Name: tb29552 Date: 04/20/2001


java version "1.3.0_02"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.3.0_02)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.3.0_02, mixed mode)

This is a JDI problem.

com.sun.jdi.request.EventRequestManager only allows the creation of
WatchpointRequest's on a Field; that is, WatchpointRequest's can only watch
members of a class, not variables which are local to methods.

For instance, say I have the following methods:

class Foo {
   Bar getBar( ) {
      Bar bar;
      tinkerWithBar( bar );
      return( bar );
   }

   void tinkerWithBar( /* in-out */ Bar bar ) {
      bar = new BarChildClass( ); // a class that extends Bar
   }
}

Now, say I want to place a WatchpointRequest on the local variable "bar" within
method Foo.getBar .... There is no apparent way to do this, and yet it is a
standard feature of MOST languages and debuggers.
(Review ID: 121046)
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