On Tue, 8 Mar 2022 15:59:59 GMT, Maurizio Cimadamore <mcimadam...@openjdk.org> wrote:
>> We propose to provide a runtime anonymous carrier class object generator; >> java.lang.runtime.Carrier. This generator class is designed to share >> anonymous classes when shapes are similar. For example, if several clients >> require objects containing two integer fields, then Carrier will ensure that >> each client generates carrier objects using the same underlying anonymous >> class. >> >> See JBS for details. > > src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/runtime/Carrier.java line 48: > >> 46: >> 47: /** >> 48: * This class is used to create objects that have number and types of > > The class javadoc seems a bit on the thin side. I would say something on the > fact that the shape of the carrier is determined by a MethodType, etc, and > add an example to illustrate basic usage. Agreed. Also, this class is unusual in that it is not instantiated; like `Arrays` or `Collections` it is a (small) bundle of static factories (or are they algorithms?). I think as such it should be called `Carriers`. I'm slightly surprised the MH factories are not factored through a metaobject of the form record CarrierBinding( MethodType methodType, MethodHandle constructor, List<Class<?>> componentTypes, List<MethodHandle> components) { … } The presupposition here, I suppose, is that carriers will only be used by condy or similar quasi-statically configured clients, so having the multiple lookups through a hidden table is no burden, and the clients can always keep the associations correct (between constructors and various component accessors). **But** if I were to use carriers to manage intermediate structures in (say) a serialization package (for instance) I would need to make my own records like the above for my own bookkeeping, and I would be slightly miffed that the Carrier API insisted on doing a de-novo lookup twice on each MT key (to say nothing of me having to create the MT key first). **And** if I were to use carriers in that way (away from condy), **then** I would want to skip the step of building the MethodType, and wish for a factory method for CarrierBinding instances that took a plain List<Class>, as well as a factory method that took the MethodType (which is convenient for condy). BTW, it would be normal to give the name `Carrier` (which is a good name BTW) to the record type that embodies the group of method handles, so `record Carrier(…constructor…components…) {…factories…}`. I suppose stuff like this could be added later. But it's worth considering now, simply because there is an early decision point between a class named `Carrier` and a static-only class named `Carriers`. ------------- PR: https://git.openjdk.java.net/jdk/pull/7744