Java Reflection API

[Sergei Voropay]

Can anybody suggest a good source of information (tutorials, code samples, books, etc.) on Java Reflection API?

[Jyotsna Clarkin]

Hi Sergei,
I just pulled out whatever I have - Not sure if any of these will be of use but

• Using Java Reflection http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/ALT/Reflection/
  
• Take an in-depth look at the Java Reflection API http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-09-1997/jw-09-indepth.html
  
• Java Reflection http://hplasim2.univ-lyon1.fr/c.ray/bks/java/htm/ch35.htm
  
• A Practical Use of Java's Reflection API http://home.earthlink.net/~kohliaman/technical/reflection.html
  
• Using Reflection to improve design
  ftp://ftp.oreilly.com/pub/conference/java2001/Portwood_Reflection.ppt
  

Most deal with the Java 1.1 API but should give you an understanding of the topic. The last one mentions some 1.2/1.3 enhancements. They mention a website for further information but the site is not(does not appear to be)up yet.
Anyhow, Joshua Bloch is "visiting" the Ranch this week and he (or someone else) will come along and tell you of other resources.
regards,
Jyotsna

[This message has been edited by Jyotsna Clarkin (edited July 12, 2001).]

[Jim Yingst]

Sure. (I assume you've already checked the API itself, right?)

[Joshua Bloch]

Sergei,
Hi. Sun has a refection tutorial. I haven't read it, but I believe it's fine.
My book encourages you to use reflection only in a limited form that avoids most of its disadvantages (Item 35, "Prefer interfaces to reflection"). Briefly, I believe that reflection should generally be used only to instantiate objects, which can then be accessed via the interface(s) they implement. The advantages of this approach are: compile-time type safety, cleanliness, and performance. Sometimes you need the full power of reflective access, but often you don't.

------------------
Joshua Bloch
Author of Effective Java

[Kishore Dandu]

corejava volume 1 & 2 dwell into reflection in a good deal.
You have to be aware that using reflection will be a performance kill if you don't use it the right way.