ADDITIONAL SYSTEM INFORMATION :
Darwin 21.4.0 Darwin Kernel Version 21.4.0: Fri Mar 18 00:45:05 PDT 2022; root:xnu-8020.101.4~15/RELEASE_X86_64 x86_64
javac 17.0.3
java version "17.0.3" 2022-04-19 LTS
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 17.0.3+8-LTS-111)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 17.0.3+8-LTS-111, mixed mode, sharing)


A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
According to https://openjdk.java.net/groups/hotspot/docs/RuntimeOverview.html

"... If the class hierarchy has a problem such that this class is its own superclass or superinterface (recursively), then the VM will throw a ClassCircularityError."

A test case of three classes with a circular inheritance shows that this does not work as documented.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
javac circular/*.java
java -cp circular Me
java -cp circular Myself
java -cp circular I

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
According to the documentation I was expecting a throw of java.lang.ClassCircularityError
ACTUAL -
$ javac circular/*.java
$ java -cp circular I
Error: Could not find or load main class I
Caused by: java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: circular/I (wrong name: I)

$ java -cp circular Me
Error: Could not find or load main class Me
Caused by: java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: circular/Me (wrong name: Me)

$ java -cp circular Myself
Error: Could not find or load main class Myself
Caused by: java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: circular/Myself (wrong name: Myself)

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
package circular;
public class Me extends Myself {
}

package circular;
public class Myself extends I {
}

package circular;
public class I extends Me {
}

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

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
None identified

FREQUENCY : always