JDK-6717791 : File static factory to consistently/correctly handle absolute or drive-relative paths
  • Type: Enhancement
  • Component: core-libs
  • Sub-Component: java.io
  • Affected Version: 6
  • Priority: P5
  • Status: Closed
  • Resolution: Duplicate
  • OS: windows_xp
  • CPU: x86
  • Submitted: 2008-06-23
  • Updated: 2011-02-16
  • Resolved: 2009-02-16
Related Reports
Duplicate :  
JDK-4313887 - New I/O: Improved filesystem interface
Description
A DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUEST :
  Bugs such as 4418831 and 4242635 show that java.io.File(File, String) and (String, String) don't behave consistently with expectation when the second argument is an absolute or drive-relative (in Windows) path. A new method should therefore be created that deals with these situations in a consistent way and avoids the need for developer's to jump through hoops in order to get simple path joining capabilities (viz-a-viz Python's os.path.join(.) function).

Or you could just fix the dodgy constructors...

JUSTIFICATION :
  To make Java better. Less hair loss over inane behaviour is always a good thing.
Comments
EVALUATION The new file system API (being defined by JSR-203) defines resolve and relativize methods. On Windows it understands each of the 5 different path types and how to combine them.
23-06-2008