Java generics interface implementation

Question

I have an interface as follows,

public interface MethodExecutor {
    <T> List<T> execute(List<?> facts, Class<T> type) throws Exception;
}

Also, I have a generic implementation like below,

public class DefaultMetodExecutor implements MethodExecutor {

   public <T> List<T> execute(List<?> facts, Class<T> type) throws Exception
   {
     List<T> result = null;

      //some implementation

      return result;
  }
}

Upto this there is no compilation issues,

But a specific implementation of this interface fails to compile, The one which shown below.

public class SpecificMetodExecutor implements MethodExecutor {

   public <Model1> List<Model1> execute(List<Model2> facts, Class<Model1> type) throws Exception
   {
     List<Model1> result = null;

     //some implementation specific to Model1 and Model2

      return result;
  } 
}

How can I implement this interface for some of the defined objects? Do I need to go for class level generics?

For long snippets of code, please use the code button or indent 4 spaces. the tick mark is only used for code within text. — James Montagne
– James Montagne, Commented May 15, 2013 at 15:03

Mark Peters · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-15 15:06:16Z

10

You need to make T a class type parameter, not a method type parameter. You can't override a generic method with a non-generic method.

public interface MethodExecutor<T> {
    List<T> execute(List<?> facts, Class<T> type) throws Exception;
}

public class DefaultMethodExecutor implements MethodExecutor<Model1> {
    public List<Model1> execute(List<?> facts, Class<Model1> type) throws Exception
    {
       //...
    }
}

If the element type of facts should be configurable for a specific implementation, you need to make that a parameter too.

public interface MethodExecutor<T, F> {
    List<T> execute(List<? extends F> facts, Class<T> type) throws Exception;
}

answered May 15, 2013 at 15:06

Mark Peters

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Comments

hoaz · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-15 15:08:15Z

4

You need to move your generic parameter types from method declaration to interface declaration, so you can parametrize specific implementations:

public interface MethodExecutor<T> {
    List<T> execute(List<?> facts, Class<T> type) throws Exception;
}

public class SpecificMetodExecutor implements MethodExecutor<Model1> {
    public List<Model1> execute(List<Model2> facts, Class<Model1> type) throws Exception {
        ...
    }
}

answered May 15, 2013 at 15:08

hoaz

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