jSparrow - Java Refactoring and Java Code Analyzer

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2023-06 (4.28), 2023-03 (4.27), 2022-12 (4.26), 2022-09 (4.25), 2022-06 (4.24), 2022-03 (4.23), 2021-12 (4.22), 2021-09 (4.21), 2021-06 (4.20), 2021-03 (4.19)

https://update.jsparrow.eu/releases/4.18.0/

2021-03 (4.19), 2020-12 (4.18), 2020-09 (4.17), 2020-06 (4.16), 2020-03 (4.15), 2019-12 (4.14), 2019-09 (4.13), 2019-06 (4.12)

https://update.jsparrow.eu/releases/4.18.0/

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Solution Description

jSparrow plug-in developed for Java refactoring

jSparrow is an IDE extension that helps you detect and fix quality problems as you write code. jSparrow flags errors, similar to a spell checker, indicating that they can be fixed with jSparrow before committing code.

The jSparrow IDE extension adds 118 rules and 3 interactive rules: Standard output methods to Logger, Remove Unused Code, and Rename Fields to Java Conventions. 94 of the rules have markers, which you can use during your development directly.

On Install Includes

  • The 20 free rules (see below)
  • All markers i.e. quick-fixes

jSparrow was designed to refactor Java code with a rule-based approach. A jSparrow rule is a definition of many small composed refactoring steps performed by the plug-in; one rule, when selected, can by itself refactor a very specific area within your system-wide code.

In simple, jSparrow analyzes your Java project to find quality issues and suggests automated refactorings to improve the sources.

For any questions or feedback please feel free to send us a message: https://jsparrow.io/contact-form/

Discover more at: https://jsparrow.io/

The 20 Free Rules

We want to help developers optimize the way they can fix Java code and refactor Java code. To get started, we offer 20 free forever rules which are available after installation.

Rules included to get started:

What is refactoring?

Refactoring is a process of system-wide code restructuring and reordering without affecting the system's external forms of action and behavior. In simpler terms, refactoring is improving software's code without affecting the software's user interfaces and experiences.

  • Refactoring Steps:

    • Create working copies of selected Java files
    • Analyse refactoring possibilities
    • Apply the refactoring
    • Compare working copies with original sources
    • Persist wanted refactoring to original sources

Please visit our jSparrow page to see the refactoring process of jSparrow in more detail.

Sonarlint-like quick-fixes

94 of the rules have markers; The jSparrow markers work like the quick fixes found in Sonarlint and JDTSpelling.

Builds upon Checkstyle Plugin's Motto

Checkstyle is a well-beloved inspecting tool that helps you adhere to coding standards. One of jSparrow's objectives is to build upon this motto and help developers adhere to coding standards through automated refactoring. One of our most worked-on tags is the "Coding Conventions" tag, currently including 38 refactorings. Like Checkstyle, you'll get notified about potential refactoring possibilities through markers which are available right after installation. Three rule examples: Hide Default Constructor In Utility Classes, Collapse If Statements, and Remove Null-Checks before Instance of.

Alternative to PMD with Selection Wizard

PMD is a joy to use to remove unused Java code. Built on this idea and from feedback from our users, jSparrow now includes an interactive wizard to remove unused code, whether they are fields, methods, or classes, jSparrow can remove them including their test cases, if wanted, in the whole workspace or selected projects.

Refactor JUnit Test Cases

JUnit is an open-source unit testing framework for Java. The goal of unit testing or unit test cases is to test individual units of software and validate expected performance. Since 2022 junit.org has released the next generation of JUnit: Junit 5. To help Java developers with the migration from JUnit 3 and JUnit 4 to JUnit 5, this plug-in includes ten JUnit refactoring rules:

The plug-in documentation shows Java and JUnit test case examples that get refactored.

