Garbage collection

[Patricia Samuel]

Hi all,

Would anyone please help me in understanding the output of this program.

class A {
  private String name;
  private A otherA;
  public A(String name) {this.name = name;}
  public void other(A otherA) {this.otherA = otherA;}
  public A other() {return otherA;}
  public String toString() {return name;}
  protected void finalize() {System.out.print(name);}
}
class B {
  public static void m1() {
    A a1 = new A("A1"), a2 = new A("A2"), a3 = new A("A3"), a0 = a3;
    a1.other(a2); a2.other(a3); a3.other(a1);
    for(int i = 0; i<4; i++){System.out.print(a0 = a0.other());}
  }
  public static void main(String[] args) {m1(); System.gc();}
}

Which of the following could be a result of attempting to compile and run the program?

As per my understanding output should be -A1A2A3A1
which my exam says correct answer but along with there are other options are also corrected - A1A2A3A1A2A3 A1A2A3A1A1A2A3 A1A2A3A1A3A2A1
which i am not able to understand why.

Any help??
Thanks

[Nicholas Jordan]

I could not understand the code, sounds like you have been reading too many books and need to write some code: OO does not write code, you do.

Is this what you meant ?

( not to be mean ) ( Eugene, jeans ) ( Beein a Bean ) ( Brain )

package demo;
 
/*
 * A1A2A3A1A2A3
 * A1A2A3A1A1A2A3
 * A1A2A3A1A3A2A1
 * A one, a two, a three - and here we go !
 */
 
public class A1A2A3A1A2A3 extends B
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        B Bee = new B();// default instantiation.
        Bee.m1();//
    }
}
 
class A
{
    private String name;
    private A otherA;
    public A(String name)
    {
        this.name = name;
    }
    public void other(A otherA)
    {
        this.otherA = otherA;
    }
    String getName()
    {
        return name;
    }
    public String toString() {return name;}
    protected void finalize() {System.out.println(name);}
}
 
class B
{
    public static void m1()
    {
        // first thing that happens is that a0 points  to a3
        A a1 = new A("A1"), a2 = new A("A2"), a3 = new A("A3"), a0 = a3;
        // then private String name of a1 is set to contain "A2"
        a1.other(a2);
        // then private String name of a2 is set to contain "A3"
        a2.other(a3);
        // then private String name of a3 is set to contain "A1"
        a3.other(a1);
        // unroll println loop for examination:
        System.out.println(a0.getName() + " - a0 ");
        System.out.println(a1.getName() + " - a1 ");
        System.out.println(a2.getName() + " - a2 ");
        System.out.println(a3.getName() + " - a3 ");
    }
}