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Kathy / Bert static final variables

 
Greenhorn
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Hello all,
I was reading the book of Kathy / Bert and I got confused with something :
First: the book says that static member variables are automatically initialized with default values .
Second: the book says that all final member variables need to be initialized until the end of the constructor .
Question :
What happens if i have an static final member variable in a class ?
public class A
{
static final int b;
public static void main(String [] args)
{
System.out.println(b);
}
}
Will it be initialized ? Why ?
 
Ranch Hand
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That's another one you can compile youself.
Static variables are initialized to their default values when the class is loaded, constructors have nothing to do with it.
However, I believe that the compiler writers have made the assumption that if final is used in this context, the programmer probably intended that the variable should have a value different to its default. Perhaps a warning would have been better than an error, but it's better to be double sure in such cases. Maybe the Java Language Spec has something to say about it. (Take a look at section 13.4.8.)
(Marlene is just gonna love this one...)
[ March 31, 2003: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]
 
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Same q here. Got the result like this -
Like other final instance variables, it doesnt let u assign a value inside the constructor. If let without any assignment, it throws an error. Compiles and runs fine only if some value is given during declaration.
Kathy, help!
 
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A blank final variable must be initialized before use. So, use a static initializer:
 
Ranch Hand
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Karthik, I was able to get the following code to run:

This, of course, would only work if your constant was a non-static instance variable.
[ March 31, 2003: Message edited by: Tom Purl ]
 
Greenhorn
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For what I understood, here is the rule:
there are two ways for static final var:
1. static final int i = 10;
2. static final int i;
static { i = 10;}
for non-static final var:
1. final int j = 10;
2. final int j;
{ j = 10;}
3. initialize in constructor but not for static final var since it needs to be initialized before instance created.
 
Ranch Hand
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JLS 8.3.1.2
See also JLS 8.3.2 and 4.5.5 (first bullet item)
[ March 31, 2003: Message edited by: Marlene Miller ]
 
Marlene Miller
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Here is a quiz. Will they compile?
 
Marlene Miller
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Another quiz. While they compile?
 
Don't get me started about those stupid light bulbs.
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