Java and braces ... how do you keep track of them?

[tsaint]

As a beginner in java programming, one of my biggest hassles seems to be trying to keep track of pairs of braces, especially now I've gone past classes of 1 screenful of code.
I'm using Geany (Linux, text editor) - I'm aware of IDEs, but my main point is just techniques/suggestions from experienced coders to save me having to wait to see compile errors which indicate I've stuffed up the braces yet again
thanks
tony

[Shades]

A text editor that supports folding also shows (relatively) quickly if there is either an excess or a shortage on braces.

On Windows the big name (freeware) text editors support this functionality and I have to assume that Linux (with their mantra: everything is a text file) has several text editors available that support this as well.

[Eóin]

I personally use indentation, all code inside a brace is indented an extra level. Also I tend to never put braces at the end of a line, by starting them on a new line they themselves line up.

Finally, I break up the majority of my functions, only a rare few exceed 1 sceenful of code.

For example I would write this Traversing a Directory example as the following;

Code: (java)

public class TraverseDirectory 
{
    private static void processDir(File dir) 
    {
        System.out.print( (dir.isDirectory() ? "[D] : " : "[F] : "));
        System.out.println(dir);
    }

    private static void traverse(File dir) 
    {
        processDir(dir);

        if (dir.isDirectory()) 
        {
            String[] children = dir.list();
            for (int i=0; i<children.length; i++) 
            {
                traverse(new File(dir, children[i]));
            }
        }
    }


    /**
     * Sole entry point to the class and application.
     * @param args Array of String arguments.
     */
    public static void main(String[] args) 
    {
        traverse(new File("new_dir"));
    }
}

This is, admittedly, slightly different to their code style.

[tsaint]

thanks for both suggestions... I've been less than fastidious about the amount of indenting, so thats a wake up call.
And yes, the text editor I'm using has folding - stupid not to use it.
Thanks for both suggestions.

[Deozaan]

Indentions is a good way. Code folding works as well. But having an IDE with syntax highlighting (including syntax errors) is probably the best I can think of.

[mwb1100]

I'm using Geany (Linux, text editor)

Geany highlights matching braces when your cursor is next to one, which should be some help.  It also has options to "auto-close" certain constructs (including 'curly brackets'). That might be helpful or irritating, depending on your preferences.

[tsaint]

The problem I've been having is that it doesnt do me much good to see one red brace when I need to do a lot of scrolling to see its match.
So I'm thinking it's the folding which is the key to being able then to see the matches, either with careful indentation else the brace highlighting

[mwb1100]

it doesnt do me much good to see one red brace when I need to do a lot of scrolling to see its match.

Of course - I should have also mentioned the "jump to matching brace" command (defaults to Ctrl-b) in geany, which again can help a lot.

Geany also has 'indentation guides' you can turn on - but they don't act on the language syntax, just the physical indenting in the document. However, they can help you notice when something isn't right.

[tsaint]

thanks for these useful ideas... that's great.

[Renegade]

Why not just use an IDE like Eclipse?