Seeking useful Eclipse Java code templates

java

prompt-engineering

best-practices

tools

byAlex Kataev·Sep 14, 2024

Enhance your productivity in Eclipse with a shortcut template for a try-catch block:

Navigate Preferences (Window > Preferences > Java > Editor > Templates).
Hit New, label it as trycatch.
In the pattern type:

try {
   ${cursor}
} catch (${exception_type} e) {
   e.printStackTrace(); // Oops! Something went wrong here.
}

Apply trycatch + Ctrl+Space for on-the-go boilerplate. Boost it further with additional patterns as required.

Boost your logging with templates

Java applications largely incorporate logging, therefore, custom templates for popular logging frameworks can save you precious time.

SLF4J template

Design and label it as slf4jlog:

import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;

private static final Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(${enclosing_type}.class); // Logger: SLF4J's gift to mankind.
${cursor}

Log4j 2 and Log4j templates

Let's make log4j2log and log4jlog:

// Log4j2
import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;

private static final Logger logger = LogManager.getLogger(${enclosing_type}.class); // "Log4j, Log4j2, Log4jwho?!" - Confused java dev.
${cursor}

// Log4j
import org.apache.log4j.Logger;

private static final Logger logger = Logger.getLogger(${enclosing_type}.class); // Log4j Logger: Older, but gold.
${cursor}

Java Util Logging (JUL)

jullog template for JUL users:

import java.util.logging.Logger;

private static final Logger logger = Logger.getLogger(${enclosing_type}.getName()); // JUL: The ancestor we never forget.
${cursor}

Tip: Just type template name and use Ctrl-Space for speedy integration.

Templates for mundane tasks

Reduce your boilerplate tasks with these game-changer templates:

readfile: Simplifies file I/O using try-with-resources.
createsingleton: Assists in double-checked locking for thread-safe singletons.
getsingleton: Retrieves easy singleton instance.
mapiterate: Enhances entry handling in data structures.

Quick tip: pres Shift-Alt-Up to select your code and then invoke the template with Alt-Shift-Z. For string formatting hit Ctrl-Space twice.

Mastering concurrent, I/O, and iteration with templates

Concurrent programming

Reduce common errors with this thread-safe singleton template:

public class Singleton {
    private volatile static Singleton instance;

    private Singleton() {}

    public static Singleton getInstance() {
        if (instance == null) {
            synchronized (Singleton.class) { // LOCKED! Can't have too many cooks to spoil the broth, can we?
                if (instance == null) {
                    instance = new Singleton(); // Voila! Your singleton is ready to serve.
                }
            }
        }
        return instance;
    }
}

File I/O

Try-with-resources is your true partner for I/O operations:

try (BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new FileReader("file.txt"))) {
    // Dear BufferedReader, thanks for having my back!
} catch (IOException e) {
    e.printStackTrace(); // Be polite, inform when exceptions visit.
}

Map iteration

Make traversing a Map's entries hassle-free:

Map<String, Integer> map = new HashMap<>();

// Template-Driven Iteration
for (Map.Entry<String, Integer> entry : map.entrySet()) {
    String key = entry.getKey();
    Integer value = entry.getValue();
    // No 'where in the map is the entry' mysteries anymore.
}

These templates trigger with just a few keystrokes. Say Yes to focus, No to boilerplate tasks!

Play cool with imports and cursor control

Incorporate import statements in your templates, save time over typing or waiting for Eclipse's organize imports. ${cursor} places your cursor at the right place. Now that's smart, isn't it?