaries; one concept per file; zero circular dependencies.

• One top-level public class per .java file; file name must match the class name exactly.
• Package names: all lowercase, reverse-domain convention — com.company.module.feature.
• Never use the default (unnamed) package.
• Group imports: Android / AOSP imports → third-party → java.* / javax.*. Remove unused imports — no wildcards (import java.util.*).
• Keep classes focused: aim for < 300 lines. If a class grows beyond that, look for extraction opportunities.
• Use package-private visibility as the default for internal implementation classes — not everything needs to be public.

package com.automotive.sensor;

import android.content.Context;              // Android first
import android.util.Log;

import com.automotive.hal.IAdcDriver;        // project

import java.util.Optional;                  // java.* last

2. Class Design & SOLID Principles

Goal: classes that are easy to understand, test, extend, and replace independently.

Single Responsibility (S)

• Each class has one reason to change — one job, one actor that owns it.
• Activity / Fragment: only UI logic. ViewModel: only presentation state. Repository: only data access. Never mix concerns.
• If the class name contains "And", "Manager", or "Helper" spanning multiple domains, split it.

Open / Closed (O)

• Extend behaviour via new implementations or injected strategies, not by modifying existing classes.
• Use interfaces and abstract classes as stable extension points — callers depend on the abstraction.

Liskov Substitution (L)

• A subclass must honour every contract of its superclass: don't throw unchecked exceptions the parent doesn't throw, don't weaken preconditions.
• If overriding breaks callers, prefer composition (has-a) over inheritance.

Interface Segregation (I)

• Prefer narrow, role-specific interfaces over fat interfaces.
• A class implementing an interface should use every method it provides.

// GOOD — focused interfaces
interface Readable  { float read(); }
interface Writable  { void  write(float value); }

// BAD — forces all implementors to provide unused methods
interface SensorGod { float read(); void write(float v); void calibrate(); void reset(); }

Dependency Inversion (D)

• High-level classes must not depend on concrete low-level classes — both depend on interfaces.
• Inject dependencies through the constructor — never instantiate concrete collaborators inside a class.
• In Android: use constructor injection (Hilt / Dagger) or manual injection in tests.

// GOOD — ThermalMonitor depends on the ISensor interface, not a concrete class
public final class ThermalMonitor {
    private final ISensor mSensor;

    public ThermalMonitor(@NonNull ISensor sensor) {
        mSensor = Objects.requireNonNull(sensor, "sensor must not be null");
    }
}

3. Immutability & Object Design

Prefer immutable objects. Mutability is the root cause of most concurrency bugs.

• Declare fields final whenever possible — signals intent clearly and enables safe sharing.
• Make classes final unless designed for inheritance. Document inheritance contracts explicitly with @NonNull/@Nullable and override invariants.
• Prefer value objects (immutable data carriers) over mutable beans.
• Builder pattern for objects with ≥ 3 optional parameters — avoid telescoping constructors.
• Override equals(), hashCode(), and toString() for value objects — always together, never partially.
• Use Java 16+ records (record Point(int x, int y) {}) for pure data carriers when the toolchain allows.

// GOOD — immutable value object
public final class Temperature {
    private final float mDegC;

    public Temperature(float degC) {
        mDegC = degC;
    }

    public float getDegC() { return mDegC; }

    @Override public boolean equals(Object o) {
        if (this == o) return true;
        if (!(o instanceof Temperature)) return false;
        return Float.compare(((Temperature) o).mDegC, mDegC) == 0;
    }

    @Override public int hashCode() { return Float.hashCode(mDegC); }

    @Override public String toString() { return "Temperature{" + mDegC + "°C}"; }
}

4. Null Safety

Every NullPointerException in production is a design failure.

• Annotate all method parameters, return types, and fields with @NonNull or @Nullable (androidx annotation or javax.annotation). Be explicit — unannotated means unknown.
• Validate @NonNull parameters at the top of every constructor and public method: Objects.requireNonNull(param, "param must not be null");
• Prefer Optional<T> as a return type when a method may legitimately return no value — never return null from a public API.
• Never pass null intentionally — redesign the API or use Optional/overloading.
• Use @Nullable + explicit null-check over silent null-swallowing patterns like if (x != null) scattered throughout business logic.

// GOOD — Optional as explicit "no value" return
public Optional<Float> tryReadDegC() {
    if (!mIsInitialised) { return Optional.empty(); }
    return Optional.of(convertAdcToTemp(mDriver.readChannel(mChannel)));
}

// BAD — null return forces every caller to guess whether null is possible
public Float readDegC() {
    if (!mIsInitialised) { return null; }   // callers won't know to check
    return convertAdcToTemp(mDriver.readChannel(mChannel));
}

5. Modern Java Idioms (Java 8–17)

Prefer language features that remove boilerplate and eliminate bug classes.

