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How to change default generic type from E to T [message #1826823]

Fri, 01 May 2020 15:36

Andrew Lakkis

Messages: 1
Registered: May 2020

Junior Member

I've been working a lot recently with object-oriented programming in java on Eclipse, and the preferred name for generic types used in my CS class is "T", however, whenever code assist suggests a name it uses "E" as a name instead. Is there a way to change this default generic name, from E to T in preferences? I want this to apply to all future projects in Eclipse. If so can someone please direct me through it? Thank you.

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Re: How to change default generic type from E to T [message #1826845 is a reply to message #1826823]

Sat, 02 May 2020 07:58

Ed Willink

Messages: 7680
Registered: July 2009

Senior Member

Hi

I think that you will find it defaults to the spelling in the declaration so to change a Collection you would need Oracle to change from Collection<E> to Collection<T>. For your own classes you have a free choice.

Many authors pick a slightly mnemonic parameter letter, so the original design was probably E for Collection-of-Element. By changing to T you subvert that clue. Of course if Thingy is very important in your application T might be sensible for a Collection-of-Thingy.

Regards

Ed Willink

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Re: How to change default generic type from E to T [message #1826846 is a reply to message #1826845]

Sat, 02 May 2020 10:14

Stephan Herrmann

Messages: 1853
Registered: July 2009

Senior Member

Let me add that using the same name for all type parameters can also cause a lot of confusion, like in compile errors of the kind "Type mismatch: cannot convert from T to T". We frequently get bug reports with examples that simply cannot be deciphered until we assign unique names to all type parameters. Some people even forget that there is no rule in the Java grammar saying that type parameters must have single letter names ;p
The <T> convention is a bit like naming all classes C, all methods m, and all arguments arg.

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