Subclassing a Java Builder class

Question

You can solve it using generics. I think this is called the "Curiously recurring generic patterns"

Make the return type of the base class builder methods a generic argument.

public class NutritionFacts {

    private final int calories;

    public static class Builder<T extends Builder<T>> {

        private int calories = 0;

        public Builder() {}

        public T calories(int val) {
            calories = val;
            return (T) this;
        }

        public NutritionFacts build() { return new NutritionFacts(this); }
    }

    protected NutritionFacts(Builder<?> builder) {
        calories = builder.calories;
    }
}

Now instantiate the base builder with the derived class builder as the generic argument.

public class GMOFacts extends NutritionFacts {

    private final boolean hasGMO;

    public static class Builder extends NutritionFacts.Builder<Builder> {

        private boolean hasGMO = false;

        public Builder() {}

        public Builder GMO(boolean val) {
            hasGMO = val;
            return this;
        }

        public GMOFacts build() { return new GMOFacts(this); }
    }

    protected GMOFacts(Builder builder) {
        super(builder);
        hasGMO = builder.hasGMO;
    }
}

Just for the record, to get rid of the

unchecked or unsafe operations warning

for the return (T) this; statement as @dimadima and @Thomas N. talk about, following solution applies in certain cases.

Make abstract the builder which declares the generic type (T extends Builder in this case) and declare protected abstract T getThis() abstract method as follows:

public abstract static class Builder<T extends Builder<T>> {

    private int calories = 0;

    public Builder() {}

    /** The solution for the unchecked cast warning. */
    public abstract T getThis();

    public T calories(int val) {
        calories = val;

        // no cast needed
        return getThis();
    }

    public NutritionFacts build() { return new NutritionFacts(this); }
}

Refer to http://www.angelikalanger.com/GenericsFAQ/FAQSections/ProgrammingIdioms.html#FAQ205 for further details.

Based off of a blog post, this approach requires all the non-leaf classes to be abstract, and all the leaf classes must be final.

public abstract class TopLevel {
    protected int foo;
    protected TopLevel() {
    }
    protected static abstract class Builder
        <T extends TopLevel, B extends Builder<T, B>> {
        protected T object;
        protected B thisObject;
        protected abstract T createObject();
        protected abstract B thisObject();
        public Builder() {
            object = createObject();
            thisObject = thisObject();
        }
        public B foo(int foo) {
            object.foo = foo;
            return thisObject;
        }
        public T build() {
            return object;
        }
    }
}

Then, you have some intermediate class that extends this class and its builder, and as many more as you need:

public abstract class SecondLevel extends TopLevel {
    protected int bar;
    protected static abstract class Builder
        <T extends SecondLevel, B extends Builder<T, B>> extends TopLevel.Builder<T, B> {
        public B bar(int bar) {
            object.bar = bar;
            return thisObject;
        }
    }
}

And, finally a concrete leaf class that can call all the builder methods on any of its parents in any order:

public final class LeafClass extends SecondLevel {
    private int baz;
    public static final class Builder extends SecondLevel.Builder<LeafClass,Builder> {
        protected LeafClass createObject() {
            return new LeafClass();
        }
        protected Builder thisObject() {
            return this;
        }
        public Builder baz(int baz) {
            object.baz = baz;
            return thisObject;
        }
    }
}

Then, you can call the methods in any order, from any of the classes in the hierarchy:

public class Demo {
    LeafClass leaf = new LeafClass.Builder().baz(2).foo(1).bar(3).build();
}

You can override also the calories() method, and let it return the extending builder. This compiles because Java supports covariant return types.

public class GMOFacts extends NutritionFacts {
    private final boolean hasGMO;
    public static class Builder extends NutritionFacts.Builder {
        private boolean hasGMO = false;
        public Builder() {
        }
        public Builder GMO(boolean val)
        { hasGMO = val; return this; }
        public Builder calories(int val)
        { super.calories(val); return this; }
        public GMOFacts build() {
            return new GMOFacts(this);
        }
    }
    [...]
}

There is also another way to create classes according to Builder pattern, which conforms "Prefer composition over inheritance".

