about variable forward referencing

[krussi rong]

Hi,
Here is the question:
public class Test{
private int i = giveMeJ();
private int j = 10;
private int giveMeJ(){
return j;
}
public static void main(String args[]){
System.out.println((new Test()).i);
}
}
Why the answer is 0?
not compiler error complaining about forward referncing.
thanks
Krussi

[Paulo Silveira]

I really dont know!
Inserting a System.out.print() inside the giveMeJ method, shows that the method is being called!!!

[Francisco A Guimaraes]

I think what happens is this: when you call giveMeJ() the variable j is already initialized with its default value, 0 for an int, and assigned to i. After that j is changed to 10 in the line below.Anyone correct me if I�m wrong.
Francisco.

[Gautam Sewani]

Read the JLS rules about forward referencing,that will clear up all your doubts.
Compiler issues forward referencing errors only when it is being used in initializers(static or instance)
Eg:
int i=j;
int j=20;
will give a compile time error,because j variable cant be accesed in initializer statement of i.
Similarly,
int i;
{
i=j;
}
int j=20;
will give a compiler error.
However,if a method is used,then there will be no compiler error and the default value of the variable will be taken.Eg
int i=j();
public int j()
{
return j;
}
int j=10;
Here,the value 0 will be assigned to i.
Because the default value of int is 0.
This topic has been discussed a lot of times in this forum,use the javaranch's search facility.
And I repeat,see JLS for a very clear understanding on this topic.
[note:There is a bug in the java language related to forward referencing in which the java compiler does not act as specified in JLS.Consult sun's website for it]
Thanks
Gautam

[Paulo Silveira]

Originally posted by Francisco A Guimaraes:
I think what happens is this: when you call giveMeJ() the variable j is already initialized with its default value, 0 for an int, and assigned to i. After that j is changed to 10 in the line below.Anyone correct me if I�m wrong.
Francisco.

that is right!!!
in these loines:
private int i = giveMeJ();
private int j = 10;
simply changing the order:

private int j = 10;
private int i = giveMeJ();
will produce the output expected:10!
thanks