How to create my own API Libraries

[buntha Choudhary]

I created few components in Swing and I want to dump all these in a library file so that all the methods can be reused through intellisense in eclipse.
For example, on using any 3rd party api, we have been provided with some libraries and then we could reuse all the methods available by import the files.

[Jesper de Jong]

Just put your compiled classes in a JAR file. Someone who wants to use your components then adds that JAR file on his or her classpath (or to the project dependencies in Eclipse).

[buntha Choudhary]

Thanks

[Adam Richards]

Some general guidance on building libraries: Since a library is generally ignorant how it will be called, it can't make many assumptions on how to handle (or even if it should handle) errors. So as a general rule, I recommend not trying to catch very many exceptions in library classes (exept perhaps to display the message on System.out). Just pass along the exception to the calling app - only he knows the context & can make an informed decision on what to do with errors. Trying to to be too clever in error handling is a common beginner's mistake when developing API's for the first time.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Adam Richards wrote: . . . exceptions . . . (exept perhaps to display the message on System.out). . . .

Good advice, but you display error messages on System.err, surely?

[Adam Richards]

Sure, or wherever it makes sense or local policy dictates

[buntha Choudhary]

I will keep in mind