ADDITIONAL SYSTEM INFORMATION :
MacBook Pro 16 Inch, MacOS Catalina 10.15.5
javac 15-ea build 32 (openjdk-15-ea+32_osx-x64_bin.tar.gz)
javac 14.0.2 (openjdk-14.0.2_osx-x64_bin.tar)


A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Compilation of a record class using the java.io.Serial annotation on a static final field fails with a NullPointerException.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Compile the provided code with javac with the command line parameters `--enable-preview -release 15`:

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
record compiled without issues
ACTUAL -
An exception has occurred in the compiler (15-ea). Please file a bug against the Java compiler via the Java bug reporting page (http://bugreport.java.com) after checking the Bug Database (http://bugs.java.com) for duplicates. Include your program, the following diagnostic, and the parameters passed to the Java compiler in your report. Thank you.
java.lang.NullPointerException: Cannot invoke "com.sun.tools.javac.code.Symbol$RecordComponent.getMetadata()" because "rc" is null
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Check.validateAnnotation(Check.java:2940)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Check.validateAnnotations(Check.java:2896)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.lambda$annotateLater$1(Annotate.java:279)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.flush(Annotate.java:200)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.unblockAnnotations(Annotate.java:144)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.enterDone(Annotate.java:157)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.main.JavaCompiler.enterDone(JavaCompiler.java:1750)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.main.JavaCompiler.enterTrees(JavaCompiler.java:1071)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.main.JavaCompiler.compile(JavaCompiler.java:936)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.main.Main.compile(Main.java:317)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.main.Main.compile(Main.java:176)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.Main.compile(Main.java:59)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.Main.main(Main.java:45)

In Oracle OpenJDK 14.0.2 a similar exception is thrown:

An exception has occurred in the compiler (14.0.2). Please file a bug against the Java compiler via the Java bug reporting page (http://bugreport.java.com) after checking the Bug Database (http://bugs.java.com) for duplicates. Include your program, the following diagnostic, and the parameters passed to the Java compiler in your report. Thank you.
java.lang.NullPointerException
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Check.validateAnnotation(Check.java:2912)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Check.validateAnnotations(Check.java:2868)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.lambda$annotateLater$1(Annotate.java:279)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.flush(Annotate.java:200)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.unblockAnnotations(Annotate.java:144)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp.Annotate.enterDone(Annotate.java:157)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.main.JavaCompiler.enterDone(JavaCompiler.java:1752)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.main.JavaCompiler.enterTrees(JavaCompiler.java:1073)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.main.JavaCompiler.compile(JavaCompiler.java:936)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.main.Main.compile(Main.java:316)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.main.Main.compile(Main.java:176)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.Main.compile(Main.java:57)
        at jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.Main.main(Main.java:43)


---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import java.io.Serial;
import java.io.Serializable;

record R1(int i) implements Serializable {
    @Serial private static final long serialVersionUID = 1;
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Remove the @Serial annotation from the field and the program compiles without problems.

FREQUENCY : always