Revising interfaces

[Mark Thornton]

There are some interfaces (e.g. java.sql.ResultSet)  that have been 
changed many times. Presumably the theory is that not too many implement 
those interfaces and thus not too many will be annoyed by the changes.

Could we consider annotating interface methods (@since("1.1") perhaps) 
and providing a default implementation for those methods. Then require 
the JVM to insert the default implementation when loading 
implementations of the interface (and where the method is not already 
implemented).

This would preserve all the existing character of interfaces. The down 
side is potential collision with existing methods having the same 
signature, but that is something of a hazard with extension methods as well.

Mark Thornton