JDK-4470034 : NoClassDefFoundError could benefit from exception chaining
  • Type: Enhancement
  • Component: hotspot
  • Sub-Component: runtime
  • Affected Version: 1.4.0
  • Priority: P4
  • Status: Closed
  • Resolution: Fixed
  • OS: generic
  • CPU: generic
  • Submitted: 2001-06-14
  • Updated: 2013-05-01
  • Resolved: 2007-01-17
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JDK 6 JDK 7 Other
6u4Fixed 7Fixed hs10Fixed
Related Reports
Duplicate :  
JDK-6273389 - Request more diagnostic info from NoClassDefFoundError
Description
Currently, when the VM throws a NoClassDefFoundError, the details of the causative ClassNotFoundException are lost (only the detail message is preserved).  NoClassDefFoundError should be retrofitted with a new constructor that takes a cause (Throwable) and passes it up to Error(Throwable).  The VM should use this constructor when it throws a NoClassDefFoundError as a result of a ClassNotFoundException.  This will provide a more informative stack trace.  In particular, it will indicate which ClassLoader failed to find the class.
Comments
EVALUATION Best fix would be to add a constructor for NoClassDefFoundError that took a cause so the VM could call that. Initial fix is to first call out to the NoClassDefFoundError constructor and then to call initCause(). This works, but takes extra overhead.
21-12-2006
EVALUATION JDC comment... For a demonstration of this bug, compile both classes below, then delete Bar.class before executing Foo. class Foo { public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println(Bar.class); } } class Bar {} When I run the test this is what it returns. rm Bar.class curious-george 96 =>java Foo Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: Bar at Foo.class$(Foo.java:3) at Foo.main(Foo.java:3) ###@###.### 2002-11-01
01-11-2002