FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.6.0_20"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_20-b02)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 16.3-b01, mixed mode)


ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Linux <hostname> 2.6.24-gg804010-generic #1 SMP Mon Mar 1 13:59:15 PST 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
javac is at least not consistent in handling methods defined on enum constants. Its behavior depends on whether the compilation is against the source or class.

I have an interface with a method, enum implementing that interface, enum constant with class body implementing the method. If I call that method in another class javac gives an error. Here is the minimal example I came up with:

$ cat I.java
public interface I {
  int compare();
}

$ cat X.java
public enum X implements I {
  EQUAL() {
    public int compare() { return 0; }
  },
}

$ cat Y.java
public class Y {
  int a() { return X.E.EQUAL.compare(); }
}


$ javac Y.java
Y.java:2: cannot find symbol
symbol : method compare()
location: class X
  int a() { return X.EQUAL.compare(); }
                          ^
1 error

However if I do:
$ javac X.java
$ javac Y.java

the compilation succeeds.

JLS section 8.9 says:

Instance methods declared in these class bodies are may be invoked outside the enclosing enum type only if they override accessible methods in the enclosing enum type.

I am not 100% sure how to read this. Usually accessible methods search includes superclasses and superinterfaces. It could be interpreted as accessible methods *defined* in the enclosing enum type itself (excluding superclasses and superinterfaces).

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
rm -f *.class
javac Y.java
observe error

rm -f *.class
javac X.java
javac Y.java
do not observe error

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Two ways to compile should at least have same result.

I would also like to have an official opinion how I shall interpret JLS in this case and expect compilation to implement that behavior.
ACTUAL -
Two ways to compile produce different result.

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
Y.java:2: cannot find symbol
symbol : method compare()
location: class X
  int a() { return X.EQUAL.compare(); }
                          ^
1 error

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
$ cat I.java
public interface I {
  int compare();
}

$ cat X.java
public enum X implements I {
  EQUAL() {
    public int compare() { return 0; }
  },
}

$ cat Y.java
public class Y {
  int a() { return X.E.EQUAL.compare(); }
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
I found two workarounds: adding public abstract int compare(); to X or casting X.E.EQUAL to I