Define an interface, that parent class Builder will inherit:

public interface FactsBuilder<T> {

    public T calories(int val);
}

The implementation of NutritionFacts is almost the same (except for Builder implementing 'FactsBuilder' interface):

public class NutritionFacts {

    private final int calories;

    public static class Builder implements FactsBuilder<Builder> {
        private int calories = 0;

        public Builder() {
        }

        @Override
        public Builder calories(int val) {
            return this;
        }

        public NutritionFacts build() {
            return new NutritionFacts(this);
        }
    }

    protected NutritionFacts(Builder builder) {
        calories = builder.calories;
    }
}

The Builder of a child class should extend the same interface (except different generic implementation):

public static class Builder implements FactsBuilder<Builder> {
    NutritionFacts.Builder baseBuilder;

    private boolean hasGMO = false;

    public Builder() {
        baseBuilder = new NutritionFacts.Builder();
    }

    public Builder GMO(boolean val) {
        hasGMO = val;
        return this;
    }

    public GMOFacts build() {
        return new GMOFacts(this);
    }

    @Override
    public Builder calories(int val) {
        baseBuilder.calories(val);
        return this;
    }
}

Notice, that NutritionFacts.Builder is a field inside GMOFacts.Builder (called baseBuilder). The method implemented from FactsBuilder interface calls baseBuilder's method of the same name:

@Override
public Builder calories(int val) {
    baseBuilder.calories(val);
    return this;
}

There is also a big change in the constructor of GMOFacts(Builder builder). The first call in the constructor to parent class constructor should pass appropriate NutritionFacts.Builder:

protected GMOFacts(Builder builder) {
    super(builder.baseBuilder);
    hasGMO = builder.hasGMO;
}

The full implementation of GMOFacts class:

public class GMOFacts extends NutritionFacts {

    private final boolean hasGMO;

    public static class Builder implements FactsBuilder<Builder> {
        NutritionFacts.Builder baseBuilder;

        private boolean hasGMO = false;

        public Builder() {
        }

        public Builder GMO(boolean val) {
            hasGMO = val;
            return this;
        }

        public GMOFacts build() {
            return new GMOFacts(this);
        }

        @Override
        public Builder calories(int val) {
            baseBuilder.calories(val);
            return this;
        }
    }

    protected GMOFacts(Builder builder) {
        super(builder.baseBuilder);
        hasGMO = builder.hasGMO;
    }
}

A full 3 level example of multiple builder inheritance would look like this:

(For the version with a copy constructor for the builder see the second example below)

First level - parent (potentially abstract)

import lombok.ToString;

@ToString
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
public abstract class Class1 {
    protected int f1;

    public static class Builder<C extends Class1, B extends Builder<C, B>> {
        C obj;

        protected Builder(C constructedObj) {
            this.obj = constructedObj;
        }

        B f1(int f1) {
            obj.f1 = f1;
            return (B)this;
        }

        C build() {
            return obj;
        }
    }
}

Second level

import lombok.ToString;

@ToString(callSuper=true)
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
public class Class2 extends Class1 {
    protected int f2;

    public static class Builder<C extends Class2, B extends Builder<C, B>> extends Class1.Builder<C, B> {
        public Builder() {
            this((C) new Class2());
        }

        protected Builder(C obj) {
            super(obj);
        }

        B f2(int f2) {
            obj.f2 = f2;
            return (B)this;
        }
    }
}

Third level

import lombok.ToString;

@ToString(callSuper=true)
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
public class Class3 extends Class2 {
    protected int f3;

    public static class Builder<C extends Class3, B extends Builder<C, B>> extends Class2.Builder<C, B> {
        public Builder() {
            this((C) new Class3());
        }

        protected Builder(C obj) {
            super(obj);
        }

        B f3(int f3) {
            obj.f3 = f3;
            return (B)this;
        }
    }
}

And an example of usage

public class Test {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Class2 b1 = new Class2.Builder<>().f1(1).f2(2).build();
        System.out.println(b1);
        Class2 b2 = new Class2.Builder<>().f2(2).f1(1).build();
        System.out.println(b2);

        Class3 c1 = new Class3.Builder<>().f1(1).f2(2).f3(3).build();
        System.out.println(c1);
        Class3 c2 = new Class3.Builder<>().f3(3).f1(1).f2(2).build();
        System.out.println(c2);
        Class3 c3 = new Class3.Builder<>().f3(3).f2(2).f1(1).build();
        System.out.println(c3);
        Class3 c4 = new Class3.Builder<>().f2(2).f3(3).f1(1).build();
        System.out.println(c4);
    }
}

A bit longer version featuring a copy constructor for the builder:

First level - parent (potentially abstract)

import lombok.ToString;

@ToString
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
public abstract class Class1 {
    protected int f1;

    public static class Builder<C extends Class1, B extends Builder<C, B>> {
        C obj;

        protected void setObj(C obj) {
            this.obj = obj;
        }

        protected void copy(C obj) {
            this.f1(obj.f1);
        }

        B f1(int f1) {
            obj.f1 = f1;
            return (B)this;
        }

        C build() {
            return obj;
        }
    }
}

Second level

import lombok.ToString;

