Class path question

[Hanna Barenthin]

Hi!

I have two questions regarding excerise nr 10 in Chapter 10 in the Java 5 certification book. It says:

If three versions of MyClass.java exist on the file system:

Version 1 is in /foo/bar
Version 2 is in /foo/bar/baz
Version 3 is in /foo/bar/baz/bing

And the system's classpath includes:

/foo/bar/baz

And this command line is invoked from /foo

java -classpath /foo/bar/baz/bing:/foo/bar MyClass.java

Which version will be used by java?

(...a few alternatives are listed...)

The right answer is said to be:
/foo/bar/baz/bing/MyClass.java

My first question is:
Is it not supposed to be a javac command (not java) since we are compiling a java-file?

My second question is:
I thought classpaths were only used to locate .class files, not .java-files? Have I understood wrong?

Many thanks
Hanna

[Chandra Bhatt]

Hi Hanna,

Both javac and java read the same classpath.

On the fly while launching the program you tell the classpath like you hava done; it over-writes the pre setting

java -classpath /foo/bar/baz/bing:/foo/bar MyClass.java

An the vital part of the answer is, the sequence javac or java follows,
as you told there are three versions of MyClass class in the following:

Version 1 is in /foo/bar
Version 2 is in /foo/bar/baz
Version 3 is in /foo/bar/baz/bing

In your classpath setting what comes first, that is "/foo/bar/baz/bing" so therefore the class file living there will be used.

Your pre setting of classpath works only when you dont use -classpath on the fly while launching your application using -classpath or -cp.


Answer to your second question:
You know, classes living in the java.lang package are automatically accessible to your application and you need not to import them. But most of the time you are referring to class staying in some other standard packages
as java.util or even your own build packages so, you need to tell the compiler that at particular location, class files can be found. So the classpath does.



With Regards,
cmbhatt
[ April 07, 2007: Message edited by: Chandra Bhatt ]

[Barry Gaunt]

Yes, the ".java" should be removed. The problem was noticed here.

It's a case of an errata to a fix to an errata.

I would say it should be:

If three versions of MyClass.class exist on the file system:

Version 1 is in /foo/bar
Version 2 is in /foo/bar/baz
Version 3 is in /foo/bar/baz/bing

And the system's classpath includes:

/foo/bar/baz

And this command line is invoked from /foo

java -classpath /foo/bar/baz/bing:/foo/bar MyClass

Which version will be used by java?

(...a few alternatives are listed...)

The right answer is said to be:
/foo/bar/baz/bing/MyClass.class

[ April 07, 2007: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]

[Barry Gaunt]

And classpaths are used for finding class files, jar files, and other resources used by the compiler, jvm, and other tools. There is also -sourcepath for finding java source files.

[Chandra Bhatt]

Barry,

I have "K&B" Book for SCJP exam 310-055.
dreamtech PRESS, India, 2006 Edition.

1- What goes wrong if the question still remains "Which version will be used by javac?"

2- Is this question asking about, which class file will be used by the java?

Command line invocation is given as
javac -class /foo/bar/baz/bing:/foo/bar MyClass.java

3- There will be only MyClass.class file and it will be in the foo/bar/baz/bing, as per the given
javac invocation.Right? Or we should treat like .class files are there in each package.

I have already followed the errata and corrected pages of my book.

4- What is the actual question, Is its concern on javac or java?
5- Wont javac search for .java as per the -classpath says to be?

Please make me clear on this issue!!!


Thanks and Regards,
cmbhatt

[Barry Gaunt]

The question is meant to be about how the java command finds the class files.

The original book had the javac command. As noted in the Errata it should be the java command. It seems like Hanna and I have a more recent printing (in my case the 6th) of the book where the javac command has been corrected to be the java command. However, there is still a problem with the question - it uses ".java" instead of ".class" files.

[Chandra Bhatt]

Thanks Barry,

I got that!

With Regards,
cmbhatt

[Hanna Barenthin]

Thanks! Now it is much more clear!

BR,
Hanna