FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "9-ea"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 9-ea+142)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 9-ea+142, mixed mode)

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Using the request()-method on HttpClient without specifying a URI will always throw NPE, as the implementation

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Create a HttpRequest.Builder using the no-param request-method on HttpClient

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
HttpRequest.Builder is created
ACTUAL -
NullPointerException is thrown from HttpRequestBuilderImpl.checkURI

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
at java.net.http.HttpRequestBuilderImpl.checkURI(java.httpclient@9-ea/HttpRequestBuilderImpl.java:70)
at java.net.http.HttpRequestBuilderImpl.<init>(java.httpclient@9-ea/HttpRequestBuilderImpl.java:48)
at java.net.http.HttpClientImpl.request(java.httpclient@9-ea/HttpClientImpl.java:420)
at java.net.http.HttpClientImpl.request(java.httpclient@9-ea/HttpClientImpl.java:61)
at java9.HttpClientMain.main(HttpClientMain.java:22)




REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
            HttpClient.getDefault()
                .request()
                .uri(URI.create("http://www.example.com"))
                .GET();
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
            HttpClient.getDefault()
                .request(URI.create("http://www.example.com"))
                .GET();