RFR: 8294982: Implementation of Classfile API [v15]

[Adam Sotona]

On Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:46:23 GMT, Adam Sotona <asotona at openjdk.org> wrote:

>> As I read the javadoc (I have not looked at impl yet), this method can effectively be used to add an entry to the constant pool (if the entry does not yet exist - in which case existing entry is returned).
>> 
>> After having looked at the implementation a bit, I think my assumption is correct - e.g. when calling `getfield` on a code builder, the FieldRef passed to the code builder is added to the constant pool using `maybeClone`.
>> 
>> So, in my mind at least, this `maybeClone` is the main avenue by which new constant pool entries are added. In builders we have a `with` method - I think a `with` method would also be ok here, given what the method does (ok, there is the wrinkle that, if the entry already exists it is not added, but that seems more of an optimization to avoid duplicates).
>
> The main difference is that if the given entry is not directly applicable (when it comes from 3rd constant pool or when the pool is not shared during transformation) - a new or matching entry to the target pool is returned.
> This is not a builder pattern, this is projection of an entry to the target CP and it also prevents duplicates.

`maybeClone` is not the main avenue, it is rather a helper method and I'll look at details if it is necessary too expose it.

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PR: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/10982