RFR: 8329581: Java launcher no longer prints a stack trace

[Thomas Stuefe]

On Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:25:02 GMT, Sonia Zaldana Calles <szaldana at openjdk.org> wrote:

> Hi folks, 
> 
> This PR aims to fix [JDK-8329581](https://bugs.openjdk.org/browse/JDK-8329581). 
> 
> I think the regression got introduced in [JDK-8315458](https://bugs.openjdk.org/browse/JDK-8315458). 
> 
> In the issue linked above, [LauncherHelper#getMainType](https://github.com/openjdk/jdk/pull/16461/files#diff-108a3a3e3c2d108c8c7f19ea498f641413b7c9239ecd2975a6c27d904c2ba226) got removed to simplify launcher code.
> 
> Previously, we used ```getMainType``` to do the appropriate main method invocation in ```JavaMain```. However, we currently attempt to do all types of main method invocations at the same time [here](https://github.com/openjdk/jdk/blob/master/src/java.base/share/native/libjli/java.c#L623). 
> 
> Note how all of these invocations clear the exception reported with [CHECK_EXCEPTION_FAIL](https://github.com/openjdk/jdk/blob/140f56718bbbfc31bb0c39255c68568fad285a1f/src/java.base/share/native/libjli/java.c#L390). 
> 
> Therefore, if a legitimate exception comes up during one of these invocations, it does not get reported. 
> 
> I propose reintroducing ```LauncherHelper#getMainType``` but I'm looking forward to your suggestions. 
> 
> Cheers, 
> Sonia

Good find.

src/java.base/share/classes/sun/launcher/LauncherHelper.java line 912:

> 910:     private static final int MAIN_WITHOUT_ARGS = 1;
> 911:     private static final int MAIN_NONSTATIC = 2;
> 912:     private static int mainType = 0;

Nit: transferring information from java to C in this way is usually done, AFAICS, by accessing static fields directly (GetStaticFieldID+GetStaticXXXField). There is also a helper function that wraps this, see JNU_GetStaticFieldByName. Not sure if you have that available in libjli though. There are many examples for both patterns.

I also would consider just declaring two booleans here, isStatic and hasArgs, which that would be a bit clearer to read instead of combining both into a single flag variable, and no need to keep flag values synced across java/C.

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PR Review: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/18786#pullrequestreview-2002891641
PR Review Comment: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/18786#discussion_r1566896963