Example of an Assumption?

[Jasper Vader]

Just wondering if anyone would be kind enough to show me an example of an assumption in Java, with a bit of code?
thanks

[Dirk Schreckmann]

Give us a hint as to the context that you mean.

[Jim Yingst]

Is it possible you're thinking of "assertion" rather than "assumption"?

[Jasper Vader]

oops, i did mean assertion, um, well yes. Assertion.
An example of an assertion in any context, hopefully one i can understand.
thanks in advance

[Anonymous]

Hi Jasper,
Have a look at the following example. This following method deletes an empty directory:

/**
 * Deletes a directory.
 *
 * @param directoryPath the path to the directory to delete
 */
public void deleteEmptyDirectory(String directoryPath) {
    // check if path is not null
    assert directoryPath != null;
    // check if path is not an empty string
    assert directoryPath.length() > 0;
    // build a helper File object
    File directoryFile = new File(directoryPath);
    // check if path exists
    assert directoryFile.exists() : directoryFile;
    // check if the path represents a directory
    assert directoryFile.isDirectory() : directoryFile;
    // only delete if directory is empty
    if (directoryFile.list().length == 0) {
        // avoid the following: assert directoryFile.delete()
        // as with assertions disabled, it would never delete the directory
        boolean directoryDeleted = directoryFile.delete();
        assert directoryDeleted;
    }
}

You will find more details in the following Java 1.4 guide:
Programming With Assertions
Good luck

[Dirk Schreckmann]

You may want to take a look at The September JavaRanch Newsletter.

[Dirk Schreckmann]

It looks like this conversation is being continued here.