StackOverFlowError in inner class

Whu does the line below throw an StackOverFlowError. I understand that the syntax is not correct for inner class, but could you please explain whats is happening under the hood:

======
package chap_8;

public class OutClass {

private int i = 20;
public class Inclass{

private int i=10;
}

static Inclass ind = new OutClass().new Inclass();//Compiles and runs
Inclass ind1 = new OutClass().new Inclass();//StackOverflowError
Inclass ind2 = new Inclass();//compiles and runs

public static void main(String[] args) {
OutClass.Inclass in = new OutClass().new Inclass();
System.out.println(in.i);
}

public void test(){

Inclass in = new Inclass();
}
}
================

The problem isn't really with your inner class.

ind1 is an instance variable, so it gets initialized whenever you create an instance of OutClass. However, to initialize ind1, you create another instance of OutClass, which in turn contains another ind1 instance variable, which will be initialized by creating another instance of OutClass, which in turn contains another ind1 instance variable, ....

And so the constructor calls pile on, until the JVM runs out of stack memory. This causes your StackOverflowError.

Put another way, here's a depiction of what happens when your program executes:

[ November 03, 2007: Message edited by: Kelvin Lim ]

Thanks Kelvin

Thanks Kelvin Lim!

Kelvin you rock my world!