Bug ID: JDK-6469561 javadoc for annotation types should not display "public abstract" modifiers on methods

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JDK 9
9 b107Fixed

Currently the generated detail javadoc for the members of annotation type are displayed like 
"    public abstract ElementType[] value"

from java.lang.annotation.Target.  However, these members are methods on an interface (an annotation type is a kind of interface); therefore, just as the methods of an interface shouldn't have the "public abstract" modifiers printed, neither should the members of an annotation type.

Draft release note text: Behavioral compatibility change. Previously javadoc would emit "public" and "abstract" modifiers for methods and fields in annotation types. These flags are not needed in source code and are elided for non-annotation type interface type. With this change, those modifiers are also omitted for methods and fields defined in annotation types.

16-02-2016

Review thread: http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/compiler-dev/2016-February/009994.html

14-02-2016

The printing processor in the javac sources src/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/processing/PrintingProcessor.java contains logic that prints out the recommended set of modifiers as of Java SE 7: private void printModifiers(Element e) { ElementKind kind = e.getKind(); if (kind == PARAMETER) { printAnnotationsInline(e); } else { printAnnotations(e); indent(); } if (kind == ENUM_CONSTANT) return; Set<Modifier> modifiers = new LinkedHashSet<Modifier>(); modifiers.addAll(e.getModifiers()); switch (kind) { case ANNOTATION_TYPE: case INTERFACE: modifiers.remove(Modifier.ABSTRACT); break; case ENUM: modifiers.remove(Modifier.FINAL); modifiers.remove(Modifier.ABSTRACT); break; case METHOD: case FIELD: Element enclosingElement = e.getEnclosingElement(); if (enclosingElement != null && enclosingElement.getKind().isInterface()) { modifiers.remove(Modifier.PUBLIC); modifiers.remove(Modifier.ABSTRACT); // only for methods modifiers.remove(Modifier.STATIC); // only for fields modifiers.remove(Modifier.FINAL); // only for fields } break; } for(Modifier m: modifiers) { writer.print(m.toString() + " "); } }

12-12-2012

Relates :	JDK-5009943 - Javadoc generated for enums could be misleading
Relates :	JDK-8004998 - javac should have standard support for a normalized set of modifiers
Relates :	JDK-8163315 - Implement an API to identify an implicitly declared annotation (or declaration)
Relates :	JDK-6469562 - Use compact notation to display annotation values