Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Java Coding Standards agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The java-coding-standards skill is a written guide that teaches an AI agent the Java style and design rules used in Spring Boot and Quarkus backend services. Once it is installed, the agent applies those rules when you ask it to write or review Java code. This guide covers what the skill changes, how to install it, how to trigger it, and what to watch for.
Java Coding Standardsaffaan-m/ECC · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it to get the SKILL.md file.
- 2Choose where to install. Use ~/.claude/skills/ for all your projects, or .claude/skills/ inside one project folder.
- 3Place or upload the skill. Copy the unzipped skill folder into the chosen skills folder, or upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- 4Open a Spring Boot or Quarkus project. Make sure the project has its build file so the agent can detect the framework.
- 5Ask for Java help in plain language. Request a review or new code, for example asking the agent to check naming or exception handling.
- 6Check the output. Read the agent's suggestions and compare them with your team's style guide and your test results.
What the skill makes the agent do
When the skill is active and you ask for Java code to be written or reviewed, the agent follows a set of conventions covering naming, immutability, Optional and stream usage, generics, dependency injection, exception handling, reactive code, and project layout. The skill targets Java 17 and later.
Before applying rules, the agent checks the build file. If it contains quarkus, the agent applies Quarkus conventions. If it contains spring-boot, it applies Spring conventions. If neither is found, it applies only the shared conventions.
- Naming: PascalCase classes and records, camelCase methods and fields, UPPER_SNAKE_CASE constants
- Immutability: favour records and final fields, with getters only and no setters
- Optional: return Optional from find methods and use map or orElseThrow instead of get()
- Dependency injection: constructor injection for Spring; constructor or package-private field injection for Quarkus
- Exceptions: unchecked domain exceptions, centralised handling with @RestControllerAdvice (Spring) or ExceptionMapper (Quarkus)
Install the skill
Download the ZIP file from this page and unzip it. The skill is a single file, SKILL.md. To make it available to Claude Code, place the unzipped folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for your user account, or in .claude/skills/ inside a specific project if you want it limited to that project.
You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps. Open Settings, go to Capabilities, and upload it under Skills.
- Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills
How to trigger the skill with natural requests
The skill is meant to apply automatically when your request involves Java code in a Spring Boot or Quarkus project. You do not need a special command. Asking in plain language about naming, exceptions, Optional use, or Java project structure is enough to make the rules relevant.
For Quarkus-specific guidance such as CDI scopes, Panache entities, or reactive pipelines, mention Quarkus or point the agent at a file in your Quarkus project so the build file can be detected.
- Review this Java service for naming and exception handling problems
- Write a MarketService for our Spring Boot app using constructor injection
- Check whether this Quarkus endpoint should return Uni instead of a blocking result
- Suggest a package layout for a new Quarkus backend with MapStruct mappers
Examples of what the agent produces
For a Spring Boot service, the agent uses constructor injection and flags field injection with @Autowired as a rule violation. For a Quarkus service, it marks a blocking call inside a Uni pipeline as a failure, because it would block the event loop, and suggests Uni.memoize() when a shared Uni is subscribed to twice.
In a review, the agent labels examples as PASS or FAIL, following the format used in the skill's source examples.
@Singleton // non-proxyable — use @ApplicationScoped instead
public class MarketService {}What the skill needs and how it runs
The skill lists no requirements. It does not run scripts and does not use the network. It is a set of written guidelines and example code that shape the agent's advice. It does not compile your code, run your tests, or check that the code is correct.
- Requires: nothing listed
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: no
- Files: SKILL.md
Safety notes and limits
Because the skill only adds guidance, the main risk is that its rules may not match your team. If your project has its own style guide that conflicts with these conventions, the agent may push the wrong rules. Review its suggestions against your own standards before accepting them.
The skill does not verify correctness. Keep running your build, tests, and code review as usual.
- Check conflicts with your team's existing style guide
- Still run your build and tests; the skill does not check correctness
Tips for getting better results
Keep your build file (pom.xml or build.gradle) in the project so the agent can detect the framework. Ask for one kind of task at a time, such as a review of a single class, so the rules stay focused. Since the skill covers many topics, you can narrow the request to one area like exceptions or reactive code.
- Make sure the build file is in the project the agent is working in
- Narrow reviews to one topic such as exceptions or injection
- Compare the agent's output with your own style guide before merging
What people use it for
- Reviewing a Spring Boot service for naming, injection, and exception handling consistency
- Writing a new Quarkus resource that returns Uni results from reactive endpoints
- Checking Quarkus code for blocking calls inside reactive pipelines
- Setting up a package layout for a new Spring Boot or Quarkus backend
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the java coding standards skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. Place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in .claude/skills/ inside a project. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
What are the requirements for this skill?
The skill lists no requirements. It does not run scripts and does not use the network. It is a written guide in SKILL.md that shapes the agent's advice.
Is the java coding standards skill free?
The skill is released under the MIT licence, as listed on this page. The source does not mention pricing, so check the licence file in the repository for the full terms.
Does the skill work with Spring Boot and Quarkus?
Yes, it includes conventions for both. The agent checks the build file for quarkus or spring-boot and applies the matching rules. If neither is found, only shared conventions apply.
Will the skill check whether my Java code is correct?
No. The skill only shapes the agent's guidance. It does not verify correctness or run tests, so you still need your normal build and test process.
Should I use this instead of my team's own style guide?
Not if your style guide conflicts with these conventions, because the agent may push the wrong rules. Use it when your team wants consistent AI-assisted reviews and has no conflicting standards.
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Our verdict
This skill suits Java developers on Spring Boot or Quarkus backends who want an AI assistant to review and write code in a consistent style, especially those new to Quarkus CDI and reactive patterns. Skip it for non-Java projects, for teams with an established style guide that conflicts with these rules, or if you need the tool to test or verify code.
Download the skill