xref: /aosp_15_r20/external/javapoet/README.md (revision 53ff1f6b77a38363a61ff037dc7178de5baa7db4)

JavaPoet
========

`JavaPoet` is a Java API for generating `.java` source files.

Source file generation can be useful when doing things such as annotation processing or interacting
with metadata files (e.g., database schemas, protocol formats). By generating code, you eliminate
the need to write boilerplate while also keeping a single source of truth for the metadata.


### Example

Here's a (boring) `HelloWorld` class:

```java
package com.example.helloworld;

public final class HelloWorld {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    System.out.println("Hello, JavaPoet!");
  }
}
```

And this is the (exciting) code to generate it with JavaPoet:

```java
MethodSpec main = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("main")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC, Modifier.STATIC)
    .returns(void.class)
    .addParameter(String[].class, "args")
    .addStatement("$T.out.println($S)", System.class, "Hello, JavaPoet!")
    .build();

TypeSpec helloWorld = TypeSpec.classBuilder("HelloWorld")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC, Modifier.FINAL)
    .addMethod(main)
    .build();

JavaFile javaFile = JavaFile.builder("com.example.helloworld", helloWorld)
    .build();

javaFile.writeTo(System.out);
```

To declare the main method, we've created a `MethodSpec` "main" configured with modifiers, return
type, parameters and code statements. We add the main method to a `HelloWorld` class, and then add
that to a `HelloWorld.java` file.

In this case we write the file to `System.out`, but we could also get it as a string
(`JavaFile.toString()`) or write it to the file system (`JavaFile.writeTo()`).

The [Javadoc][javadoc] catalogs the complete JavaPoet API, which we explore below.

### Code & Control Flow

Most of JavaPoet's API uses plain old immutable Java objects. There's also builders, method chaining
and varargs to make the API friendly. JavaPoet offers models for classes & interfaces (`TypeSpec`),
fields (`FieldSpec`), methods & constructors (`MethodSpec`), parameters (`ParameterSpec`) and
annotations (`AnnotationSpec`).

But the _body_ of methods and constructors is not modeled. There's no expression class, no
statement class or syntax tree nodes. Instead, JavaPoet uses strings for code blocks:

```java
MethodSpec main = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("main")
    .addCode(""
        + "int total = 0;\n"
        + "for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {\n"
        + "  total += i;\n"
        + "}\n")
    .build();
```

Which generates this:

```java
void main() {
  int total = 0;
  for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
    total += i;
  }
}
```

The manual semicolons, line wrapping, and indentation are tedious and so JavaPoet offers APIs to
make it easier. There's `addStatement()` which takes care of semicolons and newline, and
`beginControlFlow()` + `endControlFlow()` which are used together for braces, newlines, and
indentation:

```java
MethodSpec main = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("main")
    .addStatement("int total = 0")
    .beginControlFlow("for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)")
    .addStatement("total += i")
    .endControlFlow()
    .build();
```

This example is lame because the generated code is constant! Suppose instead of just adding 0 to 10,
we want to make the operation and range configurable. Here's a method that generates a method:

```java
private MethodSpec computeRange(String name, int from, int to, String op) {
  return MethodSpec.methodBuilder(name)
      .returns(int.class)
      .addStatement("int result = 1")
      .beginControlFlow("for (int i = " + from + "; i < " + to + "; i++)")
      .addStatement("result = result " + op + " i")
      .endControlFlow()
      .addStatement("return result")
      .build();
}
```

And here's what we get when we call `computeRange("multiply10to20", 10, 20, "*")`:

```java
int multiply10to20() {
  int result = 1;
  for (int i = 10; i < 20; i++) {
    result = result * i;
  }
  return result;
}
```

Methods generating methods! And since JavaPoet generates source instead of bytecode, you can
read through it to make sure it's right.

