Compiler crashes with exception on wrong usage of an annotation.

FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
javac 1.7.0_09

java version " 1.7.0_09 "
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_09-b05)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.5-b02, mixed mode)


ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Darwin hostname.local 11.4.2 Darwin Kernel Version 11.4.2: Thu Aug 23 16:25:48 PDT 2012; root:xnu-1699.32.7~1/RELEASE_X86_64 x86_64

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Mis-enter an annotation by using an array where a single element was expected, like so:

@Foo({@Override, @Override})
public class Test {

}

@interface Foo {
Override value();
}

Now, compile it with javac, _but_, make sure some annotation processor will be run. For example, by putting spi.jar from the spi project (download link to annotation processor jar that should be put on the classpath: http://code.google.com/p/spi/downloads/detail?name=spi.jar&can=2&q= ). Thus, run:

javac -cp spi.jar Test.java

at that point, the compiler will fail with a ClassCastException. If you then add -proc:none or just take spi out of the equation, you get the proper compiler error message.


Note that spi doesn't even trigger on the 'Test' annotation - any annotation processor, even a dummy one, is enough to trigger this bug.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
1. Download spi.jar or find any other annotation processor.

2. Create a file named 'Test.java' and paste this code in:

@Foo({@Override, @Override})
public class Test {

}

@interface Foo {
Override value();
}

3. execute 'javac -cp spi.jar Test.java'



EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Compiler should generate an error message describing to the user that an annotation has not been used properly. For example:

Test.java:1: error: annotation value must be an annotation
@Foo({@Override, @Override})
     ^

(This is the error you get if there are 0 annotation processors on the classpath / -proc:none is used).

ACTUAL -
Compiler crashes with a ClassCastException:

An exception has occurred in the compiler (1.7.0_09). Please file a bug at the Java Developer Connection (http://java.sun.com/webapps/bugreport) after checking the Bug Parade for duplicates. Include your program and the following diagnostic in your report. Thank you.
java.lang.ClassCastException: com.sun.tools.javac.tree.JCTree$JCNewArray cannot be cast to com.sun.tools.javac.tree.JCTree$JCAnnotation
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.enterAttributeValue(Annotate.java:229)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.enterAnnotation(Annotate.java:181)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.MemberEnter.enterAnnotations(MemberEnter.java:779)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.MemberEnter.access$300(MemberEnter.java:57)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.MemberEnter$5.enterAnnotation(MemberEnter.java:747)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.flush(Annotate.java:109)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.enterDone(Annotate.java:101)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Enter.complete(Enter.java:510)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Enter.main(Enter.java:469)
at com.sun.tools.javac.main.JavaCompiler.enterTrees(JavaCompiler.java:929)
at com.sun.tools.javac.main.JavaCompiler.compile(JavaCompiler.java:824)
at com.sun.tools.javac.main.Main.compile(Main.java:439)
at com.sun.tools.javac.main.Main.compile(Main.java:353)
at com.sun.tools.javac.main.Main.compile(Main.java:342)
at com.sun.tools.javac.main.Main.compile(Main.java:333)
at com.sun.tools.javac.Main.compile(Main.java:76)
at com.sun.tools.javac.Main.main(Main.java:61)


ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
An exception has occurred in the compiler (1.7.0_09). Please file a bug at the Java Developer Connection (http://java.sun.com/webapps/bugreport) after checking the Bug Parade for duplicates. Include your program and the following diagnostic in your report. Thank you.
java.lang.ClassCastException: com.sun.tools.javac.tree.JCTree$JCNewArray cannot be cast to com.sun.tools.javac.tree.JCTree$JCAnnotation
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.enterAttributeValue(Annotate.java:229)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.enterAnnotation(Annotate.java:181)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.MemberEnter.enterAnnotations(MemberEnter.java:779)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.MemberEnter.access$300(MemberEnter.java:57)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.MemberEnter$5.enterAnnotation(MemberEnter.java:747)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.flush(Annotate.java:109)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.enterDone(Annotate.java:101)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Enter.complete(Enter.java:510)
at com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Enter.main(Enter.java:469)
at com.sun.tools.javac.main.JavaCompiler.enterTrees(JavaCompiler.java:929)
at com.sun.tools.javac.main.JavaCompiler.compile(JavaCompiler.java:824)
at com.sun.tools.javac.main.Main.compile(Main.java:439)
at com.sun.tools.javac.main.Main.compile(Main.java:353)
at com.sun.tools.javac.main.Main.compile(Main.java:342)
at com.sun.tools.javac.main.Main.compile(Main.java:333)
at com.sun.tools.javac.Main.compile(Main.java:76)
at com.sun.tools.javac.Main.main(Main.java:61)


REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
@Foo({@Override, @Override})
public class Test {

}

@interface Foo {
Override value();
}

---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Well, you can stop using annotation processors, or, you can fix your syntax error.