Final strings in annotations applying to class members

[John Spicer]

Javac 8 accepts:

@interface Annot {
    String str();
}

class Test {
    final String CONST_STR="something";

    @Annot( str = CONST_STR )
    class Foo {}

    @Annot( str = CONST_STR )
    void f(){}
}

It rejects only the second annotation use in the example below (complaining that CONST_STR cannot be referenced from a static context).

Given that CONST_STR is a constant expression, I could see allowing both uses.   Is there a rationale for allowing only the use on the class?

Thanks,

John.

@interface Annot {
    String str();
}

class Test {
    final String CONST_STR="something";

    @Annot( str = CONST_STR )
    static class Foo {}

    @Annot( str = CONST_STR )
    static void f(){}
}