How to use
- Copy the installation command and review the source package before installing it in your own agent environment.
- Check the source document for required tools, credentials and supported hosts.
- Describe your input and desired deliverable; review the output against the source material.
npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill java-docsBefore you start
- Installation does not include a model subscription, API allowance or permission to access your files.
- Repository stars and installation counts describe activity, not an independent quality or security test.
Original skill document
Rendered from the source repository. Headings, examples, code, tables, links, and referenced images are preserved.
Java Documentation (Javadoc) Best Practices
Principles
- Document only what the code actually does: read the implementation, callers and tests first. Never invent behaviour, thresholds, thread-safety, nullability or exceptions you have not verified; if unsure, leave it out or ask.
- Keep the existing documentation style of the project (language, tag order, comment form
/** */vs///). Do not rewrite existing comments, or mass-document a codebase, unless the user asks; limit changes to the requested scope. - Check the JDK level (
maven.compiler.release, toolchain,java -version) before using newer features, and stay within it.
Conventions
@sinceonly with the real version in which the API was introduced;@deprecatedwith a reason and replacement, together with@Deprecated.@authorand@versiononly if the project already uses them.- Code blocks, by JDK level:
- Any JDK:
<pre>{@code ... }</pre>(escape@at line start, balance braces). - JDK 18+:
{@snippet : ... }for inline code, or{@snippet file="Example.java" region="demo"}with files insnippet-files/(preferred for examples;javadocdoes not compile or validate the snippet source, so compile and test the files in a separate build/test source set if you need that guarantee). Use// @highlight substring="x"and// @replacemarkup as needed. - JDK 23+ only (JEP 467): Markdown doc comments with
///, using[Type#member]for links and fenced code blocks. Use them only if the project already does or the user asks, and the build runs a JDK 23+javadoc.
Verify
- Run
mvn -q javadoc:javadoc(or./gradlew javadoc) and for single filesjavadoc -Xdoclint:all -d target/javadoc-check <files>; fix every warning/error you introduced (missing@param, bad HTML, unresolved{@link}, unknown tags). - Report what was documented and the commands run; state any claims you could not verify from the code.