Some control flow statements, such as `if/else`, can have unlimited control flow possibilities.
You can handle those options using `nextControlFlow()`:

```java
MethodSpec main = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("main")
    .addStatement("long now = $T.currentTimeMillis()", System.class)
    .beginControlFlow("if ($T.currentTimeMillis() < now)", System.class)
    .addStatement("$T.out.println($S)", System.class, "Time travelling, woo hoo!")
    .nextControlFlow("else if ($T.currentTimeMillis() == now)", System.class)
    .addStatement("$T.out.println($S)", System.class, "Time stood still!")
    .nextControlFlow("else")
    .addStatement("$T.out.println($S)", System.class, "Ok, time still moving forward")
    .endControlFlow()
    .build();
```

Which generates:

```java
void main() {
  long now = System.currentTimeMillis();
  if (System.currentTimeMillis() < now)  {
    System.out.println("Time travelling, woo hoo!");
  } else if (System.currentTimeMillis() == now) {
    System.out.println("Time stood still!");
  } else {
    System.out.println("Ok, time still moving forward");
  }
}
```

Catching exceptions using `try/catch` is also a use case for `nextControlFlow()`:

```java
MethodSpec main = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("main")
    .beginControlFlow("try")
    .addStatement("throw new Exception($S)", "Failed")
    .nextControlFlow("catch ($T e)", Exception.class)
    .addStatement("throw new $T(e)", RuntimeException.class)
    .endControlFlow()
    .build();
```

Which produces:

```java
void main() {
  try {
    throw new Exception("Failed");
  } catch (Exception e) {
    throw new RuntimeException(e);
  }
}
```

### $L for Literals

The string-concatenation in calls to `beginControlFlow()` and `addStatement` is distracting. Too
many operators. To address this, JavaPoet offers a syntax inspired-by but incompatible-with
[`String.format()`][formatter]. It accepts **`$L`** to emit a **literal** value in the output. This
works just like `Formatter`'s `%s`:

```java
private MethodSpec computeRange(String name, int from, int to, String op) {
  return MethodSpec.methodBuilder(name)
      .returns(int.class)
      .addStatement("int result = 0")
      .beginControlFlow("for (int i = $L; i < $L; i++)", from, to)
      .addStatement("result = result $L i", op)
      .endControlFlow()
      .addStatement("return result")
      .build();
}
```

Literals are emitted directly to the output code with no escaping. Arguments for literals may be
strings, primitives, and a few JavaPoet types described below.

### $S for Strings

When emitting code that includes string literals, we can use **`$S`** to emit a **string**, complete
with wrapping quotation marks and escaping. Here's a program that emits 3 methods, each of which
returns its own name:

```java
public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
  TypeSpec helloWorld = TypeSpec.classBuilder("HelloWorld")
      .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC, Modifier.FINAL)
      .addMethod(whatsMyName("slimShady"))
      .addMethod(whatsMyName("eminem"))
      .addMethod(whatsMyName("marshallMathers"))
      .build();

  JavaFile javaFile = JavaFile.builder("com.example.helloworld", helloWorld)
      .build();

  javaFile.writeTo(System.out);
}

private static MethodSpec whatsMyName(String name) {
  return MethodSpec.methodBuilder(name)
      .returns(String.class)
      .addStatement("return $S", name)
      .build();
}
```

In this case, using `$S` gives us quotation marks:

```java
public final class HelloWorld {
  String slimShady() {
    return "slimShady";
  }

  String eminem() {
    return "eminem";
  }

  String marshallMathers() {
    return "marshallMathers";
  }
}
```

### $T for Types

We Java programmers love our types: they make our code easier to understand. And JavaPoet is on
board. It has rich built-in support for types, including automatic generation of `import`
statements. Just use **`$T`** to reference **types**:

```java
MethodSpec today = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("today")
    .returns(Date.class)
    .addStatement("return new $T()", Date.class)
    .build();

TypeSpec helloWorld = TypeSpec.classBuilder("HelloWorld")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC, Modifier.FINAL)
    .addMethod(today)
    .build();

JavaFile javaFile = JavaFile.builder("com.example.helloworld", helloWorld)
    .build();

javaFile.writeTo(System.out);
```

That generates the following `.java` file, complete with the necessary `import`:

```java
package com.example.helloworld;

import java.util.Date;

public final class HelloWorld {
  Date today() {
    return new Date();
  }
}
```

We passed `Date.class` to reference a class that just-so-happens to be available when we're
generating code. This doesn't need to be the case. Here's a similar example, but this one
references a class that doesn't exist (yet):

```java
ClassName hoverboard = ClassName.get("com.mattel", "Hoverboard");

MethodSpec today = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("tomorrow")
    .returns(hoverboard)
    .addStatement("return new $T()", hoverboard)
    .build();
```

And that not-yet-existent class is imported as well:

```java
package com.example.helloworld;

import com.mattel.Hoverboard;

public final class HelloWorld {
  Hoverboard tomorrow() {
    return new Hoverboard();
  }
}
```