Other jSparrow Tags

JUnit is a tag that we use for the JUnit refactor rules. Tags describe properties of jSparrow rules with the intent of grouping similar rules together and making them easier to find and search for. Below are all our current tags:

Minimum Java Versions

All jSparrow rules have a Minimum Java Version, which means that a rule with (for example) a Minimum Java version of 1.1 can be used on Java version 1.1 and all Java versions after 1.1.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#java-version-tags

Version tags quick-links: Java 1.1, Java 1.2, Java 1.3, Java 1.4, Java 5, Java 6, Java 7, Java 8, Java 9, Java 10, Java 11, Java 14, Java 15, and Java 16

Coding conventions for Java

Coding conventions for Java consist of a set of recommended code styles and best practices. Rules with the Coding Conventionstag will alter source code parts to follow guides, such as the Google Java Style Guide.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#coding-conventions

I/O operations provided by java.io or java.nio

The I/O operations tag marks rules that deal with I/O operations provided by java.io or java.nio.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#io-operations

Lambda

Lambda expressions are anonymous and unnamed functions that enable you to treat functionality as a method argument or code as data. Lambda expressions are an integral part of the java.util.stream API. Whenever a rule has this tag, it means that either a lambda expression is introduced or manipulated.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#lambda

Logging

Logging frameworks ease and standardize the process of logging for the Java platform. In particular, they provide flexibility by avoiding explicit output to the console. The location where logs are written becomes independent of the code and can be customized at runtime. Rules marked with this tag either introduce logging or improve aspects of the same.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#logging

Java Loops

A loop is an instruction that repeats until a specified condition is reached. Examples would be for, while, or forEach loops. Respectively, rules with the Loop tag will interact with such loops.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#Loop

Old Java Language Constructs

jSparrow rules having the Old Language Constructs tag replace old constructs with more up-to-date alternatives.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#old-language-constructs

Performance improving rules

The Performance tag indicates that a code fragment is replaced by a more performant one.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#performance

Improve Readability

Rules marked with the Readability tag improve the ease with which a human reader can comprehend the purpose, control flow, and operation of source code. It affects aspects of quality, including portability, usability, and most importantly maintainability.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#readability

Security

Security issues refer to vulnerabilities that can be exploited by an attacker to perform unauthorized actions within a computer program. Rules marked with this tag replace vulnerable code fragments with secure alternatives.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#security

String Manipulation

String manipulation is the process of creating, parsing, or changing String variables or literals. Typical operations on strings include a concatenation of values or the creation of a String output based on the input of another type. jSparrow rules having this tag will therefore be related to such String operations.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#string-manipulation

Testing

jSparrow rules having this tag encourage using best practices in the test code.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#testing

AssertJ

jSparrow rules having this tag encourage best practices on using the AssertJ library for writing fluent assertions in unit tests.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#assertj

Spring

jSparrow rules having this tag encourage best practices on using the Spring library for writing web applications.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#Spring

Free Tag

Rules with the Free tag are free to use.

Rules with tag: https://jsparrow.github.io/tags/#free

jSparrow Updates

Latest version release

jSparrow Eclipse IDE plug-in latest version: 4.18.0

jSparrow Maven plug-in latest version: 3.20.0

Our release policy

We will release at least one new rule in March, June, September, and December.

Bugfixes will be released each Thursday.

Hotfix Releases can be deployed at any time when urgent.

Next jSparrow Release

New Rule - jSparrow Eclipse IDE plug-in 2023-11-10

Additional Details

Eclipse Versions: 2023-06 (4.28), 2023-03 (4.27), 2022-12 (4.26), 2022-09 (4.25), 2022-06 (4.24), 2022-03 (4.23), 2021-12 (4.22), 2021-09 (4.21), 2021-06 (4.20), 2021-03 (4.19), 2020-12 (4.18), 2020-09 (4.17), 2020-06 (4.16), 2020-03 (4.15), 2019-12 (4.14), 2019-09 (4.13), 2019-06 (4.12)

