Name: boT120536 Date: 04/11/2001


java version "1.3.1-beta"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.3.1-beta-b15)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.3.1beta-b15, mixed mode)

As per JLS 15.11.1, javac gives a compile time error when the identifier in a
field reference does not denote a field in the type of the qualifying primary
expression. However, don't you think a NullPointerException is a little harsh?

$ cat T15111i1.java
class T15111i1 {
    static class A {
        static class B {
            static int i = 1;
        }
    }
    int j = new A().B.i;
}
$ javac T15111i1.java
An exception has occurred in the compiler (1.3.1-beta). Please file a bug at
the Java Developer Connection (http://java.sun.com/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi).
Include your program and the following diagnostic in your report. Thank you.
java.lang.NullPointerException
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.comp.TransInner.access(TransInner.java:743)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.comp.TransInner._case(TransInner.java:1578)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.tree.Tree$Select.visit(Tree.java:963)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.tree.TreeTranslator.translate(TreeTranslator.java:35)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.comp.TransInner._case(TransInner.java:1572)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.tree.Tree$Select.visit(Tree.java:963)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.tree.TreeTranslator.translate(TreeTranslator.java:35)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.tree.TreeTranslator._case(TreeTranslator.java:106)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.tree.Tree$VarDef.visit(Tree.java:470)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.tree.TreeTranslator.translate(TreeTranslator.java:35)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.comp.TransInner._case(TransInner.java:1373)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.tree.Tree$ClassDef.visit(Tree.java:402)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.tree.TreeTranslator.translate(TreeTranslator.java:35)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.comp.TransInner.translate(TransInner.java:1335)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.comp.TransInner.translateTopLevelClass(TransInner.java:16
03)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.JavaCompiler.compile(JavaCompiler.java:397)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.v8.Main.compile(Main.java:247)
        at com.sun.tools.javac.Main.main(Main.java:16)

Also, notice that this variation gives an error message, but that the message is
totally unrelated to the required one (since B is not a field of type A):
$ cat T15111i1.java
class T15111i1 {
    static class A {
        static class B {
            int i = 1;
        }
    }
    int j = new A().B.i;
}
$ javac T15111i1.java
T15111i1.java:7: non-static variable i cannot be referenced from a static
context
    int j = new A().B.i;
            ^
1 error
(Review ID: 120455)
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