CIS 260 Notes: Course Intro

We will look at examples of how to use Java documentation during class.
Some methods and/or classes may be listed as deprecated. That means that they should no longer be used. Sometimes this is due to cleaning up language issues such as making method names more consistent. Sometimes it is due to replacing methods that have had problems discovered. There is usually a suggested alternative to a deprecated method or class..
Why would you ever use a deprecated class? Normally, you wouldn't. You may be maintaining an older piece of software, however, where it would be more effort than it's worth to go through and replace all the deprecated methods and classes that were the standard when the software was written.
The -deprecation switch to the javac command tells the compiler to output the source lines where deprecated members have been found. You can also use the -Xlint:deprecation switch to the javac command.