A DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUEST :
The jls3 states that for a given t of type T,
t.getClass() is typed Class<? extends erasure(T)>.

I think the getClass() typing rule could be changed to
Class<? extends wildcard(T)>

The wildcard operation is defined by:
if T is parametrized, wildcard(T)=erasure(T)<?>
else                           , wildcard(T)=T
    

JUSTIFICATION :
1) This rule introduce a raw type.
     Raw type must ONLY be used to interact with legacy code.

2) The new Rule introduce a wildcard.
     Relationship between parametrized type and wildcard are based
     on subtyping rules.
     Relationship between parametrized type and wildcard are based
     on raw type conversion.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
the program must not compile
ACTUAL -
the program compile

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
public void f(ArrayList<Integer> l1, ArrayList<String> l2)
   throws InstantiationException, IllegalAccessException {

    l1.getClass().newInstance().addAll(l2.getClass().newInstance());
  }
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
public Class<? extends ArrayList<?>> wildcardGetClass(ArrayList<?> list) {
    return (Class<? extends ArrayList<?>>)list.getClass();
  }
  
  public void f(ArrayList<Integer> l1, ArrayList<String> l2)
     throws InstantiationException, IllegalAccessException {
      wildcardGetClass(l1).newInstance().addAll(
         wildcardGetClass(l2).newInstance());
  }
###@###.### 10/26/04 22:47 GMT