Java Review 2 Errors, Exceptions, Debugging
Nelson Padua-Perez Chau-Wen Tseng
Department of Computer Science University of Maryland, College Park
Java Review Topics
Errors Exceptions Debugging
Program Errors
Types of errors
Compile-time (syntax) errors Run-time errors Logic errors
Program Errors Compile Time
Compile-time (syntax) errors
Errors in code construction Lexical (typographical), grammatical, types Detected during compilation Usually easy to correct quickly
Examples
Misspelled keyword Missing or misplaced symbol Incorrect operator for variable type
Program Errors Run Time
Run-time errors
Operations illegal / impossible to execute Detected during program execution But not detectable at compile time Treated as exceptions in Java
Example
Division by zero Array index out of bounds Using null pointer Illegal format conversion
Program Errors Logic
Logic errors
Operations leading to incorrect program state May (or may not) lead to run-time errors Problem in design or implementation of algorithm
Examples
Computing incorrect arithmetic value Ignoring illegal input
Hardest error to handle Detect by testing, debugging
Java Review Topics
Errors Exceptions Debugging
Exceptions
Rare event outside normal behavior of code Examples
Division by zero Access past end of array Out of memory Number input in wrong format (float vs. integer) Unable to write output to file Missing input file
Exception Handling Throw Exception
Approach
Throw exception
Example
A( ) { if (error) throw new ExceptionType(); } Java exception backtracks to B( ) { caller(s) until matching catch try { block found A( ); } catch (ExceptionType e) { ...action... } }
Representing Exceptions in Java
Exceptions represented as
Objects derived from class Throwable
Code
public class Throwable( ) extends Object { Throwable( ) // No error message Throwable( String mesg ) // Error message String getMessage() // Return error mesg void printStackTrace( ) { } // Record methods // called & location }
Generating & Handling Exceptions
Java primitives
Try Throw Catch Finally
Procedure for using exceptions
1. Enclose code generating exceptions in try block 2. Use throw to actually generate exception 3. Use catch to specify exception handlers 4. Use finally to specify actions after exception
Java Syntax
try { throw new eType1(); } catch (eType1 e) { ...action... } catch (eType2 e) { ...action... } finally { ...action... } // try block encloses throws // throw jumps to catch // catch block 1 // run if type match // catch block 2 // run if type match // final block // always executes
Exceptions Examples
FileNotFoundException ( java.io )
Request to open file fails
IllegalArgumentException ( java.lang )
Method passed illegal / inappropriate argument
IOException ( java.io )
Generic I/O error
NullPointerException ( java.lang )
Attend to access object using null reference
UnsupportedOperationException ( java.lang )
Object does not provide requested operation
Java Review Topics
Errors Exceptions Debugging
Debugging
Process of finding and fixing software errors
After testing detects error
Goal
Determine cause of run-time & logic errors Correct errors (without introducing new errors)
Similar to detective work
Carefully inspect information in program Code Values of variables Program behavior
Debugging Approaches
Classic
Insert debugging statements Trace program control flow Display value of variables
Modern
IDE (integrated development environment) Interactive debugger
Interactive Debugger
Capabilities
Provides trace of program execution Shows location in code where error encountered Interactive program execution Single step through code Run to breakpoints Displays values of variables For current state of program
Interactive Debugger
Single step
Execute single line of code at a time When executing method, can Finish entire method Execute first line in method Tedious (or impractical) for long-running programs
Interactive Debugger
Breakpoint
Specify location(s) in code Execute program until breakpoint encountered Can skip past uninteresting code
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