Default method survey results

[Jim Gish]

On 08/13/2012 10:24 AM, Maurizio Cimadamore wrote:
> On 13/08/12 15:09, Jose A. Illescas wrote:
>> Gregg,
>>
>>      Compiler can add "default" keyword for every method (on interface)
>> with implementation (delimiteded with "{...}" instead of "default")
>>
>>      Demarcations on developer hands are ugly, (I think) must be resolved
>> by compiler...
> In the Java land we tend to adhere to the general principle of 'reading
> is more important than writing' - can the 'default' keyword be omitted
> in principle? Yes, it is indeed trivial to do so in the compiler. Do we
> really want to go down that path? I don't think so, for the following
> reasons:
>
> *) a keyword (like default) at the beginning of the method declaration
> will make it very clear and unambiguous that the following method
> declaration is kinda special. Of course you could 'infer' the same
> information by looking as to whether the method has a body or not, but
> it's also a matter of clarity (think of cases where you have multiple
> thrown types, annotations, etc.).
>
I agree, Maurizio.  To quote the old song title "Don't let me be 
misunderstood"  There is considerable value in making one's intentions 
clear.  In the case where we are deviating from the long-standing 
construct/constraint of no methods defined in interfaces, having to be 
explicit by saying "default" or something else, makes it clear that you 
know what  you are doing, that in fact, it is your intention to do 
something special here.

Jim