How do you document implicit and explicit constructors in your code and design documents?

1 Use comments and annotations

One way to document implicit and explicit constructors in your code is to use comments and annotations. Comments are text that explain the purpose, logic, or functionality of a code segment, but are ignored by the compiler or the interpreter. Annotations are special keywords or symbols that provide additional information or instructions to the compiler or the interpreter, such as @Override or @Deprecated. You can use comments and annotations to indicate which constructors are implicit or explicit, and what parameters, exceptions, or behaviors they have.

4 Use design patterns

A fourth way to document implicit and explicit constructors in your design documents is to use design patterns. Design patterns are reusable solutions to common problems in software design, and they describe the intent, structure, and consequences of a design decision. Design patterns can help you to document the rationale and benefits of using implicit or explicit constructors, and to avoid pitfalls or drawbacks. For example, you can use the singleton pattern to ensure that only one instance of a class is created, and the factory method pattern to delegate the creation of objects to subclasses.

5 Use documentation tools

A fifth way to document implicit and explicit constructors in your code and design documents is to use documentation tools. Documentation tools are software applications or libraries that generate documentation from your source code, comments, annotations, or diagrams. Documentation tools can help you to automate the process of creating and updating documentation, and to ensure consistency and accuracy. For example, you can use Javadoc to generate HTML pages from Java code, Doxygen to generate various formats from C++, Python, or other languages, or Graphviz to generate graphs from UML diagrams.

6 Use code reviews and feedback

A sixth way to document implicit and explicit constructors in your code and design documents is to use code reviews and feedback. Code reviews are systematic examinations of your code by yourself or others, with the aim of improving its quality, readability, and maintainability. Feedback is the response or reaction that you receive from your peers, mentors, clients, or users, regarding your code or design. Code reviews and feedback can help you to identify and correct errors, inconsistencies, or gaps in your documentation, and to learn from best practices and suggestions.