Threading is easy in Java, but today I was reminded of another of its pitfalls.
In Java- or container-provided threads, unhandled exceptions from our code will be printed or logged to the console. Create your own Thread or use SwingWorker/ ThreadPoolExecutor, and it’s a different story..
Threaded code tends to die silently. Nothing on the console or logs. Unhandled exceptions are invisible, and leave very few clues. Let’s look at why.
Logging frameworks have become a standard part of projects, since Servlets and Log4J first emerged. But how should we log? Are we getting the most we can from it?
Many developers see logging & debugging as separate tasks. When confronted with a problem we set breakpoints, step through, inspect variables, and trace through loops – often finishing hours later..
Finding problems this way is hard. Does it have to be so difficult? Could there be a way to get right to the problem area, in just minutes? Sometimes without even needing to step through? Continue reading