4 Common Development Mistakes Java Developers Make

 Hello Java lovers,

In my last blog, I discussed five reasons why most developers and programmers like you and me love Java. And today, I am going to discuss a few common mistakes that we have been making while working with the Java platform. 

Read here -  5 Reasons I Love Java and So Do the Other Developers

Making mistakes isn’t a bad thing; it indicates that you are learning. Besides, by realizing, understanding, and rectifying your mistakes, you put yourself to improving. Even Java developers like me who have got a lot of experience tend to make mistakes often. Because… there’s no full stop to learning!

So, here are the most common Java programming mistakes we often make and their solutions. Pay attention!

1. Overlooking Existing Libraries

Despite knowing that Java offers an innumerable number of libraries, developers often mistake to ignore them. You must explore the existing libraries before reinventing the wheel. Most of the methods and other resources you may be looking for exist in these libraries. Hence, the first thing you must do is to look for these libraries. Many of them have been polished and are free to use. 

2. Skipping Closing Curly Braces 

Another common mistake we make is to forget to put the closing braces. This often happens due to putting the open braces without closing them immediately or improper indentation of the code. While the mistake is detected quickly by modern IDE’s and the compiler, developers must try avoiding this mistake. To prevent this mistake, you should

• Always write the opening and closing braces together and then write the code inside. 

• Format the code properly.

3. Missing the ‘Break’ in a Switch case block

This is one mistake that can make you feel embarrassed before your client as this error may remain undiscovered in production. Missing a ‘break’ keyword in your switch statement can lead to disastrous outcomes. 

As a clean solution, you should use polymorphism and move code with particular behaviors into distinct classes. 

4. Memory Leaks

Memory leaks can happen in several ways in Java. While Java uses automatic memory management, developers must know how memory is used in the application. Potential reasons behind memory leaks in Java are: 

•  Endless object references as the garbage collector aren’t able to eliminate objects from the heap although there are still references to the theme, and

•  A group of objects referencing each other. This causes circular dependencies which perplexes the garbage collector in deciding whether or not to use these objects with cross-dependency references. 

The Takeaway

As known, the Java platform simplifies many things in development. However, its features, such as decent OOPS tools or eliminating memory management, don’t remove all the issues a Java developer faces. Hence, the best way to avoid and address Java application errors are tutorials, knowledge, and practice. 

And if you need an experienced Java Developer by your side or if you’re a developer and stuck in any of your application development, feel free to contact me at smir30@aol.com