Chapter 4. Best Practices for Java Development

In This Chapter

• Project Standards

• Java Style Guidelines

• Java Programming Guidelines

• The Java Development Process

Everyone typically has his or her own approach to learning to program and gaining competency in a specific language, and the Java programming language is no exception to that rule. There are many techniques you can use to exercise your programming skills, but developing software consistently through proven programming standards and best practices is generally the best avenue to take towards guaranteeing competency and success.

Any BEA WebLogic application development effort is in essence a Java-based project, and will require you to develop or inherit a standardized framework consisting of rules and best practices that will regulate how the Java software is developed. This development framework will need to be well thought out and embraced by all the Java developers on the project in order for them to concentrate on design and code in a consistent and fluent fashion.

The focus of this chapter is to provide proven Java programming development standards and best practices that you can use to ensure that a development framework is in place prior to the launch of any Java coding effort. Hence, this chapter has been methodically approached through the following five main sections:

• Project Standards , which describes a number of issues that need to be addressed before software development starts.

• Java Namespaces and Directories , which describes Java package naming and the directory layout for Java programs including source code control systems.

• Java Style Guidelines , which describes a recommended set of style rules to achieve clarity and uniformity for Java source code.

• Java Programming Guidelines , which describes a set of Java coding practices for writing easy-to-understand software and identifying areas where Java programs can be optimized.

• The Java Development Process , which describes an incremental approach to software development, a dynamic design and coding process that is crucial to the successful deployment and maintenance of Java software.