Which one is more readable for mutually exclusive but mandatory command line parameters validation?

Question

I have a small validation code that needs to make sure that exactly one of two parameter is set

I consider two options, the "Naive" that has some repetitions and might look "clumsy" but is very clear, and a second that is a bit more "DRY" but I'm not sure it's as readable / convincing in it's correctness.

Option one

if(param1==null && param2==null){
  throw new RuntimeException("Either param1 or param2 must be specified");
}

if(param1!=null && param2!=null){
  throw new RuntimeException("Only one of param1 or param2 must be specified");
}

if(param1!=null){
  //do something with param1
}
if(param2!=null){
  //do something with param2
}

Option two

if(param1!=null){
  if(param2!=null){
    //only runs if both are not null
    throw new RuntimeException("Only one of param1 or param2 must be specified");
  }
  //do something with param1
} else if(param2!=null){
  //do something with param2
} else{
  //only runs if both are null
  throw new RuntimeException("Either param1 or param2 must be specified");
}

Which one is more readable? which one would you keep? do you see any issue with Option 2?

Edit:

Based on feedback, I think there is a bit nicer option

Option three

boolean isParam1Valid = param1!=null;
boolean isParam2Valid = param2!=null;

if(isParam1Valid == isParam2Valid ){ //e.g. either both are null or both are not null
  throw new RuntimeException("param1 or param2 must be specified exactly once");
}

if(isParam1Valid){
  //do something with param1
}

if(isParam2Valid){
  //do something with param2
}

Option four shorter, but a bit less readable IMHO than option three (one needs to go up and read the code to understand why author is so sure that the else block means that param2 is valid

boolean isParam1Valid = param1!=null;
boolean isParam2Valid = param2!=null;

if(isParam1Valid == isParam2Valid ){ //e.g. either both are null or both are not null
  throw new RuntimeException("param1 or param2 must be specified exactly once");
}

if(isParam1Valid){
  //do something with param1
}else{ //must be true, as isParam1Valid is false, and they are not equal
  //do something with param2
}

Answer 1

I would put all validations first, and then extract to a method. Better, trying using a parsing framework like JCommander that might be able to handle that for you, so that your code is just business logic

Answer 2

Your option one is ok.
I would recommend to not use option two, this is complex and everyone has to think what is happening here and if everything is correct.

Two possible ways:

1) If used multiple times

boolean isParameter1Valid = ...;
boolean isParameter2Valid = ...;
checkIfExactlyOneIsTrue(isParameter1Valid, isParameter2Valid, "Exactly one parameter must be specified");
if (isParameter1Valid) {
    // do something with param1
}
if (isParameter2Valid) {
    // do something with param2
}

/**
 * throws an exception with given message if either both are true or both are false
 */
private static void checkIfExactlyOneIsTrue(boolean b1, boolean b2, String message) {
    if ((b1 == true && b2 == true) || (b1 == false && b2 == false))
        throw new IllegalArgumentException(message);
}

2) If used only once:

boolean isParameter1Valid = ...;
boolean isParameter2Valid = ...;
if (!(isParameter1Valid ^ isParameter2Valid)) { // ^ is xor, which is true if both arguments are different, otherwise false
    throw new IllegalArgumentException("Exactly one parameter must be specified");
}
if (isParameter1Valid) {
    // do something with param1
}
if (isParameter2Valid) {
    // do something with param2
}

You should not forget to add a comment for the xor, because it is probably not known that much by the typical java programmer.

Edit: as Eran Medan suggested, the typical programmer without xor knowledge could live better with a != or == approach, see his starting post.

Answer 3

as you have only two tested parameters :

if (isParameter1Valid) {
    // do something with param1
} else {
    // do something with param2
}