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Xtend generated code uses Java8 API's even though the project is still JavaSE-1.7 [message #1461307]

Tue, 04 November 2014 12:26

Markus Duft

Messages: 148
Registered: February 2013

Senior Member

Hey,

I switched to a Java 8 JDK recently, and noticed that the generated Xtend code changes, even though the project compatibility is still Java 7. That would break at runtime if using a Java 7 VM, right? Is there any hints/rationale/... on that?

Thanks, Cheers,
Markus

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Re: Xtend generated code uses Java8 API's even though the project is still JavaSE-1.7 [message #1461383 is a reply to message #1461307]

Tue, 04 November 2014 13:56

Sebastian Zarnekow

Messages: 3118
Registered: July 2009

Senior Member

It will generate Java7 code if you have a Java7 JRE on the project's
classpath.

Best,
Sebastian
--
Looking for professional support for Xtext, Xtend or Eclipse Modeling?
Go visit: http://xtext.itemis.com

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Re: Xtend generated code uses Java8 API's even though the project is still JavaSE-1.7 [message #1461402 is a reply to message #1461383]

Tue, 04 November 2014 14:21

Markus Duft

Messages: 148
Registered: February 2013

Senior Member

aehm. the code itself may be java7 compliant, yes. but it uses java8 only interfaces (Consumer, ...) that are not available in a Java7 JDK installation. isn't that nearly as bad?

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Re: Xtend generated code uses Java8 API's even though the project is still JavaSE-1.7 [message #1461479 is a reply to message #1461402]

Tue, 04 November 2014 15:56

Sebastian Zarnekow

Messages: 3118
Registered: July 2009

Senior Member

Am 04.11.14 15:21, schrieb Markus Duft:
> aehm. the code itself may be java7 compliant, yes. but it uses java8
> only interfaces (Consumer, ...) that are not available in a Java7 JDK
> installation. isn't that nearly as bad?

That's what I meant if you put JDK 1.8 on the CP, Xtend will link
against its methods. As Java would also do. Put JDK 1.7 on the CP, and
everything will be fine.

Best,
Sebastian
--
Looking for professional support for Xtext, Xtend or Eclipse Modeling?
Go visit: http://xtext.itemis.com

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Re: Xtend generated code uses Java8 API's even though the project is still JavaSE-1.7 [message #1461483 is a reply to message #1461479]

Tue, 04 November 2014 16:03

Markus Duft

Messages: 148
Registered: February 2013

Senior Member

It's a little bit of a different situation than with plain java i think. We're using JDK8 to develop as we have things that requires this. OTOH we have plugins that MUST work with Java7 at runtime. Now how could I possibly avoid changing the generated code without the need to install a second JDK (we're bundling THE (single) JDK with the IDE)? Is there a way to force it?

Thanks!

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Re: Xtend generated code uses Java8 API's even though the project is still JavaSE-1.7 [message #1461496 is a reply to message #1461483]

Tue, 04 November 2014 16:18

Sebastian Zarnekow

Messages: 3118
Registered: July 2009

Senior Member

Am 04.11.14 17:03, schrieb Markus Duft:
> It's a little bit of a different situation than with plain java i think.
> We're using JDK8 to develop as we have things that requires this. OTOH
> we have plugins that MUST work with Java7 at runtime. Now how could I
> possibly avoid changing the generated code without the need to install a
> second JDK (we're bundling THE (single) JDK with the IDE)? Is there a
> way to force it?
>
> Thanks!

You could use JDTs execution environment descriptions. That should work.
Meanwhile you may want to try list.forEach(null) in a Java class in your
Java7 project. I suspect it will compile it.

Sorry for any inconvenience,
Sebastian
--
Looking for professional support for Xtext, Xtend or Eclipse Modeling?
Go visit: http://xtext.itemis.com

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Re: Xtend generated code uses Java8 API's even though the project is still JavaSE-1.7 [message #1461501 is a reply to message #1461496]

Tue, 04 November 2014 16:24

Markus Duft

Messages: 148
Registered: February 2013

Senior Member

Yep, I'm not only sure, I can guarantee that it will compile. But that is exactly the point. It will compile, but when executed with a Java7 VM then later on, when rolled out to the customer, the code will throw exceptions because the expected runtime classes/methods are not there.

And there is no inconvenience to excuse Wink

Cheers,
Markus

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Re: Xtend generated code uses Java8 API's even though the project is still JavaSE-1.7 [message #1463082 is a reply to message #1461501]

Thu, 06 November 2014 07:33

Markus Duft

Messages: 148
Registered: February 2013

Senior Member

No more ideas on how to prevent compile-time vs. runtime issues?

Thanks in advance

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Re: Xtend generated code uses Java8 API's even though the project is still JavaSE-1.7 [message #1463470 is a reply to message #1463082]

Thu, 06 November 2014 15:46

Stefan Oehme

Messages: 159
Registered: April 2010
Location: Kiel

Senior Member

If your plugins must work with Java 7, then compiling them against JDK 8 is a bad idea. This doesn't just apply to the Xtend compiler. It's easy for a developer to accidentally use some method or class that was introduced in Java 8 this way. The only way to ensure compatibility is to compile against your target JDK.

Edit:

I guess the deeper problem is that historically, most Java devs (me included) didn't care much about correct cross compilation. IDEs/build systems usually only gave a mild warning. But Java 8 really introduced a lot of APIs and even broke some things. So it's the first time that the JDK you compile against really matters. I'm afraid you'll have to get used to the idea of installing/providing the JDK that you want to run against.

[Updated on: Thu, 06 November 2014 15:50]

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Re: Xtend generated code uses Java8 API's even though the project is still JavaSE-1.7 [message #1464421 is a reply to message #1463470]

Fri, 07 November 2014 14:36

Markus Duft

Messages: 148
Registered: February 2013

Senior Member

OK, thanks for the reply. We'll try to switch everything to Java8 ASAP... we'll see how that goes Smile

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Re: Xtend generated code uses Java8 API's even though the project is still JavaSE-1.7 [message #1777958 is a reply to message #1461307]

Wed, 06 December 2017 19:06

Markus Hoffrogge

Messages: 1
Registered: December 2017

Junior Member

Hi,

I could solve the issue for my Maven based project builds:
If the project is compiled with Maven, then this issue can be solved by configuring the Maven toolchain plugin in the according projects or parent projects pom.
If you e.g. want to generate Java 7 compliant XText class code but your Maven build runs with a Java 8 or 9 JVM, then you have to configure your toolchain plugin with a Java 7 JRE/JDK reference within the appropriate Maven pom.
The classes generated by XText will then not contain any Java 8 "Consumer" or other non Java 7 available imports.

Note: The toolchain configuration does not replace the java compile version configured for the maven compile plugin - this is must be configured as usual for the maven compile plugin in your pom.

Regarding Maven toolchain config have a look at maven.apache.org/guides/mini/guide-using-toolchains.html

Regards
Markus

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