• var (Java 10) — use for local variables when the type is obvious from the right-hand side. Avoid when it obscures type intent.
• Lambdas & method references — replace single-method anonymous classes. Prefer method references (ClassName::method) over equivalent lambdas.
• Streams — use for declarative data transformation pipelines. Avoid side effects inside map/filter. Prefer collect(Collectors.toUnmodifiableList()) over mutable lists.
• Optional<T> — return type for "maybe a value". Never wrap Optional in another Optional or use it as a field/parameter type.
• switch expressions (Java 14) — prefer over switch statements; exhaustive, returns a value.
• Records (Java 16) — concise immutable data carriers replacing boilerplate POJOs.
• instanceof pattern matching (Java 16) — if (obj instanceof String s) eliminates explicit cast.
• Sealed classes (Java 17) — constrain inheritance to a known set of subtypes.
• Collections.unmodifiableList / List.of / Map.of — return unmodifiable views from getters; never expose mutable internal collections.

// Method reference over lambda
list.stream()
    .filter(Objects::nonNull)
    .map(String::toUpperCase)
    .collect(Collectors.toUnmodifiableList());

// switch expression (Java 14)
String label = switch (state) {
    case IDLE    -> "Idle";
    case ACTIVE  -> "Active";
    case FAULT   -> "Fault";
};

// instanceof pattern matching (Java 16)
if (event instanceof TemperatureEvent te) {
    process(te.getDegC());
}

6. Error Handling

Choose one strategy per module boundary. Never swallow exceptions silently.

• Never catch (Exception e) { /* swallow */ } — at minimum log and rethrow or propagate.
• Never use exceptions for control flow (e.g., catching NumberFormatException instead of calling isDigit).
• Create domain-specific exception types for different failure categories — SensorException, HalException.
• Always log at the point of first catch with full context (Log.e(TAG, "readTemp failed: channel=" + mChannel, e)).
• In Android: avoid throwing exceptions across Binder calls — use ServiceSpecificException or return status codes via AIDL.

// GOOD — domain exception with context
public float readDegC() throws SensorException {
    if (!mIsInitialised) {
        throw new IllegalStateException("TemperatureSensor not initialised");
    }
    try {
        return mDriver.readChannel(mChannel);
    } catch (HalException e) {
        throw new SensorException("Failed to read ADC channel " + mChannel, e);
    }
}

7. Concurrency & Thread Safety

Android has a strict main-thread rule. Design for it from the start.

• Document the thread-safety contract of every class and method with @MainThread, @WorkerThread, @AnyThread, @GuardedBy("mLock") annotations (androidx).
• Never do I/O, blocking calls, or long computation on the main/UI thread — use ExecutorService, HandlerThread, or coroutines.
• Protect shared mutable state with synchronized blocks or java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock. Prefer the latter for tryLock / fairness needs.
• Use java.util.concurrent atomic types (AtomicBoolean, AtomicInteger) for simple shared flags — cheaper than synchronized.
• Prefer immutable data + message passing over shared mutable state. In Android: use Handler / Looper for thread-confined state, LiveData / Flow for observable state across threads.
• Use volatile only for single-variable visibility guarantees — it is not a substitute for synchronisation of compound actions.
• Use ConcurrentHashMap, CopyOnWriteArrayList for shared collections instead of manual synchronization.
• Use CountDownLatch, Semaphore, BlockingQueue from java.util.concurrent for cross-thread coordination — not wait/notify directly.

@GuardedBy("mLock")
private float mLatestDegC;
private final Object mLock = new Object();

/** @thread_safety Safe for concurrent readers and a single writer. */
@AnyThread
public float getLatestDegC() {
    synchronized (mLock) { return mLatestDegC; }
}

@WorkerThread
public void update(float degC) {
    synchronized (mLock) { mLatestDegC = degC; }
}

8. Design Patterns

Pick the simplest pattern that solves the problem. Over-engineering is a defect.

Creational

Structural

Behavioural

// Builder — avoids telescoping constructors
public final class SensorConfig {
    private final int    mChannel;
    private final long   mTimeoutMs;
    private final String mTag;

    private SensorConfig(Builder b) {
        mChannel   = b.mChannel;
        mTimeoutMs = b.mTimeoutMs;
        mTag       = b.mTag;
    }

    public static final class Builder {
        private int    mChannel;
        private long   mTimeoutMs = 100L;
        private String mTag = "Sensor";

        public Builder channel(int channel)      { mChannel = channel; return this; }
        public Builder timeoutMs(long ms)        { mTimeoutMs = ms;   return this; }
        public Builder tag(@NonNull String tag)  { mTag = tag;        return this; }
        public SensorConfig build()              { return new SensorConfig(this); }
    }
}

// Strategy via @FunctionalInterface
@FunctionalInterface
public interface SensorFilter { float apply(float raw); }

SensorFilter lowPass = raw -> raw * 0.9f + mPrev * 0.1f;

9. Android-Specific Best Practices

Android has its own lifecycle, IPC model, and resource constraints on top of Java.

