# 126 Java Exception Handling

> Use when you need to apply Java exception handling best practices — including using specific exception types, managing resources with try-with-resources, securing exception messages, preserving error context via exception chaining, validating inputs early with fail-fast principles, handling thread interruption correctly, documenting exceptions with @throws, enforcing logging policy, translating e…

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-jabrena-cursor-rules-java-126-java-exception-handling`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [jabrena](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/jabrena)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Developer Tools](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/developer-tools)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** Apache-2.0
- **Upstream author:** [jabrena](https://github.com/jabrena)
- **Source:** https://github.com/jabrena/cursor-rules-java/tree/main/skills/126-java-exception-handling
- **Website:** https://jabrena.github.io/cursor-rules-java/

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-jabrena-cursor-rules-java-126-java-exception-handling
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Java Exception Handling Guidelines

Identify and apply robust Java exception handling practices to improve error clarity, security, debuggability, and system reliability.

**What is covered in this Skill?**

- Specific exception types instead of generic `Exception`/`RuntimeException`
- try-with-resources for automatic resource cleanup
- Secure exception messages that avoid information leakage
- Exception chaining to preserve full error context
- Early input validation with `IllegalArgumentException`/`NullPointerException`
- `InterruptedException` handling with interrupted-status restoration
- `@throws` JavaDoc documentation, fail-fast principle
- Structured logging with correlation IDs, avoiding log-and-throw duplication
- API boundary translation via centralized exception mappers
- Bounded retry with backoff for idempotent operations only
- Timeout enforcement with deadline propagation
- `Throwable#addSuppressed` for secondary cleanup failures
- Never catching `Throwable`/`Error`
- Observability via error metrics
- Failure propagation in async `CompletionStage` code

**Scope:** The reference is organized by examples (good/bad code patterns) for each core area. Apply recommendations based on applicable examples.

## Constraints

Before applying any exception handling changes, ensure the project compiles. If compilation fails, stop immediately — do not proceed until resolved. After applying improvements, run full verification.

- **MANDATORY**: Run `./mvnw compile` or `mvn compile` before applying any changes
- **SAFETY**: If compilation fails, stop immediately — do not proceed until the project is in a valid state
- **VERIFY**: Run `./mvnw clean verify` or `mvn clean verify` after applying improvements
- **BEFORE APPLYING**: Read the reference for detailed good/bad examples, constraints, and safeguards for each exception handling pattern

## When to use this skill

- Exception handling
- Use try-with-resources in Java code
- Create exception chaining in Java code
- Apply fail-fast validation in Java code

## Workflow

1. **Compile project before exception-handling changes**

Run `./mvnw compile` or `mvn compile` and stop immediately if compilation fails.

2. **Read exception-handling reference**

Read `references/126-java-exception-handling.md` and identify applicable failure-handling and observability improvements.

3. **Apply exception-handling improvements**

Refactor to specific exceptions, safe resource handling, error translation, and consistent logging patterns.

4. **Verify with full build**

Run `./mvnw clean verify` or `mvn clean verify` after applying improvements.

## Reference

For detailed guidance, examples, and constraints, see [references/126-java-exception-handling.md](references/126-java-exception-handling.md).

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [jabrena](https://github.com/jabrena)
- **Source:** [jabrena/cursor-rules-java](https://github.com/jabrena/cursor-rules-java)
- **License:** Apache-2.0
- **Homepage:** https://jabrena.github.io/cursor-rules-java/

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-jabrena-cursor-rules-java-126-java-exception-handling
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/jabrena
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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