Name: laC46010 Date: 07/09/97



Java compiler fails to find inherited inner interface.
In accordance to evaluation of the Bug Id 4063501, it might be
concluded, that validity of such way of cyclic inheritance means
enclosed interface 'B' (see example "Test.java" below, taken
from that bug) inherits itself from superinterface 'A'. Thus,
name 'B' should be defined for any instance of type 'B'.
Moreover, each inherited in this way interface automatically
inherits name 'B', and so forth to the eternity.

Besides, indepth understanding of this example reveals that
interface 'A' has sort of fractal structure. Indeed, complicated
eternal interface 'A' is inherited by all interfaces on all levels
of inheritance chain and, again, does contain endless chains of
this kind, and so on.

Example "TestNew.java" below shows how such considerations might
affect accessibility for inherited members. If it is stated that
such inheritance is not a bug, then we could try to access interface
'B' inherited by interface 'Test.A.B'.
However, all JDK compilers from 1.1 thru 1.1.3 deny this and report
the following compile-time errors for example "TestNew.java":


a.java:7: No variable B defined in nested interface Test. A.B.
int k2 = A.B.B.x;
^
a.java:8: No variable B defined in nested interface Test. A.B.
int k3 = A.B.B.B.B.B.B.B.B.B.B.x;
^
2 errors


--------------------TestValid.java----------------------
class Test {
interface A {
interface B extends A {}
}
}
--------------------TestNew.java----------------------
class Test {
interface A {
final int x = 153;
interface B extends A {}
}
int k1 = A.B.x;
int k2 = A.B.B.x;
int k3 = A.B.B.B.B.B.B.B.B.B.B.x;
}
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