inherited private method is considered an implementation of interface method

Name: gm110360 Date: 02/21/2002


FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.3.0
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.3.0-C, mixed mode)

FULL OPERATING SYSTEM VERSION :

Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]



EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :

         


A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
The code below is considered erroneous by javac:
The error message is:
foo() in C1 cannot implement foo() in I; attempting to
assign weaker access privileges; was public
abstract class C2 extends C1 implements I {
         ^
1 error

-----------------------------------------------------------
The class C1 is not implementing interface I, but its
subclass is. However, the method in C1 is private, and
should thus not have anything to to with it.
Variant:
Change C2 to:
class C2 extends C1 implements I {
  public void foo() {

  }
}

i.e implementing the method.
This code compiles.

Another variant:
C2 as the original, i.e. abstract,
but adding one more class:

class C3 extends C2 {
   public void foo() {

  }
}

Try to compile it - and there's the same error again.




STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
1. Copy the code into a file
2. Compile the code


EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
The expected result is no errors.

The actual result is one error (see above).

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
C:\develop\slask>javac ChangeAccess.java
ChangeAccess.java:9: foo() in C1 cannot implement foo() in I; attempting to
assign weaker access privileges; was public
abstract class C2 extends C1 implements I {
         ^
1 error

C:\develop\slask>





This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
interface I {
  public void foo();
}

class C1 {
  private void foo(){}
}

abstract class C2 extends C1 implements I {

}


---------- END SOURCE ----------
(Review ID: 139163)
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