Avoid Using the assert Keyword in Production Code

[TheMeinerLP]

Description

The use of the assert keyword in production code can lead to unexpected behavior because assertions are typically disabled in production environments. This means that code within an assertion will not be executed, potentially skipping critical checks.

Problem Statement

In the current codebase, the assert keyword is used to ensure certain conditions are met. This can be problematic as these checks will not be performed in production, leading to hard-to-diagnose errors.

Proposed Solution

Replace all occurrences of the assert keyword in the production code with regular checks (e.g., if conditions) and throw an appropriate exception if the condition is not met.

Example

Current:

assert value != null : "Value must not be null";

Proposed:

if (value == null) {
    throw new IllegalArgumentException("Value must not be null");
}

Steps to Reproduce the Problem

1. Ensure the JVM is running in production mode without the -ea (enable assertions) flag.
2. Execute the code containing the assert statement.
3. Observe that the assertion is not executed and potential errors go unnoticed.

Expected Behavior

All conditions should be checked regardless of the mode (development or production) to ensure consistent and predictable behavior.