The `ClassName` type is very important, and you'll need it frequently when you're using JavaPoet.
It can identify any _declared_ class. Declared types are just the beginning of Java's rich type
system: we also have arrays, parameterized types, wildcard types, and type variables. JavaPoet has
classes for building each of these:

```java
ClassName hoverboard = ClassName.get("com.mattel", "Hoverboard");
ClassName list = ClassName.get("java.util", "List");
ClassName arrayList = ClassName.get("java.util", "ArrayList");
TypeName listOfHoverboards = ParameterizedTypeName.get(list, hoverboard);

MethodSpec beyond = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("beyond")
    .returns(listOfHoverboards)
    .addStatement("$T result = new $T<>()", listOfHoverboards, arrayList)
    .addStatement("result.add(new $T())", hoverboard)
    .addStatement("result.add(new $T())", hoverboard)
    .addStatement("result.add(new $T())", hoverboard)
    .addStatement("return result")
    .build();
```

JavaPoet will decompose each type and import its components where possible.

```java
package com.example.helloworld;

import com.mattel.Hoverboard;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

public final class HelloWorld {
  List<Hoverboard> beyond() {
    List<Hoverboard> result = new ArrayList<>();
    result.add(new Hoverboard());
    result.add(new Hoverboard());
    result.add(new Hoverboard());
    return result;
  }
}
```

#### Import static

JavaPoet supports `import static`. It does it via explicitly collecting type member names. Let's
enhance the previous example with some static sugar:

```java
...
ClassName namedBoards = ClassName.get("com.mattel", "Hoverboard", "Boards");

MethodSpec beyond = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("beyond")
    .returns(listOfHoverboards)
    .addStatement("$T result = new $T<>()", listOfHoverboards, arrayList)
    .addStatement("result.add($T.createNimbus(2000))", hoverboard)
    .addStatement("result.add($T.createNimbus(\"2001\"))", hoverboard)
    .addStatement("result.add($T.createNimbus($T.THUNDERBOLT))", hoverboard, namedBoards)
    .addStatement("$T.sort(result)", Collections.class)
    .addStatement("return result.isEmpty() ? $T.emptyList() : result", Collections.class)
    .build();

TypeSpec hello = TypeSpec.classBuilder("HelloWorld")
    .addMethod(beyond)
    .build();

JavaFile.builder("com.example.helloworld", hello)
    .addStaticImport(hoverboard, "createNimbus")
    .addStaticImport(namedBoards, "*")
    .addStaticImport(Collections.class, "*")
    .build();
```

JavaPoet will first add your `import static` block to the file as configured, match and mangle
all calls accordingly and also import all other types as needed.

```java
package com.example.helloworld;

import static com.mattel.Hoverboard.Boards.*;
import static com.mattel.Hoverboard.createNimbus;
import static java.util.Collections.*;

import com.mattel.Hoverboard;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

class HelloWorld {
  List<Hoverboard> beyond() {
    List<Hoverboard> result = new ArrayList<>();
    result.add(createNimbus(2000));
    result.add(createNimbus("2001"));
    result.add(createNimbus(THUNDERBOLT));
    sort(result);
    return result.isEmpty() ? emptyList() : result;
  }
}
```

### $N for Names

Generated code is often self-referential. Use **`$N`** to refer to another generated declaration by
its name. Here's a method that calls another:

```java
public String byteToHex(int b) {
  char[] result = new char[2];
  result[0] = hexDigit((b >>> 4) & 0xf);
  result[1] = hexDigit(b & 0xf);
  return new String(result);
}

public char hexDigit(int i) {
  return (char) (i < 10 ? i + '0' : i - 10 + 'a');
}
```

When generating the code above, we pass the `hexDigit()` method as an argument to the `byteToHex()`
method using `$N`:

```java
MethodSpec hexDigit = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("hexDigit")
    .addParameter(int.class, "i")
    .returns(char.class)
    .addStatement("return (char) (i < 10 ? i + '0' : i - 10 + 'a')")
    .build();

MethodSpec byteToHex = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("byteToHex")
    .addParameter(int.class, "b")
    .returns(String.class)
    .addStatement("char[] result = new char[2]")
    .addStatement("result[0] = $N((b >>> 4) & 0xf)", hexDigit)
    .addStatement("result[1] = $N(b & 0xf)", hexDigit)
    .addStatement("return new String(result)")
    .build();
```

### Code block format strings

Code blocks may specify the values for their placeholders in a few ways. Only one style may be used
for each operation on a code block.

