What's the most helpful feature in Java 5 and why?

Miscellaneous Topics
#1

Enums. :smiley:

Sun had done a surprisingly awesome job with them.
In fact, there are a lot of nice ways you can implement Java enums to create new design methodologies within your programs.

In fact, I prefer Java enum implementation over all the other languages implementation.

Enums with intelligence. :slight_smile:

I’ve just been reading about them now in depth because how I’ve been using enums is the same as in any other language.

However, I had a great idea. Call it a brain fart.

I’ve been reading Sun’s explanations and when I noticed this in particular:


public enum Operation {
    PLUS, MINUS, TIMES, DIVIDE;

    // Do arithmetic op represented by this constant
    double eval(double x, double y){
        switch(this) {
            case PLUS:   return x + y;
            case MINUS:  return x - y;
            case TIMES:  return x * y;
            case DIVIDE: return x / y;
        }
        throw new AssertionError("Unknown op: " + this);
    }
}

I came to the conclusion that if you were to right a scripting language and pass it into Java, you can have values passed into Enums to automate the work real nice and neat.

So what do you guys think?

#2

Enum implementation is pretty neat although the Enum pattern (which is basically the same) has existed a while. I’m not sure I’ve used them in enough anger to see any significant difference between using the two. (apart from switch blocks)

Kev

#3

You can’t be serious?
When you say the Sun example pattern has been out for a while do you mean it’s been used in languages like C++?

I’ve never seen anyone use enums like Sun’s example has and I’ve done quite a bit of C++.

[quote]Enum implementation is pretty neat although the Enum pattern (which is basically the same) has existed a while. I’m not sure I’ve used them in enough anger to see any significant difference between using the two. (apart from switch blocks)

Kev
[/quote]

#4

No, I meant in Java.

I’ve been using Enum Pattern classes in Java for quite a few years.

Kev

#5

[quote]No, I meant in Java.

I’ve been using Enum Pattern classes in Java for quite a few years.

Kev
[/quote]
Oh. Though they wouldn’t be as neat as if you used enums. :wink:

#6

There’s only a teeny bit of syntactical sugar for enums. The feature I like most is static import. Saves lots of ugly code.

Cas :slight_smile:

#7

Static import for me… Makes the code nicer (especially using LWJGL :P).

Chman

#8

Nano timer in the standard library, of course.
Possibility to have a some nano timer at any Java2 SE platform is very important.