• Context leaks: never store Activity context in a static field or in a long-lived object. Use Application context for non-UI resources.
• WeakReference for callbacks and listeners that might outlive the component. Always unregister in onDestroy / onStop.
• Binder / AIDL: methods called on the Binder thread, not the main thread. Never assume otherwise. Use @NonNull/@Nullable in .aidl files.
• Lifecycle-awareness: prefer LifecycleObserver / DefaultLifecycleObserver over manual onStart/onStop bookkeeping.
• Resources: release Cursor, ParcelFileDescriptor, MediaPlayer, and similar in finally or try-with-resources.
• Permissions: check at runtime before use — never assume a permission is still granted after the initial check.
• Log tag: private static final String TAG = TemperatureSensor.class.getSimpleName(); — max 23 chars (Android limit).
• Handler / HandlerThread: always call quit() or quitSafely() when the component is destroyed to prevent leaks.

// try-with-resources for Android resources
try (Cursor cursor = db.query(table, columns, null, null, null, null, null)) {
    while (cursor.moveToNext()) {
        processRow(cursor);
    }
}

// Lifecycle-aware component
public class SensorObserver implements DefaultLifecycleObserver {
    @Override public void onStart(@NonNull LifecycleOwner owner)  { register(); }
    @Override public void onStop(@NonNull LifecycleOwner owner)   { unregister(); }
}

10. Documentation (Javadoc)

If the intent is not obvious from the code alone, document it before writing the code.

• Every public class needs a /** @brief summary */ block stating its purpose and context.
• Every public method: summary sentence, @param, @return, @throws for each checked and commonly thrown unchecked exception.
• @NonNull / @Nullable on every parameter and return type — treat it as part of the API contract.
• @GuardedBy, @MainThread, @WorkerThread, @AnyThread on methods and fields with threading constraints.
• @hide in AOSP/framework code to exclude from public SDK Javadoc while keeping internal docs.
• {@link ClassName#method} to cross-reference related APIs.

/**
 * Reads the current temperature from the NTC thermistor on the configured ADC channel.
 *
 * @return Temperature in degrees Celsius, or {@link Optional#empty()} on hardware error.
 *
 * @throws IllegalStateException if {@link #init()} has not been called successfully.
 * @thread_safety Safe for concurrent callers after successful {@link #init()}.
 */
@WorkerThread
@NonNull
public Optional<Float> readDegC() { /* … */ }

Step-by-Step Workflows

Step 1: Set up the file structure

Use the correct package declaration; name the file after the public class.

Step 2: Design the class

Apply immutability where possible; annotate with @NonNull / @Nullable consistently.

Step 3: Apply the patterns from this skill

Follow sections 1–10 below in order: naming → null safety → modern Java → error handling, etc.

Step 4: Run Android Lint

Fix all Error severity issues; investigate and address Warning issues.

Step 5: Write unit tests

Use JUnit 4/5 with Mockito; test every public method with at least a happy-path test.

Pre-Commit Review Checklist

Before pushing to Gerrit, verify:

Package & file

• One top-level public class per .java file; file name matches class name
• Package name is lowercase, reverse-domain; no default package
• No wildcard imports; no unused imports

Class design

• Each class has a single, clearly stated responsibility
• Constructors validate @NonNull parameters with Objects.requireNonNull
• Immutable fields declared final; value objects override equals/hashCode/toString

Null safety

• All public parameters and return types annotated @NonNull or @Nullable
• No public method returns null — use Optional<T> or throw
• No silent null-swallowing; null checks have explicit consequences

Modern Java

• No anonymous inner classes where a lambda / method reference suffices
• List.of / Map.of / Collections.unmodifiableList for collections returned from getters
• Optional<T> used as return type, not as parameter or field type

Error handling

• No empty catch blocks — at minimum log + rethrow
• Exceptions carry full context (message + cause)
• No exceptions across Binder calls — use ServiceSpecificException or status codes

Concurrency

• Thread-safety contract documented (@MainThread, @WorkerThread, @GuardedBy)
• No I/O or blocking calls on the main thread
• Shared mutable state protected by synchronized or java.util.concurrent

Android-specific

• No Activity context stored in static fields or long-lived objects
• All Cursor / ParcelFileDescriptor / closeable resources in try-with-resources
• Listeners / callbacks unregistered in the matching lifecycle callback

Documentation

• Every public class has a Javadoc summary
• Every public method has @param, @return, @throws

Examples

See companion files:

• GoodTemperatureSensor.java — SOLID, null-safe, Javadoc, Optional return
• BadSensor.java — common anti-patterns annotated line by line

Troubleshooting

References

• Effective Java (3rd Ed.) — Joshua Bloch
• Android Code Style Guide
• Android Architecture Guide
• Java Concurrency in Practice — Goetz et al.
• Internal skill: kotlin-code-writing — Kotlin equivalent for the same platforms