Non-static initializers are rarely used, and can be confusing for most developers because they only run when new class instances are created. When possible, non-static initializers should be refactored into standard constructors or field initializers.

Noncompliant Code Example

class MyClass {
  private static final Map<String, String> MY_MAP = new HashMap<String, String>() {

    // Noncompliant - HashMap should be extended only to add behavior, not for initialization
    {
      put("a", "b");
    }

  };
}

Compliant Solution

class MyClass {
  private static final Map<String, String> MY_MAP = new HashMap<String, String>();

  static {
    MY_MAP.put("a", "b");
  }
}

or using Guava:

class MyClass {
  // Compliant
  private static final Map<String, String> MY_MAP = ImmutableMap.of("a", "b");
}