Towards better serialization

[Brian Goetz]

I've posted a document at:

http://cr.openjdk.java.net/~briangoetz/amber/serialization.html 
<http://cr.openjdk.java.net/~briangoetz/amber/serialization.html>

on an exploration we've been doing to address some of the shortcomings 
of Java serialization, building on other tools that have been (or will 
be) added to the platform. Rather than attempt to add band-aids on 
existing serialization, it addresses the risks of serialization at their 
root.  It is somewhat of a shift -- it cannot represent all object 
graphs, and it makes some additional work for the author -- but it 
brings object serialization into the light, where it needs to be in 
order to be safer.  This is an early draft; questions, and constructive 
feedback on the approach, are welcome.