Traps in Java

Abstract

Though the Java programming language was designed with extreme care, there are still a few ambiguities and irregularities left in the language. The ambiguities are those issues that are not defined clearly in the Java language specification. The different results produced by different compilers on several example programs justify our observations. The irregularities are issues that often confuse programmers. It is hard for a confused programmer to write robust programs. Furthermore, a few issues of the Java language are left intentionally open to the compiler writers. Their effects on Java programs are discussed. The problems of ambiguity, irregularity, and dependence on implementations frequently trap an incautious Java programmer. Some suggestions and solutions for the problems are provided in this paper. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.