Initial module-system design, API, and prototype

[mark.reinhold at oracle.com]

As the promised starting points for this JSR I've just posted an initial
set of materials for your review and comment:

  - "The State of the Module System" [1], an informal overview of
    the proposed design.

  - An initial sketch of changes to the Java Language Specification
    and the Java Virtual Machine Specification [2].

  - A preliminary draft API specification [3], along with diffs
    against a recent JDK 9 build [4].

  - For the very brave, an initial prototype in both source [5]
    and binary forms [6].

(All of these links, and more, are also available on our web page [7].)

The initial design covers a lot of ground, yet it is far from complete.
There are many open issues, some of which are noted in these materials,
and it does not yet satisfy all of our requirements [8].

To get the discussion started I suggest we focus first on the high-level
aspects of the design covered in "The State of the Module System" [1].

Thank you for your patience, and I look forward to your feedback!

- Mark


[1] http://openjdk.java.net/projects/jigsaw/spec/sotms/
[2] http://cr.openjdk.java.net/~mr/jigsaw/spec/lang-vm.html
[3] http://cr.openjdk.java.net/~mr/jigsaw/spec/api/
[4] http://cr.openjdk.java.net/~mr/jigsaw/spec/api-diff/
[5] http://hg.openjdk.java.net/jigsaw/jake
[6] http://openjdk.java.net/projects/jigsaw/ea
[7] http://openjdk.java.net/projects/jigsaw/spec/
[8] http://openjdk.java.net/projects/jigsaw/spec/reqs/