Should threads in Java be named for easier debugging?

Question

What are the best practices around thread naming in Java? Are there any naming conventions to follow?

Answer 1

I'd say that a general Best Practice is "choose good names", this applies to variables, methods, computers, possibly even children (just ask my son Gerund Extravagaza Smith).

So yes, choose meaningful names for your threads if possible.

Suppose we asked for a naming convention for files or computers. Would you expect there to be a generally applicable answer? I think that you need to generate a convention of your own that makes sense with the kind of threads your create.

I would follow these general principles:

• Short, lets avoid reallyLongNamesWithManyProbablyIrreleventClauses-Thread-01
• Meaningful, but accept that you may have a pool of threads job-01, job-02

• Most significant part first

  01-http-Listener 
  01-rmi-Listener
  02-http-Listener
  

  tends to sort badly so prefer Listener-http-01