Compiler should allow to create attributes with various attributes with retention. The compiler will give exceptions when they are defined.

The following is the code and compiler fail console.
<code>
import java.lang.annotation.*;

@Retention(RUNTIME) @interface ATTR1{

}

@Retention(SOURCE) @interface ATTR2 {

}

@Retention(CLASS) @interface ATTR3 {

}

@interface ATTR4 {

}

public class Test1 {
    public static void main(String[] arg) {

    }
}
</code>
<console>
vishalb:/home/vv145429/tiger/src/metadata/bugs 13 % javac -source 1.5 Test1.java
Test1.java:3: cannot find symbol
symbol : variable RUNTIME
location: @interface ATTR1
@Retention(RUNTIME) @interface ATTR1{
           ^
Test1.java:7: cannot find symbol
symbol : variable SOURCE
location: @interface ATTR2
@Retention(SOURCE) @interface ATTR2 {
           ^
Test1.java:11: cannot find symbol
symbol : variable CLASS
location: @interface ATTR3
@Retention(CLASS) @interface ATTR3 {
           ^
3 errors
vishalb:/home/vv145429/tiger/src/metadata/bugs 14 %

</console>