System vs Runtime

[Pradeep bhatt]

Hi,
Is there any difference between the gc method in System and Runtime Class. I dont think so. My query, Why do we need the same method in different classes?

[Mani Ram]

There are no differences. Actually a call to System.gc() will call the gc() method in the Runtime class.
The gc() method in System.java is

public static void gc() {
    Runtime.getRuntime().gc();
}

[Jim Yingst]

Why do we need the same method in different classes?
We don't, really. My theory is this is just something that they first put in Runtime, and later realized it would be more convenient to have in System, but in the rush to get JDK 1.0 out the door, they left the method in both classes, and now it's too late to change. (Or at least, it's not worth the bother of changing.)