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Java Java Data Structures Exploring the Java Collection Framework Sets

The exercise keeps asking me to add a getAllAuthor method even though it can be clearly seen in the code.

when I press preview nothing its empty. Anyone knows whats going on?

com/example/BlogPost.java
package com.example;

import java.io.Serializable;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Date;
import java.util.List;


public class BlogPost implements Comparable<BlogPost>, Serializable {
  private String mAuthor;
  private String mTitle;
  private String mBody;
  private String mCategory;
  private Date mCreationDate;

  public BlogPost(String author, String title, String body, String category, Date creationDate) {
    mAuthor = author;
    mTitle = title;
    mBody = body;
    mCategory = category;
    mCreationDate = creationDate;
  }

  public int compareTo(BlogPost other) {
    if (equals(other)) {
      return 0;
    }
    return mCreationDate.compareTo(other.mCreationDate);
  }

  public String[] getWords() {
    return mBody.split("\\s+");
  }

  public List<String> getExternalLinks() {
    List<String> links = new ArrayList<String>();
    for (String word : getWords()) {
      if (word.startsWith("http")) {
        links.add(word);
      }
    }
    return links;
  }

  public String getAuthor() {
    return mAuthor;
  }

  public String getTitle() {
    return mTitle;
  }

  public String getBody() {
    return mBody;
  }

  public String getCategory() {
    return mCategory;
  }

  public Date getCreationDate() {
    return mCreationDate;
  }
}
com/example/Blog.java
package com.example;

import java.util.List;
import java.util.Set;
import java.util.HashSet;
import java.util.TreeSet;

public class Blog {
  List<BlogPost> mPosts;
  public TreeSet<String> getAllAuthors(){
    TreeSet<String> authorlist = new TreeSet<String>();
    for(BlogPost blog : this.mPosts){
      authorlist.add(blog.getAuthor()); 
    }
    return authorlist;
  }

  public Blog(List<BlogPost> posts) {
    mPosts = posts;
  }

  public List<BlogPost> getPosts() {
    return mPosts;
  }
}

1 Answer

Craig Dennis
STAFF
Craig Dennis
Treehouse Teacher

Hmmm...the return type is the TreeSet implementation. Is that right?

Oh i see the error haha. So the implementation "TreeSet" is not considered a datatype?

Craig Dennis
Craig Dennis
Treehouse Teacher

No it totally is. I wanted you specifically to pass the Interface and not the Implementation, this is so you can change how it is implemented at a later time, with only one change to your code. It helps to keep things portable. I'll hammer it in through the rest of the lessons.

Hope that helps!

So if I did return it as a TreeSet I wont be able to switch it to any other type of set later on without changing it back to a normal set first? so it will just take a longer time?

Craig Dennis
Craig Dennis
Treehouse Teacher

Yeah it allows you to change your mind later, when thousands of people start using your code. Keeps it more open. It would work, but my test was being specific about what was requested.

Alright I get it now thanks :D