JDK-6334530 : (spec) Some System.getProperties keys undocumented
  • Type: Bug
  • Component: core-libs
  • Sub-Component: java.lang
  • Affected Version: 5.0
  • Priority: P4
  • Status: Closed
  • Resolution: Not an Issue
  • Submitted: 2005-10-08
  • Updated: 2017-05-04
  • Resolved: 2017-05-04
Related Reports
Relates :  
JDK-5043991 - (spec) java.compiler related inconsistency between implementation and docs
Relates :  
JDK-4829797 - (spec) Document System property "file.encoding"
Description
FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.5.0_05"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_05-b05)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.5.0_05-b05, mixed mode, sharing)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
WindowsXP SP2

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
In documentation for class System, there are written the posible properties which could be retrieved using System.getProperty(); But there are not specified the properties like "file.encoding", or "user.language" and others. I think all posible properties should be specified somewhere in documentation.


REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.
Comments
At this point (over a decade after this bug was filed) I'd say that any system property that isn't documented is implementation-specific and therefore shouldn't be documented. If at some point somebody thinks that a particular, existing system property should be documented and specified, a new bug should be opened for that. Closing this as Not an Issue.
04-05-2017
EVALUATION Many, if not all of the "extra" properties that System.getProperties returns that are not mentioned by this method's documentation are deemed implementation details that are definitely not part of the Java specification. Users are discouraged from any reliance on implementation details. The key "file.encoding" in particular is an implementation artifact that may not be defined or used by other vendors. However there may be some others that warrant further study. Thanks!
10-10-2005