Variable Initialization

[Sudhakar Krishnamurthy]

class Test {
int i = getX ( ) ;
int j = 10 ;
 
int getX ( ) {
return j ;
}
public static void main ( String args [ ] ) {
System . out . println ( new Test ( ) . i ) ;
}
};
Options :
a .  Compiler error - can't call getX ( ) before the constructor completes initialization
b .  Compiler error - variable j may not have been initialized
c .  Compiles fine & prints 10
d .  Compiles fine & prints 0

I thought the answer should be 10 but the given answer is 0.
Can anyone explain if this is the correct flow of sequence when a class is loaded??
1. All static initializers are called
2. All static variables are initialized
3. All intance variables are initialized
4. Constructor is called

TIA
[ June 17, 2004: Message edited by: Sudhakar Krishnamurthy ]

[Corey McGlone]

Instance initializers are executed from top to bottom. That means that this line:

int i = getX ( ) ;

Executes prior to this line:

int j = 10 ;

Therefore, i is being assigned the value of j before j has been assigned a value. By default, j is 0 prior to its initialization so that, 0, is what is assigned to i.

You can find complete details about object initialization in the JLS, §12.5 Creation of New Class Instances.

[Harish Ramanathan]

If the code is changed to

int i=j;
int j=10;

the code will not compile. The compiler will complain abt forward referencing.. because java always try to avoid usage of uninitialized variables..

- Harish