How to use Callable with void return type?

I am working on a project in which I have multiple interface and two Implementations classes which needs to implement these two interfaces.

Suppose my first Interface is -

public Interface interfaceA {
    public void abc() throws Exception;
}

And its implementation is -

public class TestA implements interfaceA {

// abc method
}

I am calling it like this -

TestA testA = new TestA();
testA.abc();

Now my second interface is -

public Interface interfaceB {
    public void xyz() throws Exception;
}

And its implementation is -

public class TestB implements interfaceB {

// xyz method   
}

I am calling it like this -

TestB testB = new TestB();
testB.xyz();

Problem Statement:-

Now my question is - Is there any way, I can execute these two implementation classes in parallel? I don't want to run it in sequential.

Meaning, I want to run TestA and TestB implementation in parallel? Is this possible to do?

I was thinking to use Callable here but not sure how to use Callable with void return type here -

Let's use TestB class as an example:

public interface interfaceB {
    public void xyz() throws Exception;
}

public class TestB implements interfaceB, Callable<?>{

    @Override
    public void xyz() throws Exception
    {
        //do something

    }

    @Override
    public void call() throws Exception
    {
        xyz();
    }
}

Above code gives compilation error..

UPDATE:-

It looks like lot of people are suggesting to use Runnable instead of callable. But not sure how do I use Runnable here so that I can execute TestA and TestB in parallel.


Solution 1:

You can use java.lang.Thread for parallel execution. However, in most cases it's easier to use an java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService. The latter provides a method to submit a Callable and returns a Future to get the result later (or wait for completion).

If testA.abc() and testB.xyz() should be executed in parallel, you use the ExecutorService to execute the former in a separate thread whereas the latter is executed in the original thread. Then you wait for the completion of the former for synchronization.

ExecutorService executor = ... // e.g. Executors.newFixedThreadPool(4);

Future<Void> future = executor.submit(new Callable<Void>() {
    public Void call() throws Exception {
        testA.abc();
        return null;
    }
});
testB.xyz();
future.get(); // wait for completion of testA.abc()

Solution 2:

Why would you need a void for running something in Parallel? For one, if you don't need the return value, you can simply return null.

To make something parallel you need to use threading/scheduling. I would personally recommend avoiding Callables, and using Runnables instead (and hey, no return value).

Solution 3:

A shorter version:

ExecutorService executor = ... // e.g. Executors.newFixedThreadPool(4);
Future<?> future = executor.submit(() -> testA.abc());
testB.xyz();
future.get(); // wait for completion of testA.abc()

To be noted that having to run something in parallel with nothing to be returned could be a sign of a bad pattern :)

Also, if you are in a Spring environment, you could use: https://spring.io/guides/gs/async-method/