FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.5.0_09"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_09-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 1.5.0_09-b01, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
windows xp, aix, solaris

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
since upgrading to jdk 1.5, we are seeing performance problems in our application. initial jvm profiling indicates the problem may be with the java.util.Calendar and java.util.GregorianCalendar classes. our code makes extensive use of these classes and the time taken is now 2-3 times slower.

This has been replicated in all versions of jdk1.5.0, including the latest 1.5.0_10.

I've looked into sun's source code for the Calendar class and I think I've identified the source of the performance degradation.

The calendar class uses two internal representations of time: one in milliseconds, and the other using the calendar fields like DAY, MONTH, YEAR, etc. Calling the set method on the calendar class causes these two to go out of synch. In jdk 1.5, whenever before, after, or equals is called and the milliseconds and calendar fields are not in sync, a new calendar object is cloned and instead of doing a milliseconds compare. also, it does not sync the values so subsequent calls will also clone a new
calendar object. Is there any reason why they don't re-compute the milliseconds and calendar fields when the comparison methods are called like they are in jdk 1.4?

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Run CalendarCompare.bat. It needs to be modified to point to the correct
directories on your local machine.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
ACTUAL -
Below is the output that demonstrates how not calling getTime() before
the before, equals, and equals methods results in a significant
performance decrease in jdk 1.5.

Calling getTime()
Java vendor=Sun Microsystems Inc., version=1.3.1_15
Calendar.set() took 592
Calendar.get() took 3047
Calendar.before() took 597
Calendar.after() took 457
Calendar.equals() took 625
                  TOTAL 6531

Java vendor=Sun Microsystems Inc., version=1.4.2_10
Calendar.set() took 220
Calendar.get() took 4113
Calendar.before() took 688
Calendar.after() took 463
Calendar.equals() took 346
                  TOTAL 7281

Java vendor=Sun Microsystems Inc., version=1.5.0_05
Calendar.set() took 77
Calendar.get() took 5660
Calendar.before() took 48
Calendar.after() took 218
Calendar.equals() took 308
                  TOTAL 6968

Java vendor=Sun Microsystems Inc., version=1.5.0_09
Calendar.set() took 206
Calendar.get() took 4533
Calendar.before() took 142
Calendar.after() took 107
Calendar.equals() took 234
                  TOTAL 5875

Java vendor=IBM Corporation, version=1.5.0
Calendar.set() took 453
Calendar.get() took 4080
Calendar.before() took 1314
Calendar.after() took 1018
Calendar.equals() took 827
                  TOTAL 9594

Without calling getTime()
Java vendor=Sun Microsystems Inc., version=1.3.1_15
Calendar.set() took 372
Calendar.get() took 172
Calendar.before() took 2013
Calendar.after() took 378
Calendar.equals() took 395
                  TOTAL 4969

Java vendor=Sun Microsystems Inc., version=1.4.2_10
Calendar.set() took 480
Calendar.get() took 264
Calendar.before() took 2927
Calendar.after() took 390
Calendar.equals() took 609
                  TOTAL 6062

Java vendor=Sun Microsystems Inc., version=1.5.0_05
Calendar.set() took 296
Calendar.get() took 110
Calendar.before() took 9976
Calendar.after() took 9471
Calendar.equals() took 9710
                  TOTAL 30218

Java vendor=Sun Microsystems Inc., version=1.5.0_09
Calendar.set() took 232
Calendar.get() took 78
Calendar.before() took 10170
Calendar.after() took 9324
Calendar.equals() took 10023
                  TOTAL 30437

Java vendor=IBM Corporation, version=1.5.0
Calendar.set() took 342
Calendar.get() took 269
Calendar.before() took 8395
Calendar.after() took 8982
Calendar.equals() took 10475
                  TOTAL 30171

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

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