Java Core Development

VerifiedSafe

Provides standards for core Java development including code organization, modern features (records, pattern matching), performance optimization, and implementation verification. Useful for Java 17+ projects to maintain consistent code structure and apply proven patterns.

Sby Skills Guide Bot
DevelopmentIntermediate
6/2/2026
Claude CodeCursorWindsurf
#java#core-java#java-17#code-organization#modern-java

Recommended for

Automated summary

This skill defines core Java development standards for Java 17+ covering code organization, modern features, performance patterns, and implementation verification.

Strengths

  • Promotes consistent package structure and command-query separation
  • Integrates modern features like records and pattern matching
  • Includes performance patterns and verification guidelines
  • Guides use of parameter objects for complex methods

Limitations

  • Requires Java 17 or higher
  • Depends on external standards files that must be loaded
  • Does not cover framework-specific patterns (Spring, Jakarta)
When to use it

Use this skill when writing or modernizing general Java code with clean, performant architecture.

When not to use it

Avoid this skill if the project uses a Java version below 17 or if you need framework-specific patterns.

Security analysis

Safe
Quality score90/100

The skill contains no destructive or exfiltration commands; it only instructs reading internal standards files and applying Java development patterns. Bash access is allowed for typical development tasks, but the skill itself does not specify any dangerous actions.

No concerns found

How this analysis is made

Examples

Organize package structure
I have a Java project with flat package structure. Apply feature-based package organization (like de.example.portal.authentication) and refactor the existing classes accordingly.
Introduce record parameter objects
Refactor this method signature that takes 4+ parameters to use a Java record parameter object following the standard in java-core-patterns.md.
Apply command-query separation
Review this class and apply command-query separation: methods that mutate state should return void, queries should return values and have no side effects.

name: java-core description: Core Java development patterns including code organization, modern features, performance patterns, and implementation verification allowed-tools: [Read, Edit, Write, Bash, Grep, Glob]

Java Core Skill

EXECUTION MODE: You are now executing this skill. DO NOT explain or summarize these instructions to the user. IMMEDIATELY begin the workflow below based on the task context.

Core Java development standards for general Java projects. This skill covers fundamental patterns, modern Java features, performance optimization, and implementation verification.

Prerequisites

This skill applies to Java 17+ projects with no CUI-specific dependencies.

Workflow

Step 1: Load Core Patterns

CRITICAL: Load this standard for any Java implementation work.

Read: standards/java-core-patterns.md

This provides foundational rules for:

  • Package and class structure
  • Method design and command-query separation
  • Parameter objects and method complexity
  • Code organization principles

Step 2: Load Additional Standards (As Needed)

Modern Java Features (load for new code):

Read: standards/java-modern-features.md

Use when: Writing new code or modernizing existing code. Covers records, pattern matching, sealed classes, and text blocks.

Performance Patterns (load for optimization work):

Read: standards/java-performance-patterns.md

Use when: Optimizing code or designing high-performance components.

Build Precondition Pattern (load for validation logic):

Read: standards/build-precondition-pattern.md

Use when: Implementing validation logic or precondition checking.

Implementation Verification (load for code review):

Read: standards/implementation-verification.md

Use when: Reviewing implementations or verifying code quality.

Key Rules Summary

Package Structure

// CORRECT - Feature-based organization
de.example.portal.authentication     // Authentication feature
de.example.portal.configuration      // Configuration feature
de.example.portal.user.management    // User management feature

Command-Query Separation

// Query - returns value, no side effects
public boolean isValid() {
    return status == Status.VALID;
}

// Command - modifies state, returns void
public void markAsInvalid() {
    this.status = Status.INVALID;
}

Parameter Objects (3+ parameters)

// CORRECT - Multiple related parameters grouped
public record ValidationRequest(
    String tokenId,
    Set<String> expectedScopes,
    Duration maxAge,
    String issuer
) {}

public boolean validate(ValidationRequest request) {
    // Clear, organized parameters
}

Related Skills

  • pm-dev-java:java-null-safety - JSpecify null annotations
  • pm-dev-java:java-lombok - Lombok patterns
  • pm-dev-java:junit-core - JUnit 5 testing patterns
  • pm-dev-java:javadoc - JavaDoc documentation standards

Standards Reference

| Standard | Purpose | |----------|---------| | java-core-patterns.md | Code organization and design principles | | java-modern-features.md | Records, pattern matching, sealed classes | | java-performance-patterns.md | Performance optimization patterns | | build-precondition-pattern.md | Validation logic patterns | | implementation-verification.md | Code review and verification |

From the file to a first result

The download contains exactly the content displayed on this page. This copy may differ from the latest version in the source repository.

View the source and supporting files

This download contains SKILL.md only. Any scripts, references, templates and dependencies are not included. Get the required files from the source, preserving their directory structure, before continuing.

1. Download the file

Download SKILL.md

From the root of a test project, save the file as .skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2/SKILL.md, or use the command below. This folder is for inspecting the skill before installation.

Command for macOS/Linux or WSL: requires a POSIX shell and curl. On Windows without WSL, use the download button and create the folder manually.

mkdir -p '.skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2' && curl --fail --show-error --location 'https://skills-guides.com/api/skills/java-core-development-mma3jrm2/download' --output '.skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2/SKILL.md.part' && mv '.skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2/SKILL.md.part' '.skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2/SKILL.md'

2. Check prerequisites

Read SKILL.md before using it. If it references scripts or external services, inspect them and prepare the required access in your test environment.

Original excerpt: Prerequisites

This skill applies to Java 17+ projects with no CUI-specific dependencies.

The platforms on this page are catalog indications. The paths below follow tool documentation; they do not prove this skill has been run in those tools. No minimum tool version is confirmed for this listing.

3. Load the skill

After inspection, copy the complete folder into your project using one of the commands below, then open a new tool session. The command stops if a folder with the same name already exists: compare the files before replacing it.

Claude Code
test -f '.skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.claude/skills' && test ! -e '.claude/skills/java-core' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2' '.claude/skills/java-core'

Cursor
test -f '.skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.cursor/skills' && test ! -e '.cursor/skills/java-core' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2' '.cursor/skills/java-core'

OpenSkills

OpenSkills must already be installed. The local install/read procedure is checked with OpenSkills 1.5.0, which requires Node.js ≥ 20.6.0. Catalog slugs are not resolved automatically.

Official OpenSkills installation
openskills install './.skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2'

openskills read 'java-core-development-mma3jrm2'

Reading should display the installed file content and its base directory. It does not run the skill or install its dependencies.

For an agent that reads AGENTS.md, then sync the index. This command changes AGENTS.md: review the diff before using it.

openskills sync

Manual method or another tool: attach SKILL.md to a conversation, or open it in an agent that can read files. Include any required supporting resources. No universal folder is recognized by every tool.

4. Try a first task

Use a short, synthetic input: an API endpoint, a small document or an interface brief. In a new conversation, attach the file or give the agent its path, then adapt this request:

Read .skill-downloads/java-core-development-mma3jrm2/SKILL.md and apply its instructions to this example: [describe a test input]. Identify any missing files, dependencies or access. Produce the result requested by the skill without inventing data or running unreviewed scripts.

Expected result: output matching the skill instructions, or a precise list of missing prerequisites. A read confirmation alone does not validate a first use. If an external resource is unavailable, that path remains untested.

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