About 128-java-generics
A Java skill for reviewing and improving generics to strengthen compile-time type safety and reusable APIs. It covers wildcard variance, type erasure, safe varargs, and generic API design, with compile and verification safeguards.
Key features
- 01Avoid raw types and unsafe casts
- 02Apply PECS wildcard variance
- 03Account for type erasure
- 04Prevent heap pollution with SafeVarargs
- 05Design reusable generic APIs
- 06Use generics with records and sealed types
Use cases
- 01Improve Java generic type safety
- 02Refactor APIs for reusable type contexts
- 03Review wildcard and variance usage
- 04Address unchecked casts and raw types
Install
Copy the command and run it in a terminal.
npx skills add https:/ / github.com/ jabrena/ plinth --skill 128-java-genericsAfter installing, type/128-java-genericsin Claude Code to confirm it loaded.
Bundled filesreferences/128-java-generics.md
Details
From the project READMEJava Generics Best Practices
Review and improve Java code using comprehensive generics best practices that enforce compile-time type safety and enable flexible, reusable APIs.
What is covered in this Skill?
- Type safety: avoiding raw types, eliminating unsafe casts
- Code reusability: generic methods and types for multiple type contexts
- PECS wildcards:
? extendsfor producers,? superfor consumers - Diamond operator for type inference
- Type erasure awareness: type tokens, factory patterns, array creation
- Generic inheritance and variance: invariance, covariance, contravariance
@SafeVarargsfor heap pollution prevention- Wildcard capture helpers, self-bounded generics (CRTP) for fluent builders
- Proper wildcard API design:
Comparator<? super T>,Function<? super T, ? extends R> - Arrays-vs-generics covariance pitfalls, serialization with
TypeReference/TypeToken - Generic naming conventions (
T,E,K/V,?), typesafe heterogeneous containers - Integration with Records, sealed types, and pattern matching
Scope: The reference is organized by examples (good/bad code patterns) for each core area. Apply recommendations based on applicable examples.
Constraints
Before applying any generics changes, ensure the project compiles. If compilation fails, stop immediately — do not proceed until resolved. After applying improvements, run full verification.
- MANDATORY: Run
./mvnw compileormvn compilebefore applying any change - SAFETY: If compilation fails, stop immediately and do not proceed — compilation failure is a blocking condition
- VERIFY: Run
./mvnw clean verifyormvn clean verifyafter applying improvements - BEFORE APPLYING: Read the reference for detailed examples, good/bad patterns, and constraints
- EDGE CASE: If request scope is ambiguous, stop and ask a clarifying question before applying changes
- EDGE CASE: If required inputs, files, or tooling are missing, report what is missing and ask whether to proceed with setup guidance
When to use this skill
- Improve the code with Generics
- Apply Generics
- Refactor the code with Generics
- Improve generic type safety in Java APIs
- Fix raw types and unchecked casts in Java code
Workflow
- Compile project before generics changes
Run ./mvnw compile or mvn compile and stop immediately if compilation fails.
- Read generics reference and assess type safety
Read references/128-java-generics.md and identify raw types, unsafe casts, wildcard misuse, and API variance opportunities.
- Apply generics refactorings
Implement selected generic type and API improvements while preserving behavior.
- Verify with full build
Run ./mvnw clean verify or mvn clean verify after applying improvements.
Reference
For detailed guidance, examples, and constraints, see references/128-java-generics.md.