Given a simple Set<T>, what is a good way (fast, few lines of code) to get any value from the Set?
With a List, it’s easy:
List<T> things = ...; return things.get(0);
But, with a Set, there is no .get(...) method because Sets are not ordered.
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Answer
A Set<T> is an Iterable<T>, so iterating to the first element works:
Set<T> things = ...; return things.iterator().next();
Guava has a method to do this, though the above snippet is likely better.