DefaultValuesInThrift.thrift

struct Vehicle {
    1: string name
    2: string model
}

struct Person {
    1: string name
    2: i32 age
    // Empty collections can be specified using []. Same works for map and set as well. 
    3: list<Vehicle> cars = []
    // Another way to specify default empty values
    4: list<Vehicle> bikes = empty
}

// Reference - http://stackoverflow.com/a/12501037
struct Family {
    1: Person familyHead = {"name": "Father", "age":60}
}

Family.java

....
  @Override
  public void clear() {
    this.familyHead = new Person();
    this.familyHead.setName("Father");
    this.familyHead.setAge(60);

  }
....

Person.java

....
  @Override
  public void clear() {
    this.name = null;
    setAgeIsSet(false);
    this.age = 0;
    this.cars = new ArrayList<Vehicle>();

    this.bikes = new ArrayList<Vehicle>();

  }
....