java: multiple constructors

Question

I'm having some trouble using multiple constructors in java.

what I want to do is something like this:

public class MyClass {

 // first constructor
 public MyClass(arg1, arg2, arg3) {
  // do some construction
 }

 // second constructor
 public MyClass(arg1) {
      // do some stuff to calculate arg2 and arg3
      this(arg1, arg2, arg3);
    }
}

but I can't, since the second constructor cannot call another constructor, unless it is the first line.

What is the common solution for such situation? I can't calculate arg2 and arg3 "in line". I thought maybe creating a construction helper method, that will do the actual construction, but I'm not sure that's so "pretty"...

EDIT: Using a helper method is also problematic since some of my fields are final, and I can't set them using a helper method.

Answer 1

Typically use another common method - a "construction helper" as you've suggested.

public class MyClass { 

    // first constructor 
    public MyClass(arg1, arg2, arg3) { 
      init(arg1, arg2, arg3); 
    } 

    // second constructor 
    public MyClass(int arg1) { 
      // do some stuff to calculate arg2 and arg3 
      init(arg1, arg2, arg3); 
    } 

    private init(int arg1, int arg2, int arg3) {
      // do some construction 
    }
} 

The alternative is a Factory-style approach in which you have a MyClassFactory that gives you MyClass instances, and MyClass has only the one constructor:

public class MyClass { 

    // constructor 
    public MyClass(arg1, arg2, arg3) { 
      // do some construction 
    } 
} 

public class MyClassFactory { 

    public static MyClass MakeMyClass(arg1, arg2, arg3) { 
      return new MyClass(arg1, arg2, arg3);
    } 

    public static MyClass MakeMyClass(arg1) { 
      // do some stuff to calculate arg2 and arg3 
      return new MyClass(arg1, arg2, arg3);
    } 
} 

I definitely prefer the first option.

Answer 2

Next possible solution is Factory method. These static methods can be overloaded and after calculation they can call the private / protected constructor

public class MyClass {

    private MyClass( arg1, arg2, arg3 ) {
         // do sth
    }

    public static MyClass getInstance( arg1 ) {
         // calculate arg2,3
        return new MyClass( arg1, arg2, arg3 );
    }

    public static MyClass getInstance( arg1, arg2, arg3 ) {
        return new MyClass( arg1, arg2, arg3 );
    }
}

EDIT: This method is also ideal when you have a final fields

Answer 3

You can move the code of MyClass(arg1, arg2, arg3) into helper method (name it Init or something else ) and then call this method in both constructors.

Answer 4

You could create a factory method which calls the constructor:

public class MyClass { 

    // first constructor 
    public MyClass(arg1, arg2, arg3) { 
    // do some construction

    } 

    // second constructor as factory method
    public static createMyClassAndDoFunkyStuff(int arg1) { 
      // do some stuff to calculate arg2 and arg3 
      return new MyClass(arg1, arg2, arg3); 
    } 

} 

Answer 5

The helper and factory options are very good.

There is another one:

public MyClass(int arg1) {
    this(arg1, calculateArg2(), calculateArg3());
}

private static int calculateArg2() {..}
private static int calculateArg3() {..}

Answer 6

Although I prefer the factory method option pointed to by several other answers, I wanted to suggest another option: You can use static methods to do the calculation of your other parameters:

public class MyClass {
    public MyClass(int arg1, int arg2, int arg3) {
        // do some construction
    }

    public MyClass(int arg1) {
      //call to this() must be the first one
      this(arg1, calculateArg2(arg1), calculateArg3());
      //you can do other stuff here
    }

    private static int calculateArg2(int arg1) {
      //calc arg2 here
    }

    private static int calculateArg3() {
      //calc arg3 here
    }
}

Answer 7

Another way is this:

public class MyClass {

  // first constructor
  public MyClass(arg1, arg2, arg3) {
   // do some construction
   doSomeStuffToArg3Arg3(arg2, arg3)
  }

  // second constructor
  public MyClass(int arg1) {
      this(arg1, arg2, arg3);
  }

  private void doSomeStuffToArg3Arg3(int arg2, int arg3) {
     // do some stuff to calculate arg2 and arg3
  }
}

Answer 8

As an alternative to the answers given, the simplest way is to refactor the argument calculation to the 3 argument constructor;

public class MyClass {

    // first constructor
    public MyClass(arg1, arg2, arg3) {
        if (null == arg2) {
            // calculate arg2
        }
        if (null == arg3) {
            // calculate arg3
        }
        // do some construction
    }

    // second constructor
    public MyClass(arg1) {
        this(arg1, null, null);
    }
}

Answer 9

Use marker values for 'missing'

public class MyClass {
 public MyClass(arg1, arg2, arg3) {
  // do some stuff to calculate arg2 and arg3 if they are the missing values
  // do some construction
 }
 public MyClass(arg1) {
   this(arg1, null, null);
 }
}

For best results, make the 'general' constructor protected or private.