FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.7.0-ea"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0-ea-b71)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 16.0-b08, mixed mode, sharing)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
When creating or nulling reference types using enhanced for loop it silently fails. It understandably behaves the way it does, however it should be a compiler warning or error (C# treats this as a compilation error).

Look at the test code below and notice the different behavior between the two (semantically) similar for loops.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
See sample code below.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Compiler warning or compiler error.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
public class ForEach
{
    public static Object[] initializeArray(Object[] objects)
    {
        for ( int i = 0; i < objects.length; i++ )
        {
            objects[i] = new Object();
        }
 
        return objects;
    }
 
    public static Object[] initializeArrayEnhanced(Object[] objects)
    {
        for (Object obj : objects )
        {
            obj = new Object();
        }
 
        return objects;
    }
}
 
 
import org.junit.Test;
import static org.junit.Assert.*;
 
public class ForEachTest
{
    @Test
    public void testInitializeArray()
    {
        Object[] objects = new Object[5];
        Object[] result = ForEach.initializeArray(objects);
        assertNotNull(result);
        for ( int i = 0; i < result.length; i++ )
        {
            assertNotNull(result[i]);
        }
    }
 
    @Test
    public void testInitializeArrayEnhanced()
    {
        Object[] objects = new Object[5];
        Object[] result = ForEach.initializeArrayEnhanced(objects);
        assertNotNull(result);
        for ( int i = 0; i < result.length; i++ )
        {
            assertNotNull(result[i]);
        }
    }
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------