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Full Title: Java by Comparison: Become a Java Craftsman in 70 Examples
Authors: Simon Harrer, Jörg Lenhard, and Linus Dietz
Publisher: The Pragmatic Programmers (2018) java by comparison pdf link
Unlike traditional Java textbooks that dedicate chapters to syntax, Java by Comparison is structured entirely around before-and-after code examples. Each chapter presents a common code smell or anti-pattern ("The Old Way"), explains why it fails, and then refactors it into maintainable, professional-grade code ("The New Way").
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As you go through the 70 examples, build a table:
| Code Smell (Old) | Better Approach (New) | Page Ref |
|----------------|----------------------|----------|
| Long parameter list | Introduce Parameter Object | 45 |
| Nested null checks | Optional flatMap | 112 |
| Catch-all exception | Specific exception types | 78 | Bottom Line: A safe, legal java by comparison
For each "Old Way" code block:
Have a junior and senior developer sit together. The junior describes the "Old Way" from memory; the senior explains why it fails before showing the book's "New Way". This cements comparison learning.