Changes to java.lang.Runtime constructor

[Patrick Doyle]

I have made a change in my working version of java.lang.Runtime's
constructor which makes my life a bit easier for now.  If the change is
acceptable, I would appreciate if it could be included in the standard
distribution.

The motivation:
    At the current immature stage of my JVM, it is not easy for me to
create a java.lang.String (even an empty one) at arbitrary times.  I can
create them in response to a NEW opcode, or from within the constant pool,
but otherwise the facilities don't exist yet.

The change:
    The Runtime() constructor will allow getLibraryPath to return null, in
which case it initializes Runtime.libpath to a zero-sized array.  
Currently, getLibraryPath must return a non-null string, or else a
NullPointerException will result.

The impact:
   This change should have no effect on existing implementations, but
could make it easier for new immature JVMs to get off the ground.

The patch:
    I have included a patch below.  I didn't indent the code because the
patch was simpler if I didn't.  I also didn't put any comments on
getLibraryPath to describe the new semantics.


-------------------------------------------------------------------

*** Runtime-original.java       Tue Jul  3 23:33:01 2001
--- Runtime.java        Tue Jul  3 23:33:31 2001
***************
*** 43,48 ****
--- 43,51 ----
  
        private Runtime() {
                String path = getLibraryPath();
+               if(path == null){
+                       libpath = new String[0];
+               }else{
                int numColons = 0;
                int pathLength = path.length();
                for(int i=0;i<pathLength;i++) {
***************
*** 62,67 ****
--- 65,71 ----
                        libpath[libpathIndex] =
path.substring(current,next);
                        libpathIndex++;
                        current = next+1;
+               }
                }
        }

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Patrick Doyle
address@hidden