Recursive constructor invocation

[Philip Pomario]

Anyone knows when Sun's J2SE SDK compiler javac started detecting recursive constructor invocation?

e.g.:
class Explode{
Explode(){
this("now!");
}
Explode(String when){
this();
}
}

Explode.java:5: recursive constructor invocation
Explode(String when){
^
1 error

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

JDK 1.4.1 .

[M Beck]

is this always an error, or merely when the compiler can prove the recursion is endless?

[Steven Bell]

I believe the compiler can detect if it is endless.

[Jeroen Wenting]

this isn't recursive, it's circular

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Originally posted by M Beck:
is this always an error, or merely when the compiler can prove the recursion is endless?

Since the this() and super() statements must be the first statement in a constructor, and since they therefore can't be controller by a conditional statement, I think any circular constructor invocation must be infinitely recursive.

[Philip Pomario]

Thanks for all the help and new thoughts on the topic!

[Philip Pomario]

I just passed the SCJP1.4 exam and wanted to post this appreciation note to thank everyone who helped me understand Java a little better. Without your help this personal achievement wouldn't be possible.