How to Pass Methods to Anonymous Class in Java: A Cleaner Approach

Discover how to streamline your Java testing methods by passing methods to anonymous classes without code duplication. Improve readability and maintainability with this easy guide!
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How to Pass Methods to Anonymous Class in Java: A Cleaner Approach

When writing automated tests in Java, you often repeat the same code block to execute different methods with slightly varying functionality, especially when dealing with exception handling. If you're facing this situation, you're not alone. This guide will explain how to effectively pass methods to anonymous classes in Java while reducing redundancy in your code.

The Problem at Hand

You presently have the following method for retrying operations in your automated tests:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Additionally, you have several test methods defined similarly, where each implements the Retryable interface. Each of these methods, though functionally different, repeat the same implementation structure. Here’s a snippet of those test methods:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The question here is: how can this be simplified without copy-pasting long blocks of code?

The Solution Explained

1. Separate Handlers Using Functional Interfaces

Instead of relying on a single interface that combines both Runnable and exception handling, you can split them into two distinct interfaces. Java allows the creation of functional interfaces—this is perfect since the Runnable interface is functional by itself.

Here’s an example of a new functional interface for handling exceptions:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

2. Utilize Lambdas for Clean Code

With the new ExceptionHandler in place, you can remove the need for anonymous classes by employing lambdas. This drastically reduces the number of lines and improves readability. Here's how that looks:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

3. Centralize Exception Handling

It appears the way you handle exceptions is consistent across your tests. So, let’s define this once instead of repeating it in every test method:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This makes the code not only cleaner but also easier to maintain.

Alternative Options

If you prefer different strategies, consider these alternatives:

Subclass the Retryable interface: Pull up common code to reduce redundancies.

Use a default implementation: Add common exception handling code within the Retryable interface itself.

Conclusion

By employing these techniques, you can effectively pass methods to anonymous classes without cluttering your tests with repetitive code blocks. This not only enhances the readability and maintainability of your tests but also improves your workflow as a developer. So next time you find yourself copy-pasting code, remember there’s often a simpler way—embrace functional interfaces and lambda expressions!

Happy coding!