This adds the `Feign.Builder.decode404()` flag which indicates decoders
should process responses with 404 status. It also changes all
first-party decoders (like gson) to return well-known empty values by
default. Further customization is possible by wrapping or creating a
custom decoder.

Prior to this change, we used custom invocation handlers as the way to
add fallback values based on exception or return status. `feign-hystrix`
uses this to return `HystrixCommand<X>`, but the general pattern applies
to anything that has a type representing both success and failure, such
as `Try<X>` or `Observable<X>`.

As we define it here, 404 status is not a retry or fallback policy, it
is just empty semantics. By limiting Feign's special processing to 404,
we gain a lot with very little supporting code.

For example, we have a fast-path for addressing absence which doesn't
accidentally turn bad request, redirect, silently to null. Processing
404 is a very safe policy: it doesn't overlap with retries or other
behavior in feign which could turn into support questions.

Also, we don't create a cliff, where folks looking for error handling
eventually realize they can't address all fallback policy with only an
http response code (bc exceptions can happen far before you get a
response from the server). By noting 404 as a special case, we avoid a
slippery slope of incrementally half-implementing Hystrix or similar.

This design supports the common pattern of empty semantics with the
least code on both users and the maintainers of Feign. We can still
recommend other libraries such as Hystrix or Ribbon for advanced retry
or fallback policy.

Most importantly, addressing 404 is extremely high value. You are just the last to mention it. For example, I would use this in denominator. Moreover, it doesn't require us to introduce or break an interface. This means all users, such as spring-cloud, can easily opt-into this. It could substantially reduce their code in the same way it can reduce your code, but without new types.

See #238 #287

This adds the `Feign.Builder.decode404()` flag which indicates decoders
should process responses with 404 status. It also changes all
first-party decoders (like gson) to return well-known empty values by
default. Further customization is possible by wrapping or creating a
custom decoder.

Prior to this change, we used custom invocation handlers as the way to
add fallback values based on exception or return status. `feign-hystrix`
uses this to return `HystrixCommand<X>`, but the general pattern applies
to anything that has a type representing both success and failure, such
as `Try<X>` or `Observable<X>`.

As we define it here, 404 status is not a retry or fallback policy, it
is just empty semantics. By limiting Feign's special processing to 404,
we gain a lot with very little supporting code.

For example, we have a fast-path for addressing absence which doesn't
accidentally turn bad request, redirect, silently to null. Processing
404 is a very safe policy: it doesn't overlap with retries or other
behavior in feign which could turn into support questions.

Also, we don't create a cliff, where folks looking for error handling
eventually realize they can't address all fallback policy with only an
http response code (bc exceptions can happen far before you get a
response from the server). By noting 404 as a special case, we avoid a
slippery slope of incrementally half-implementing Hystrix or similar.

This design supports the common pattern of empty semantics with the
least code on both users and the maintainers of Feign. We can still
recommend other libraries such as Hystrix or Ribbon for advanced retry
or fallback policy.

See #238 #287

This adds the `Feign.Builder.decode404()` flag which indicates decoders
should process responses with 404 status. It also changes all
first-party decoders (like gson) to return well-known empty values by
default. Further customization is possible by wrapping or creating a
custom decoder.

Prior to this change, we used custom invocation handlers as the way to
add fallback values based on exception or return status. `feign-hystrix`
uses this to return `HystrixCommand<X>`, but the general pattern applies
to anything that has a type representing both success and failure, such
as `Try<X>` or `Observable<X>`.

As we define it here, 404 status is not a retry or fallback policy, it
is just empty semantics. By limiting Feign's special processing to 404,
we gain a lot with very little supporting code.

If instead we opened all codes, Feign could easily turn bad request,
redirect, or server errors silently to null. This sort of configuration
issue is hard to troubleshoot. 404 -> empty is a very safe policy vs
all codes.

Moreover, we don't create a cliff, where folks seeking fallback policy
eventually realize they can't if only given a response code. Fallback
systems like Hystrix address exceptions that occur before or in lieu of
a response. By special-casing 404, we avoid a slippery slope of half-
implementing Hystrix.

Finally, 404 handling has been commonly requested: it has a clear use-
case, and through that value. This design supports that without breaking
compatibility, or impacting existing integrations such as Hystrix or
Ribbon.

See #238 #287

This adds the `Feign.Builder.decode404()` flag which indicates decoders
should process responses with 404 status. It also changes all
first-party decoders (like gson) to return well-known empty values by
default. Further customization is possible by wrapping or creating a
custom decoder.

Prior to this change, we used custom invocation handlers as the way to
add fallback values based on exception or return status. `feign-hystrix`
uses this to return `HystrixCommand<X>`, but the general pattern applies
to anything that has a type representing both success and failure, such
as `Try<X>` or `Observable<X>`.

As we define it here, 404 status is not a retry or fallback policy, it
is just empty semantics. By limiting Feign's special processing to 404,
we gain a lot with very little supporting code.

If instead we opened all codes, Feign could easily turn bad request,
redirect, or server errors silently to null. This sort of configuration
issue is hard to troubleshoot. 404 -> empty is a very safe policy vs
all codes.

Moreover, we don't create a cliff, where folks seeking fallback policy
eventually realize they can't if only given a response code. Fallback
systems like Hystrix address exceptions that occur before or in lieu of
a response. By special-casing 404, we avoid a slippery slope of half-
implementing Hystrix.

Finally, 404 handling has been commonly requested: it has a clear use-
case, and through that value. This design supports that without breaking
compatibility, or impacting existing integrations such as Hystrix or
Ribbon.

See #238 #287

This adds the `Feign.Builder.decode404()` flag which indicates decoders
should process responses with 404 status. It also changes all
first-party decoders (like gson) to return well-known empty values by
default. Further customization is possible by wrapping or creating a
custom decoder.

Prior to this change, we used custom invocation handlers as the way to
add fallback values based on exception or return status. `feign-hystrix`
uses this to return `HystrixCommand<X>`, but the general pattern applies
to anything that has a type representing both success and failure, such
as `Try<X>` or `Observable<X>`.

As we define it here, 404 status is not a retry or fallback policy, it
is just empty semantics. By limiting Feign's special processing to 404,
we gain a lot with very little supporting code.

If instead we opened all codes, Feign could easily turn bad request,
redirect, or server errors silently to null. This sort of configuration
issue is hard to troubleshoot. 404 -> empty is a very safe policy vs
all codes.

Moreover, we don't create a cliff, where folks seeking fallback policy
eventually realize they can't if only given a response code. Fallback
systems like Hystrix address exceptions that occur before or in lieu of
a response. By special-casing 404, we avoid a slippery slope of half-
implementing Hystrix.

Finally, 404 handling has been commonly requested: it has a clear use-
case, and through that value. This design supports that without breaking
compatibility, or impacting existing integrations such as Hystrix or
Ribbon.

See #238 #287