Java lazy loading of enum instances

Question

If I have a bunch of enum instances in an enum type, and if I access an instance of it the first time, all of its remaining instances too are initialized at the same time. I

Answer 1

Not without basically making it not an enum anymore. Enums are classes. The first time a class is used, it gets loaded by the JVM and all of its static initialization is done. Setting up the enum members is a static initialization, so they're all going to be initialized.

Answer 2

You can make the instances lazy loading on use. i.e. the constructor doesn't actually perform the expensive work. In the methods for these enums, you add a checkingLoaded() method to the methods which need this. This doesn't have to be every method depending on what it does.