@ToString(callSuper=true)
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
public class Class2 extends Class1 {
    protected int f2;

    public static class Builder<C extends Class2, B extends Builder<C, B>> extends Class1.Builder<C, B> {
        public Builder() {
            setObj((C) new Class2());
        }

        public Builder(C obj) {
            this();
            copy(obj);
        }

        @Override
        protected void copy(C obj) {
            super.copy(obj);
            this.f2(obj.f2);
        }

        B f2(int f2) {
            obj.f2 = f2;
            return (B)this;
        }
    }
}

Third level

import lombok.ToString;

@ToString(callSuper=true)
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
public class Class3 extends Class2 {
    protected int f3;

    public static class Builder<C extends Class3, B extends Builder<C, B>> extends Class2.Builder<C, B> {
        public Builder() {
            setObj((C) new Class3());
        }

        public Builder(C obj) {
            this();
            copy(obj);
        }

        @Override
        protected void copy(C obj) {
            super.copy(obj);
            this.f3(obj.f3);
        }

        B f3(int f3) {
            obj.f3 = f3;
            return (B)this;
        }
    }
}

And an example of usage

public class Test {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Class3 c4 = new Class3.Builder<>().f2(2).f3(3).f1(1).build();
        System.out.println(c4);

        // Class3 builder copy
        Class3 c42 = new Class3.Builder<>(c4).f2(12).build();
        System.out.println(c42);
        Class3 c43 = new Class3.Builder<>(c42).f2(22).f1(11).build();
        System.out.println(c43);
        Class3 c44 = new Class3.Builder<>(c43).f3(13).f1(21).build();
        System.out.println(c44);
    }
}

If you don't want to poke your eye out on an angle bracket or three, or perhaps don't feel you... umm... I mean... cough... the rest of your team will quickly comprehend curiously recurring generics pattern, you can do this:

public class TestInheritanceBuilder {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    SubType.Builder builder = new SubType.Builder();
    builder.withFoo("FOO").withBar("BAR").withBaz("BAZ");
    SubType st = builder.build();
    System.out.println(st.toString());
    builder.withFoo("BOOM!").withBar("not getting here").withBaz("or here");
  }
}

supported by

public class SubType extends ParentType {
  String baz;
  protected SubType() {}

  public static class Builder extends ParentType.Builder {
    private SubType object = new SubType();

    public Builder withBaz(String baz) {
      getObject().baz = baz;
      return this;
    }

    public Builder withBar(String bar) {
      super.withBar(bar);
      return this;
    }

    public Builder withFoo(String foo) {
      super.withFoo(foo);
      return this;
    }

    public SubType build() {
      // or clone or copy constructor if you want to stamp out multiple instances...
      SubType tmp = getObject();
      setObject(new SubType());
      return tmp;
    }

    protected SubType getObject() {
      return object;
    }

    private void setObject(SubType object) {
      this.object = object;
    }
  }

  public String toString() {
    return "SubType2{" +
        "baz='" + baz + '\'' +
        "} " + super.toString();
  }
}

and the parent type:

public class ParentType {
  String foo;
  String bar;

  protected ParentType() {}

  public static class Builder {
    private ParentType object = new ParentType();

    public ParentType object() {
      return getObject();
    }

    public Builder withFoo(String foo) {
      if (!"foo".equalsIgnoreCase(foo)) throw new IllegalArgumentException();
      getObject().foo = foo;
      return this;
    }

    public Builder withBar(String bar) {
      getObject().bar = bar;
      return this;
    }

    protected ParentType getObject() {
      return object;
    }

    private void setObject(ParentType object) {
      this.object = object;
    }

    public ParentType build() {
      // or clone or copy constructor if you want to stamp out multiple instances...
      ParentType tmp = getObject();
      setObject(new ParentType());
      return tmp;
    }
  }

  public String toString() {
    return "ParentType2{" +
        "foo='" + foo + '\'' +
        ", bar='" + bar + '\'' +
        '}';
  }
}

Key points:

• Encapsulate the object in the builder so that inheritance prevents you from setting the field on the object held in the parent type
• Calls to super ensure that logic (if any) added to the super type builder methods is retained in the sub types.
• Down side is spurious object creation in the parent class(es)... But see below for a way to clean that up
• Up side is much easier to understand at a glance, and no verbose constructor transferring properties.
• If you have multiple threads accessing your builder objects... I guess I'm glad I'm not you :).

EDIT:

I found a way around the spurious object creation. First add this to each builder:

private Class whoAmI() {
  return new Object(){}.getClass().getEnclosingMethod().getDeclaringClass();
}

Then in the constructor for each builder:

  if (whoAmI() == this.getClass()) {
    this.obj = new ObjectToBuild();
  }

The cost is an extra class file for the new Object(){} anonymous inner class