PRE-PROPOSAL: Source and Encoding keyword

[Neal Gafter]

On Sun, Mar 15, 2009 at 2:31 PM, Reinier Zwitserloot
<reinier at zwitserloot.com> wrote:
> Here's the golden rule in regards to the source proposal:
>
> It's already a part of java, via javac -source. Just about every
> problem mentioned so far is either not a problem, or if it is, should
> be filed as a bug, because it also applies to javac -source.

javac's command line is not part of the Java programming language.
The proposed construct would be.  Therefore, the proposed construct
would have to be described precisely in the JLS, including every
effect it would have on every other language feature.  In addition,
since it would now be part of the language, the specification would
have to describe precisely what happens when you combine translation
units with different source settings in every possible combination for
every language construct affected.  I don't see how that could
possibly be done without a major overhaul of the language
specification.