Java™ Coding Guidelines is primarily intended for developers of Java language programs. Although these guidelines focus on the Java SE 7 Platform environment, they should also be informative (although incomplete) for Java developers working with Java ME or Java EE and other versions of the Java language.

While primarily designed for building reliable and secure systems, these guidelines are also useful for achieving other quality attributes such as safety, dependability, robustness, availability, and maintainability.

These guidelines may also be used by

  • Developers of analyzer tools who wish to diagnose insecure or nonconforming Java language programs
  • Software-development managers, software acquirers, or other software development and acquisition specialists to establish a proscriptive set of secure coding standards
  • Educators as a primary or secondary text for Java programming courses