#### Relative Arguments

Pass an argument value for each placeholder in the format string to `CodeBlock.add()`. In each
example, we generate code to say "I ate 3 tacos"

```java
CodeBlock.builder().add("I ate $L $L", 3, "tacos")
```

#### Positional Arguments

Place an integer index (1-based) before the placeholder in the format string to specify which
 argument to use.

```java
CodeBlock.builder().add("I ate $2L $1L", "tacos", 3)
```

#### Named Arguments

Use the syntax `$argumentName:X` where `X` is the format character and call `CodeBlock.addNamed()`
with a map containing all argument keys in the format string. Argument names use characters in
`a-z`, `A-Z`, `0-9`, and `_`, and must start with a lowercase character.

```java
Map<String, Object> map = new LinkedHashMap<>();
map.put("food", "tacos");
map.put("count", 3);
CodeBlock.builder().addNamed("I ate $count:L $food:L", map)
```

### Methods

All of the above methods have a code body. Use `Modifiers.ABSTRACT` to get a method without any
body. This is only legal if the enclosing class is either abstract or an interface.

```java
MethodSpec flux = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("flux")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.ABSTRACT, Modifier.PROTECTED)
    .build();

TypeSpec helloWorld = TypeSpec.classBuilder("HelloWorld")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC, Modifier.ABSTRACT)
    .addMethod(flux)
    .build();
```

Which generates this:

```java
public abstract class HelloWorld {
  protected abstract void flux();
}
```

The other modifiers work where permitted. Note that when specifying modifiers, JavaPoet uses
[`javax.lang.model.element.Modifier`][modifier], a class that is not available on Android. This
limitation applies to code-generating-code only; the output code runs everywhere: JVMs, Android,
and GWT.

Methods also have parameters, exceptions, varargs, Javadoc, annotations, type variables, and a
return type. All of these are configured with `MethodSpec.Builder`.

### Constructors

`MethodSpec` is a slight misnomer; it can also be used for constructors:

```java
MethodSpec flux = MethodSpec.constructorBuilder()
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC)
    .addParameter(String.class, "greeting")
    .addStatement("this.$N = $N", "greeting", "greeting")
    .build();

TypeSpec helloWorld = TypeSpec.classBuilder("HelloWorld")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC)
    .addField(String.class, "greeting", Modifier.PRIVATE, Modifier.FINAL)
    .addMethod(flux)
    .build();
```

Which generates this:

```java
public class HelloWorld {
  private final String greeting;

  public HelloWorld(String greeting) {
    this.greeting = greeting;
  }
}
```

For the most part, constructors work just like methods. When emitting code, JavaPoet will place
constructors before methods in the output file.

### Parameters

Declare parameters on methods and constructors with either `ParameterSpec.builder()` or
`MethodSpec`'s convenient `addParameter()` API:

```java
ParameterSpec android = ParameterSpec.builder(String.class, "android")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.FINAL)
    .build();

MethodSpec welcomeOverlords = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("welcomeOverlords")
    .addParameter(android)
    .addParameter(String.class, "robot", Modifier.FINAL)
    .build();
```

Though the code above to generate `android` and `robot` parameters is different, the output is the
same:

```java
void welcomeOverlords(final String android, final String robot) {
}
```

The extended `Builder` form is necessary when the parameter has annotations (such as `@Nullable`).

### Fields

Like parameters, fields can be created either with builders or by using convenient helper methods:

```java
FieldSpec android = FieldSpec.builder(String.class, "android")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PRIVATE, Modifier.FINAL)
    .build();

TypeSpec helloWorld = TypeSpec.classBuilder("HelloWorld")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC)
    .addField(android)
    .addField(String.class, "robot", Modifier.PRIVATE, Modifier.FINAL)
    .build();
```

Which generates:

```java
public class HelloWorld {
  private final String android;

  private final String robot;
}
```

The extended `Builder` form is necessary when a field has Javadoc, annotations, or a field
initializer. Field initializers use the same [`String.format()`][formatter]-like syntax as the code
blocks above:

```java
FieldSpec android = FieldSpec.builder(String.class, "android")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PRIVATE, Modifier.FINAL)
    .initializer("$S + $L", "Lollipop v.", 5.0d)
    .build();
```

Which generates:

```java
private final String android = "Lollipop v." + 5.0;
```