Platform Support: Windows, Mac, Linux/GTK

Organization Name: Splendit IT-Consulting GmbH, Vienna

Development Status: Production/Stable

Date Created: Tuesday, June 20, 2017 - 11:34

License: Other

Date Updated: Wednesday, December 20, 2023 - 07:02

Submitted by: Michaela Prehofer

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Date Ranking Installs Clickthroughs
March 2024 181/651 90 8
February 2024 194/687 117 18
January 2024 172/691 149 21
December 2023 165/671 168 18
November 2023 168/686 196 27
October 2023 137/673 275 22
September 2023 137/663 273 14
August 2023 134/673 258 28
July 2023 138/668 238 25
June 2023 158/669 198 24
May 2023 126/671 314 13
April 2023 145/667 243 21
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Unsuccessful Installs

Unsuccessful Installs in the last 7 Days: 0

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Reviews Add new review

In reply to by Thomas Kozlowski

Hello, 

please note the new jSparrow version 4.8.0  (released on 17th February 2022) introduced a rule for finding and removing unused fields. It provides a dedicated configuration wizard where you can choose which unused fields to analyze and remove based on their access modifier. You can also choose how to handle fields that are initialized with expressions that may have side effects. For more details, please check 'Remove Unused Fields' in our documentation space and give it a try for yourself. Any feedback is highly appreciated. 
We plan to continue implementing more rules that find and remove unused code. So, stay tuned!
Needles to say, we are always open to accepting feedback and new ideas for refactoring rules. 

Downloaded the Jsparrow tool several months ago -started with the free trial but quickly saw that i need all the other rules. Safed a lot of time with it. Also was communicating with the team to help me on some topics. 

Keep up the great work 

In reply to by George Lindholm

Hello George!

The free version allows you to run all rules on your sources.  After the run of jSparrow, it shows you how the quality of your sources can be improved. jSparrow delivers a solution for each found old language construct or threat and shows exactly how to solve it. You can run the rules through your whole sources and review issues and their solutions according to best practices.

If you want to resovle the issues automatically you have to use the full version. We think that the fee for the full version, which is less than "two hours manual work" and includes all new releases for one year, is a fair contribution for our ongoing development.

For 2018 we plan various new rules, espacially to support the upgrade to Java 9.
And as we are no public institution and have no big "influencers", we have to refinance the jSparrow development. (But we are thinking about providing student versions in 2018.)

We are sure that jSparrow´s functionality in both versions provides a good solution to support developers within their daily work in increasing software quality and maintaining Legacy Java.

Best Regards

In reply to by user user

Hi User,

thank you for your interest in jSparrow.

Please make sure that you are using the latest version of jSparrow.

For the purpose of license validation, jSparrow needs to be able to establish a connection to the Internet.
In case you are using a proxy, please make sure that you have proxy settings for HTTPS configured within Eclipse.

Please contact us, if the problems remain.

BR,
Ludwig

I am selecting one java class -> Right Click -> JSparrow -> Select Rules to Apply -> ... -> Showing the Window of JSparow where it shows the code comparization before and after .

The plugin seems to work like charm except that finish button...

1)The Finish button is disabled , even if i click next ... next ... next 500 times the Finish Button remains disabled .

2)I have Eclipse Darkest Dark Theme  2017 CI  8 (in case that creates a problem )

I like a lot this Plugin please Fix it !!! :)

In reply to by Alex K

Hello Alex,
thanks for your interest in jSparrow.

jSparrow is available in two versions. A free version and a commercial one.
We expect you are using the free version. This version has unlimited functionality to run all rules on any of your projects. You will get a list of all findings and jSparrow suggestions to correct these.

You have to swap versions, if you want the tool to correct the coding issues automatically.

BR

Michaela

This Error occurs if you try to install jSparrow in an Eclipse version prior to Mars. (https://marketplace.eclipse.org/content/error/report/3539883)

A Eclipse version pior to Mars isn't tested nor supported from our side therefore the dependencies to eclipse core components are set as a minimum to the Eclipse Mars target platform.

Best Regards

Martin Huter