Garbage Collection Question

[Janki Shah]

How many objects are eligible for garbage collection at #1 ?

public class StartBugs
{ 
    public static void main(String [] args)
    {
        new StartBugs().go();
    }
    public void go()
    {
        java javas = new java(this);
        javas = null; // #1
    }
}

class java
{
    static StartBugs bugs;
    static
    {
        bugs = null;
    }
    public java(StartBugs bugs_INP)
    {
        bugs = bugs_INP;
    }
}

[Koen Aerts]

How many do YOU think there are?

[Janki Shah]

I think 2.
1. new StartBugs() and 2. javas

[gurpeet singh]

the object to which reference variable javas is referring wont be garbage collected because even thought javas is assigned to null, bugs and bugs_INP is referring to it. also at #1 there is this reference to new StartBugs(). so i think zero objects will be garbage collected.

guys correct me if i'm wrong. I myself is little shaky on GC questions so would like to see more posts on this topic. have a great day.

[Janki Shah]

Hi Gurpreet, The answer is 1 [explanation : "javas is the only object that cannot be reached by the JVM. The this reference will still be available at #1 "]
can you explain little more I don't understand what is happening to this reference?
can someone draw the diagram for it?

[dennis deems]

Janki Shah wrote:can someone draw the diagram for it?

You will benefit a great deal more from a diagram you draw yourself. But you are exactly right to want a diagram; that is the best way, by far, to approach GC questions.