### Interfaces

JavaPoet has no trouble with interfaces. Note that interface methods must always be `PUBLIC
ABSTRACT` and interface fields must always be `PUBLIC STATIC FINAL`. These modifiers are necessary
when defining the interface:

```java
TypeSpec helloWorld = TypeSpec.interfaceBuilder("HelloWorld")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC)
    .addField(FieldSpec.builder(String.class, "ONLY_THING_THAT_IS_CONSTANT")
        .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC, Modifier.STATIC, Modifier.FINAL)
        .initializer("$S", "change")
        .build())
    .addMethod(MethodSpec.methodBuilder("beep")
        .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC, Modifier.ABSTRACT)
        .build())
    .build();
```

But these modifiers are omitted when the code is generated. These are the defaults so we don't need
to include them for `javac`'s benefit!

```java
public interface HelloWorld {
  String ONLY_THING_THAT_IS_CONSTANT = "change";

  void beep();
}
```

### Enums

Use `enumBuilder` to create the enum type, and `addEnumConstant()` for each value:

```java
TypeSpec helloWorld = TypeSpec.enumBuilder("Roshambo")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC)
    .addEnumConstant("ROCK")
    .addEnumConstant("SCISSORS")
    .addEnumConstant("PAPER")
    .build();
```

To generate this:

```java
public enum Roshambo {
  ROCK,

  SCISSORS,

  PAPER
}
```

Fancy enums are supported, where the enum values override methods or call a superclass constructor.
Here's a comprehensive example:

```java
TypeSpec helloWorld = TypeSpec.enumBuilder("Roshambo")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC)
    .addEnumConstant("ROCK", TypeSpec.anonymousClassBuilder("$S", "fist")
        .addMethod(MethodSpec.methodBuilder("toString")
            .addAnnotation(Override.class)
            .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC)
            .addStatement("return $S", "avalanche!")
            .returns(String.class)
            .build())
        .build())
    .addEnumConstant("SCISSORS", TypeSpec.anonymousClassBuilder("$S", "peace")
        .build())
    .addEnumConstant("PAPER", TypeSpec.anonymousClassBuilder("$S", "flat")
        .build())
    .addField(String.class, "handsign", Modifier.PRIVATE, Modifier.FINAL)
    .addMethod(MethodSpec.constructorBuilder()
        .addParameter(String.class, "handsign")
        .addStatement("this.$N = $N", "handsign", "handsign")
        .build())
    .build();
```

Which generates this:

```java
public enum Roshambo {
  ROCK("fist") {
    @Override
    public String toString() {
      return "avalanche!";
    }
  },

  SCISSORS("peace"),

  PAPER("flat");

  private final String handsign;

  Roshambo(String handsign) {
    this.handsign = handsign;
  }
}
```

### Anonymous Inner Classes

In the enum code, we used `TypeSpec.anonymousInnerClass()`. Anonymous inner classes can also be used in
code blocks. They are values that can be referenced with `$L`:

```java
TypeSpec comparator = TypeSpec.anonymousClassBuilder("")
    .addSuperinterface(ParameterizedTypeName.get(Comparator.class, String.class))
    .addMethod(MethodSpec.methodBuilder("compare")
        .addAnnotation(Override.class)
        .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC)
        .addParameter(String.class, "a")
        .addParameter(String.class, "b")
        .returns(int.class)
        .addStatement("return $N.length() - $N.length()", "a", "b")
        .build())
    .build();

TypeSpec helloWorld = TypeSpec.classBuilder("HelloWorld")
    .addMethod(MethodSpec.methodBuilder("sortByLength")
        .addParameter(ParameterizedTypeName.get(List.class, String.class), "strings")
        .addStatement("$T.sort($N, $L)", Collections.class, "strings", comparator)
        .build())
    .build();
```

This generates a method that contains a class that contains a method:

```java
void sortByLength(List<String> strings) {
  Collections.sort(strings, new Comparator<String>() {
    @Override
    public int compare(String a, String b) {
      return a.length() - b.length();
    }
  });
}
```

One particularly tricky part of defining anonymous inner classes is the arguments to the superclass
constructor. In the above code we're passing the empty string for no arguments:
`TypeSpec.anonymousClassBuilder("")`. To pass different parameters use JavaPoet's code block
syntax with commas to separate arguments.


### Annotations

Simple annotations are easy:

```java
MethodSpec toString = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("toString")
    .addAnnotation(Override.class)
    .returns(String.class)
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC)
    .addStatement("return $S", "Hoverboard")
    .build();
```

Which generates this method with an `@Override` annotation:

```java
  @Override
  public String toString() {
    return "Hoverboard";
  }
```

Use `AnnotationSpec.builder()` to set properties on annotations:

```java
MethodSpec logRecord = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("recordEvent")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC, Modifier.ABSTRACT)
    .addAnnotation(AnnotationSpec.builder(Headers.class)
        .addMember("accept", "$S", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
        .addMember("userAgent", "$S", "Square Cash")
        .build())
    .addParameter(LogRecord.class, "logRecord")
    .returns(LogReceipt.class)
    .build();
```

Which generates this annotation with `accept` and `userAgent` properties:

```java
@Headers(
    accept = "application/json; charset=utf-8",
    userAgent = "Square Cash"
)
LogReceipt recordEvent(LogRecord logRecord);
```

When you get fancy, annotation values can be annotations themselves. Use `$L` for embedded
annotations:

```java
MethodSpec logRecord = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("recordEvent")
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC, Modifier.ABSTRACT)
    .addAnnotation(AnnotationSpec.builder(HeaderList.class)
        .addMember("value", "$L", AnnotationSpec.builder(Header.class)
            .addMember("name", "$S", "Accept")
            .addMember("value", "$S", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
            .build())
        .addMember("value", "$L", AnnotationSpec.builder(Header.class)
            .addMember("name", "$S", "User-Agent")
            .addMember("value", "$S", "Square Cash")
            .build())
        .build())
    .addParameter(LogRecord.class, "logRecord")
    .returns(LogReceipt.class)
    .build();
```

Which generates this:

```java
@HeaderList({
    @Header(name = "Accept", value = "application/json; charset=utf-8"),
    @Header(name = "User-Agent", value = "Square Cash")
})
LogReceipt recordEvent(LogRecord logRecord);
```

Note that you can call `addMember()` multiple times with the same property name to populate a list
of values for that property.

### Javadoc

Fields, methods and types can be documented with Javadoc:

```java
MethodSpec dismiss = MethodSpec.methodBuilder("dismiss")
    .addJavadoc("Hides {@code message} from the caller's history. Other\n"
        + "participants in the conversation will continue to see the\n"
        + "message in their own history unless they also delete it.\n")
    .addJavadoc("\n")
    .addJavadoc("<p>Use {@link #delete($T)} to delete the entire\n"
        + "conversation for all participants.\n", Conversation.class)
    .addModifiers(Modifier.PUBLIC, Modifier.ABSTRACT)
    .addParameter(Message.class, "message")
    .build();
```

Which generates this:

```java
  /**
   * Hides {@code message} from the caller's history. Other
   * participants in the conversation will continue to see the
   * message in their own history unless they also delete it.
   *
   * <p>Use {@link #delete(Conversation)} to delete the entire
   * conversation for all participants.
   */
  void dismiss(Message message);
```

Use `$T` when referencing types in Javadoc to get automatic imports.

Download
--------

Download [the latest .jar][dl] or depend via Maven:
```xml
<dependency>
  <groupId>com.squareup</groupId>
  <artifactId>javapoet</artifactId>
  <version>1.12.1</version>
</dependency>
```
or Gradle:
```groovy
compile 'com.squareup:javapoet:1.12.1'
```

Snapshots of the development version are available in [Sonatype's `snapshots` repository][snap].



License
-------

    Copyright 2015 Square, Inc.

    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
    you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
    You may obtain a copy of the License at

       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
    WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
    See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
    limitations under the License.



JavaWriter
==========

JavaPoet is the successor to [JavaWriter][javawriter]. New projects should prefer JavaPoet because
it has a stronger code model: it understands types and can manage imports automatically. JavaPoet is
also better suited to composition: rather than streaming the contents of a `.java` file
top-to-bottom in a single pass, a file can be assembled as a tree of declarations.

JavaWriter continues to be available in [GitHub][javawriter] and [Maven Central][javawriter_maven].


 [dl]: https://search.maven.org/remote_content?g=com.squareup&a=javapoet&v=LATEST
 [snap]: https://oss.sonatype.org/content/repositories/snapshots/com/squareup/javapoet/
 [javadoc]: https://square.github.io/javapoet/1.x/javapoet/
 [javawriter]: https://github.com/square/javapoet/tree/javawriter_2
 [javawriter_maven]: https://search.maven.org/#artifactdetails%7Ccom.squareup%7Cjavawriter%7C2.5.1%7Cjar
 [formatter]: https://developer.android.com/reference/java/util/Formatter.html
 [modifier]: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/javax/lang/model/element/Modifier.html